February is the shortest and coldest month of the year. It is also Black History Month thanks to an educated moxie like Carter G. Woodson. In light of Carter G. Woodson reluctantly sanctioned and forbidden to read and write; born in that time of 1875, he gormandized his education at the age of 20. To you I say, it is never too late to titillate your brain with knowledge. Incidentally, there are African Americans who celebrate Black History every day. The month of February is just the extra melanin sauce shared with the world; enhancing the foundation Mr. Woodson laid. Black History is American History. Ms. Lula (my grandma) continuously shared with me how instrumental it is. Knowing who you are in this world is vital to your survival. I so get why all of my elders and a few educators encouraged me and others to take serious sips into Black History. You have to understand your past to prepare for your future; to enrich your bloodline.
What if those young people who don’t understand who they are or where they originated from, had an opportunity to learn about their history. I'm talking about all of their black history, not just the fact that their ancestors were enslaved? The fruitfulness of who they are. The ancestry of Kings and Queens stuck in their bloodlines. What if they were taught that their bloodlines are linked to every continent and country of the world? The African presence is found in many different nations. I am convinced a positive change would caress their minds with self-examination and self-realization. If you have children it is your job to teach them their history. I encourage you to take some huge dips in wonderful sips of discovery to educate your kids and yourself about Black History.
African American kids all over this world are full of European History. European history is the governing curriculum in all of the schools across the United States. I believe it needs to change. Why isn’t there any text books on the Moors, the black Island of Fiji or the positive images of Africa? When I grew up, all the descriptions I saw of Africa was negative. I had no idea there were castles and opulence in Africa, built by Africans. The only thing the history teacher slightly touched on when the subject of Black History came up was Africans being slaves. There is so much more than that! Do your kids know about the African rulers of Mali? Do they know about the great African Empires of the Sudan and Nile Valley? What about the African presence in Greece? Yes, there were Black Greeks! Black kids need to know that; white kids too. All kids! Black Students can tell you about the Stamp Act or the Boston Massacre. Can they tell you about Crispus Attucks? You can’t have a conversation about the Boston Massacre without leaving Crispus Attucks out of it. He was the first African person killed in the Boston Massacre. Black children can tell you about the Louisiana Purchase but I bet they can’t tell you about the Buka Natives or the Bombings of Tulsa Oklahoma, known as Black Wall Street. I bet they can’t tell you about an Arabic Black poet named Antar? They have to learn the constitution. Black History is an element of enlightenment that should be learned as well. They can also tell you about all the European presidents who have dominated this country as leaders. What is so wrong with your children learning about an African ruler from Ghana named Tenkamenin? I am thankful we have had one African American president. I adore Dr. King and Malcom X but there is more to African American (black) History than Malcom and Martin.
It would benefit the entire world if everyone took the dips of time to sip and learn about Black History; especially your sons and daughters of African descent. Black History can dispel a lot of ignorance. It can show others that African American people are human beings. They have been an asset to the civilization of nations; to not be afraid of them. Maybe there wouldn’t be so much racism if other folks understood African American History. If black and brown people of color want to know their history they have to delve into it boldly; independently. I get why folks take a proactive sip to do their own research to self-indulge in Black History. Black History is NOT embraced or celebrated like others. When black folks talk about their experience they are told to “get over it” or “that was years ago so stop living in the past.” Every person on planet earth deserves to know who they are and where they came from! This includes black people.
In my Sancti-Fly effort to encourage black folks to study their history I created Sancti-Fly History and Culture to share black history with the world. In the month of February I try to share information once a week. During the year, I try to share black history at least once a month.
What is it that you get? Do you allow understanding to slip by you with no evidence of empathy and sympathy attached to your humanity? Are you a person who is always so quick to judge, drowning in stereotypes with all of your lovely might? As my Lula (grandmother) use to say, keep on living, you'll get it. I pray that you will!
What if those young people who don’t understand who they are or where they originated from, had an opportunity to learn about their history. I'm talking about all of their black history, not just the fact that their ancestors were enslaved? The fruitfulness of who they are. The ancestry of Kings and Queens stuck in their bloodlines. What if they were taught that their bloodlines are linked to every continent and country of the world? The African presence is found in many different nations. I am convinced a positive change would caress their minds with self-examination and self-realization. If you have children it is your job to teach them their history. I encourage you to take some huge dips in wonderful sips of discovery to educate your kids and yourself about Black History.
African American kids all over this world are full of European History. European history is the governing curriculum in all of the schools across the United States. I believe it needs to change. Why isn’t there any text books on the Moors, the black Island of Fiji or the positive images of Africa? When I grew up, all the descriptions I saw of Africa was negative. I had no idea there were castles and opulence in Africa, built by Africans. The only thing the history teacher slightly touched on when the subject of Black History came up was Africans being slaves. There is so much more than that! Do your kids know about the African rulers of Mali? Do they know about the great African Empires of the Sudan and Nile Valley? What about the African presence in Greece? Yes, there were Black Greeks! Black kids need to know that; white kids too. All kids! Black Students can tell you about the Stamp Act or the Boston Massacre. Can they tell you about Crispus Attucks? You can’t have a conversation about the Boston Massacre without leaving Crispus Attucks out of it. He was the first African person killed in the Boston Massacre. Black children can tell you about the Louisiana Purchase but I bet they can’t tell you about the Buka Natives or the Bombings of Tulsa Oklahoma, known as Black Wall Street. I bet they can’t tell you about an Arabic Black poet named Antar? They have to learn the constitution. Black History is an element of enlightenment that should be learned as well. They can also tell you about all the European presidents who have dominated this country as leaders. What is so wrong with your children learning about an African ruler from Ghana named Tenkamenin? I am thankful we have had one African American president. I adore Dr. King and Malcom X but there is more to African American (black) History than Malcom and Martin.
It would benefit the entire world if everyone took the dips of time to sip and learn about Black History; especially your sons and daughters of African descent. Black History can dispel a lot of ignorance. It can show others that African American people are human beings. They have been an asset to the civilization of nations; to not be afraid of them. Maybe there wouldn’t be so much racism if other folks understood African American History. If black and brown people of color want to know their history they have to delve into it boldly; independently. I get why folks take a proactive sip to do their own research to self-indulge in Black History. Black History is NOT embraced or celebrated like others. When black folks talk about their experience they are told to “get over it” or “that was years ago so stop living in the past.” Every person on planet earth deserves to know who they are and where they came from! This includes black people.
In my Sancti-Fly effort to encourage black folks to study their history I created Sancti-Fly History and Culture to share black history with the world. In the month of February I try to share information once a week. During the year, I try to share black history at least once a month.
What is it that you get? Do you allow understanding to slip by you with no evidence of empathy and sympathy attached to your humanity? Are you a person who is always so quick to judge, drowning in stereotypes with all of your lovely might? As my Lula (grandmother) use to say, keep on living, you'll get it. I pray that you will!
