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“WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY. I ENCOURAGE ALL AMERICANS TO TAKE TIME DURING THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO REFLECT UPON THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE BUILDING OF OUR NATION.” It was August 28th, 1963, and the greatest civil rights coalition in modern history had descended upon Washington. Hundreds of thousands of protesters trekked through the heat, stretching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. For several hours, marchers heard oratory expression from civil rights, religious, labor, and student leaders from across the country. Several hours passed, and marchers were growing weary from the sun's rays. Finally, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took the stage. Dr. King started his prolific speech by recounting the past and present injustices many African Americans experienced during their quest for civil rights. However, it was Dr. King's awesome vision, his dream for a better America, that forever changed the course of history. He envisioned an America where "... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." It is in this same spirit that all Americans should celebrate Black History Month. Throughout this month, we all pause to reflect and celebrate our rich and wonderful mosaic. We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this far because of our faith in this country. It is a time to celebrate our collective strength which pulled us through past struggles; a time to recognize our present day victories, and honor those who brought us to this point. This month we recognize that while our nation continues to confront and break down any remnants of bigotry and hate, we can see the sun over the horizon. Only by acknowledging the success and sacrifice made by those who came before us, can we fully understand what we must do to ensure the liberty of those who will succeed us. During this month we honor great pioneers like Crispus Attucks, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, the Honorable Shirley Chisholm, Fannie Lou Hamer, Thurgood Marshall and Adam Clayton Powell, who now watch over us like guardian angels. We pay homage to our civil rights leaders like Congressmen John Conyers, John Lewis, Bobby Rush and Charles Rangel, who continue the good fight for justice here in Congress. We celebrate our living legends and history makers like Congressman James Clyburn, Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali, Spike Lee, Colin Powell, Venus and Serena Williams, and Judith Jamison. Lastly, we pray for our first black President and First Lady, Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as the many brilliant people of color in the Administration that have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of all Americans. It is also important that we recognize our unsung heroes, like Harvey Lawrence of the Brownsville Multi-Service Family Health Center, who works everyday to provide comprehensive health services to some of the poorest of my constituents. Community leaders across this country provide life changing services to the most vulnerable among us; and make a lasting impact on our society without national recognition. We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation's greatness. I encourage all Americans to take time during this month, and throughout the year, to reflect upon the many contributions African Americans have made to the building of our nation.
Posted By: Richard Kigel
Monday, February 8th 2010 at 9:51PM
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Thank you, Irma.
Congresswoman Clarke is the Representative from the Brooklyn district where I taught school for many years. I liked what she wrote because I firmly believe that Black History IS American History.
Monday, February 8th 2010 at 10:24PM
Richard Kigel
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Hello Mr. Kigel,
This Congresswoman is wrong and does not know any better thanto believe that African-American history is American history and this is why.
Firstly, Black Americans are an entirely different people from African-Americans. A Black American is a person that has emerged out of the ashes of slavery while an African-American did not emerge out of any ashes of slavery. Now, an African-American is a person from Africa or of African parentage that has become an American citizen. An African American is an immigrant. A Black American is not an immigrant, but automatically a citizen of America since Black Americans are a people that still belong to White American people, and I right.
Mr. Clark and the other Blacks do not understand this. It is a little above their heads.
Secondly, there is only one American history and that is White America’s history. Incorporated in White America’s history are Blacks, Japanese, Chinese and the different kinds of White immigrants. Every person on this continent besides White American people makes up American history which belongs specifically to White Americans who are of British descent, am I right.
The point that I have just made brings us right back to Declaration of Independence, which declares that White American people owns the real estate of this continent. Consequentially, no immigrants and Blacks have history in this country of White America except White American people of British decent, and I right.
Of all these different races, Blacks were born into slavery and did not come from a sovereign country as the other immigrants came. Consequentially, God will do for Black Americans the same as God done for the Hebrew people since even unto today Black Americans are still slaves of a different kind or subjugated people in White America.
Therefore, this Congresswoman is as mentally blind as a mole rat. Have I made any sense? If I am wrong, you pointed out.
Now, please understand that I recognize that White American people mostly a British descent are the relatives of Black Americans. So, I do not shun off White Americans. However, I want Black Americans to be a sovereign people on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders.
Okay.
Monday, February 8th 2010 at 10:59PM
Harry Watley
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“WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY. I ENCOURAGE ALL AMERICANS TO TAKE TIME DURING THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO REFLECT UPON THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE TO THE BUILDING OF OUR NATION.”
I agree!!!
Tuesday, February 9th 2010 at 12:29PM
Siebra Muhammad
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Thanks Irma Robinson, For your statement EDUCATE, EDUCATE , EDUCATE AS OUR WEAPON OF CHOICE used to bring this about....YES WE CAN(smile)
PS
Yes we sure can
Cheers
S
Tuesday, February 9th 2010 at 2:13PM
Sylvainy R
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The Bridge: Black Thought or African Thought?
By Darryl James
*For Black History Month this year, African descendants all over the world have something to celebrate—the actual making of history.
An historic event many of us thought we’d never see has actually come to be. Barack Obama was sworn in as the forty-fourth President of the United States.
The question that has yet to be answered, and rarely asked, is whether or not this event will change our lives.
I believe that it can only change our lives if we first change our minds.
Instead of discussing some great achievements by Black men or Black women, I’d like to discuss the great achievements that lie ahead of Africans in America. Those great achievements can only occur after we define ourselves with some practicality and foresight.
For example, some dead-brained Negroes claim that Barack Obama is not as important to us since he is the product of a white American mother and an African father. To them, he does not share the history we have, so he is not us.
To them I say, go straight to hell. And if any of their tiny little brains can process the thought, I ask what history do you think Africans have?
When it comes to Black History, most Africans in America start studying sometime around the beginning of the slave trade and bring it through to about the middle of the twentieth century. That’s a very short history for a people with such a rich background.
The problem is that we either define ourselves based on our attachment to America, or based on our attachment to Africa. As a people, we become fragmented, because some of us want no attachment to Africa and some of us want no attachment to America.
Further compounding the problem are two facts: One, that racist Americans (including some self-hating Negroes) want to deny us the birthright to this nation purchased by the blood, sweat and tears of our slave ancestors. Two, that some confused and self-hating Africans want to deny us the birthright to the African continent based on our “impurity,” after being mixed with other races over the centuries.
The argument really comes down to consciousness, because perception is reality. Whatever we perceive ourselves to be comes into existence. Our perception of ourselves does not have to be based on what the Devil’s children in white or black face deliver to us. Our perception of ourselves must be based on whatever we deliver to ourselves.
Personally, I believe that nearly every ethnicity in America except Blacks have it right. Italians are still Italian even if they speak no Italian and have never seen Italy. There are Polish people in this nation who define themselves as such even though the original Polish person in their family came to America four centuries ago.
But what of the African American? We are the only people in this nation who continue to redefine ourselves based on things outside of our consciousness.
Now, I already know that we are not a monolithic people. Some of us will go one way and some will go another. That having been said, if you are not with me, I’d like you to turn away, because I will not be speaking to you or for you.
I split African people from Black people in consciousness only. This is because they have two different ways of thinking. The Black man across the planet has embraced such titles as Negro, Colored, Afro-American, African American, Haitian, Jamaican, West Indian, Brazilian, etc. All of these titles are basically false, because travel to a land named “whatever” does not make you a person of “whatever” culture, or alter your cultural identity to “whatever.” There is a physiology, a psychology and a spirituality that Africa delivers to the African across the globe whether you embrace it or not.
From nation to nation, we can feel the same musical rhythms, we can feel the same history of attack, oppression, separation and confusion and we can feel the same spirituality if we embrace these things. No matter where you happen to be born on the planet, there are things within you that make you the physical and spiritual manifestation of Africa. You can reject this ideology and become American, Canadian, or whatever, but reality is not your friend and you will continue to be confused while failing to evolve.
Black people who define themselves based solely on their land of residence are defining themselves based on self perception, which is sad, because all of the lands outside of Africa continue to reject us, even as many of us attempt to embrace them.
People argue that we built America, and it is a great nation, so we should claim it as our own. I agree with that to a point, but because of the beautiful, rich and lengthy history of Africa, I would rather align myself with the history that begins on that continent than any nation.
As an American, Black history begins with slavery.
African history begins with civilization.
The first human civilizations sprung up off the coast of river valleys in the eastern region of Africa, such as the Nile. Africa became the center of mathematics and science, as well as religion. Our legacy has been obfuscated and stolen, but it is still there for us to claim.
The invasion of so-called Western Civilization brought confusion, including the confusion centered in our very definition of self.
We can embrace being Black, but only with the understanding that the most fundamental portion of being Black is being African. The most fundamental portion of being African is being balanced. Balance comes to us based on where we start our study.
Some people start studying history as Africans, and others start studying as Blacks. In both groups, many seem to concentrate on Black and/or African achievements without proper perspective. Without proper perspective–which involves an understanding of how an African or Black person arrived at their achievements–one can only marvel at the end result without having adequate information as to how these people arrived at the achievement.
We can trace many great inventions as well as math, science and art to Black people, but we will still have only a cursory attachment to those achievements as long as we fail to fully embrace an understanding of who those people were and how we are connected to them. That is why it is extremely important to embrace and celebrate the original consciousness of the African people, as opposed to focusing only on the achievements of these people after they arrived in America.
We should eventually free ourselves from titles and move toward consciousness, but the evolution has to begin somewhere. Black History Month, which began as Black History week is a great concept, but it should continue to evolve as our consciousness evolves.
African History Living should be year round, and the celebration must be a constant inward journey of our self to the root of our existence, beginning with the re-evaluation of the modern African under Western thought.
Yes, Black people, it is time for us to plan on creating Black History. That begins with defining ourselves.
Tuesday, February 9th 2010 at 3:21PM
robert powell
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Mr robert powell
Well said my Brother well said,
Please correct me if I’m wrong first we refer to ourselves as Negros then colored then blacks now African American, You are so right, we are the only people that keeps redefining yourself
Tuesday, February 9th 2010 at 3:58PM
Sylvainy R
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Hi Mr powell
Well said well saif
Please correct me if I’m wrong first we refer to ourselves as Negros then colored then blacks now African American, You are so right we are the only people that keeps on redefining yourself
Tuesday, February 9th 2010 at 3:59PM
Sylvainy R
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Dear Irma and Robert:
ABSOLUTELY!!! Please do. It was a valuable and thoughtful piece. I read it and found it amazingly well reasoned and thorough. As a non- African-American, it was profoundly instructive for me. It gave me some insight into how some black folks view their ethnic identity.
I say some...because there are plenty of individual differences.
One quibbling point to make--and I would love to hear your comments on it--is the statement: "Personally, I believe that nearly every ethnicity in America except Blacks have it right."
This begs the quesion: "What is the correct choice for black folks when it comes to ethnicity?"
Doesn't each individual have the absolute right to define himself or herself as he or she sees fit?
For example: recall the dustup over the recent census where one of the categories was "Negro". Some folks objected to this terminology. Others were neutral. And still others claimed that designation by writing it in by hand on the last census, which was why the census bureau included it.
So how can anyone say who has it right?
Take my two grandchildren, for instance. White dad. Black mom. She does not consider herself African-American because she is not an American. She is a citizen of Trinidad and she considers her ethbnic identity, as she says many times with pride and a smile, as "Trini."
My grandkids were taught by their parents to consider themselves "biracial" and they consicously use President Obama as their example. I can't think of a better role model.
The point is--they defined themselves. They made their own decisions about ethnicity. Who can better judge for them what is the "right" ethnicity other than they for themselves!
I can tell you this. They are a strong and loving family and they will not tolerate anyone who tries to put a label on them or think for them. They reserve that right for themselves--and I think this is totally as it should be.
The conclusion of the piece sums it up. "Yes, Black people, it is time for us to plan on creating Black History. That begins with defining ourselves."
BUT...I would like to know whether there is an assumtion behind that statement implying that there is an "acceptable" or "right" way black folks should be defining themselves.
Or--is it really up to each individual to make that call for himself?
Tuesday, February 9th 2010 at 10:07PM
Richard Kigel
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Irma:
Beautfully and gracefully said!!!
You are an excellent teacher.
Thank you!!!
Wednesday, February 10th 2010 at 9:58AM
Richard Kigel
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Hello to All,
Please let me tell all of you Black Americans on this blog that the most ignorant people on the face of this earth today are Black Americans and we would have to be because of our past experience in this country enslaved by White Americans would justify our ignorance.
Black Americans were born into slavery and today we are scattered throughout White America, thus making it practically impossible to be a people united by our race. However, these obstacles are going to be divinely removed.
White America taught everything we know to us. Our education and our advanced education White America has given us. So my question to any of you is this, what in hell have we given ourselves? We have many things to be grateful to White America for and we have a lot of grief that burdens us that White America is responsible. The only balance of the scale is that we desire to become a sovereign people or have complete independence from White America on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders to pursue life, liberty, happiness and prosperity in our own way am I right.
You and I know that we are still some very profoundly ignorant people that we do not desire to be a sovereign people that the world could recognize and respect us. We could do fantastic things through science and technology that would require the world over to respect us as a sovereign nation if only we could think this way sooner rather than later, am I right. All we care about is that White America pats us on our heads and backs, am I right. We have always been White America’s livestock and servants. We were never able to reach the status of being White America’s pet. Well, could you all imagine Moses spoke to his people the same as I am speaking to you, because he certainly did?
Even the people of Tibet want to be free from China. Black Americans are the only people satisfied not to be a people recognized by more than just White America, but the world over. Consequentially, that is the height of ignorance.
Mr. Soso and Irma calls for an education. That call for education goes as far back as 1954 when the United States Supreme Court handed down the landmark decision of Brown versus the Board of Education and today we are still some dumb and an educated people. White America is not interested in 41 million educated Black Americans in this country. White America is only interesting in a few educated Blacks. The rest of the Blacks are more beneficial to White America in jail. But, since we say education, education and education is our solution, who shall educate us? It would have to be White America, am I right. We do not have the sense to desire that we should educate ourselves and that can only be done when we become a sovereign people on a portion of this continent. Am I making any sense? Consequentially, you ignorant Negroes are doing nothing but going around in circles, and I right. But, supposing we were sovereign and could educate ourselves would we be howling today for an education? I do not think so.
You Negroes are as ignorant as the Hebrew people were when Moses came to redeem them out of the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. The same is going to happen for Black Americans. Everything I say is going to happen.
Now, if I am wrong then any one of you all in the audience should take the opportunity to step forth and show where I am wrong. None of you all see any good, life and initiative in yourselves and that is why you do not want to be a sovereign people yet. Consequentially, you will continue to whine, complain and beg until you understand the glory in what I am saying.
I understand the reasons for you all actions as Moses understood the reasons for his people’s actions. We are as Moses people were ignorant that it took Moses over 20 years toiling with them before they were able to understand that what they wanted they needed to get out of Egypt first and that everything they wanted is within themselves and the rest God would provide. God is obligated to us to do the right thing. You all need to hold God responsible.
However, throughout those 20 grueling years the Hebrew people turned their backs on Moses and insisted that Moses was crazy because they were blind, deaf and dumb people. However, Moses won them over. Intelligence will always win over ignorance. You all will come to see that the things I say you need to wake up to embrace them. It is nothing as having your own.
The real estate of this country belongs to White America and until you realize that God is willing to provide a portion of it for our sovereignty, you will stay ignorant as you are.
Who could say that I do not make any sense, speak up?
The article by Mr. Daryl James is nonsense.
Wednesday, February 10th 2010 at 7:04PM
Harry Watley
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Dear Irma:
Thank you so much!!!
Yes, they are very dear to me--10 and 7. Olivia and Chris. AND I have the added blessing of teaching at their school so I interact with them almost every day.
PEACE AND BLESSINGS,
Rich
Thursday, February 11th 2010 at 6:52AM
Richard Kigel
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Thank you so much S...because
eNORDER TO SURVIVE, WE MUST CHANGE TO FIT THAT ENVIRONMENT...example,
At the age of 67 and having been born in KKK territory...I have seen less killing and being killed over the use of the word Nagger/*****/BLACK...
My mother's generation was called Negro..my grand mother's mother's generation went from being called uncle and auntie to being called MR, MISS, MRS...
My grandchildren can be called by their freinds MY n*ggaR, BLACK or AFRICAN-AMERCIAN in peace...and I chant(pray) that one day they will be called Jehovah Witness in a positive and not in such a negative way as some do today...and, we must continue this change or parish as a race of peoples or distroy this whole planet(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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This is just great all around for you and for them, but be aware that this(can) makes your children extra special (IN THE CHILD'S IMAGINATIONS)and more will be expected from the adults whose care they are in especially the 7 year old...here is an example of this tHAt my daughter went through once with her chlld in the first grade...
My granddaughter's teacher wanted her to do something that she did not want to do at that time so she told her teacher she was to let her have her way because her mom was the school's nurse.(smile) I guess I don't have to tell you that this only happened once. LOL
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Richard, how blessed your grandchildren are. My children on their father's side has a White grandmother...the pride is in their surviving in that marriage in North Carolina...This is LOVE no matter how one looks at it.(smile)
I chant (pray) that your grand children speaks two languages also. LOL It is loving your own self for who you are that is the main thing, and this is such a blessing that your grandchildren as my children know exactly who they are and are proud of it.(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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I should have said, "some of us have been learning our own BIA's history", which encludes some Blacks in America themselves owned plantations with their own slaves brought from the Mother land...
Blacks came to America just like anyone else. some came as indentured servants and some paid their way to come here. The reality is the first man and woman from Africa put into Chattel slavery had paid their way ,but got into Virginia right as this law was passed...
sorry, but I do not still know this husband and wife's name who were the first Chattel slaves in America, but I am sure that you can learn about this via your computer what I learned at UCD over 20 years ago.(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Richard, you say "himself" I say "herself" and then we go round and round.(smile)
And, please pay special note on how "I" said society as it changes, because of the whole thing is "I" believe so brand new to us as a race called "African-American" we may not even have an answer for our selves yet...but, then it has only been not to long ago that we were allowed to even know/learn our actual history in America...much less our direct ties to the Mother land ,Africa...
I BELIEVE THAT MOZELL SAID IT BEST WHEN HE SAYS THAT IN THE SCOPE OF TIME WE AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE ONLY 400 YEARS OLD BABIES...WE ARE LEARNING...(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Rich, with your permission I would like to use your blog to ask robert the same question I asked him in my ONLY IN AMERICA blog just above this one of yours...
"robert will you put your Darryal James' message you have put here on my blog ?"...The message in this THE BRIDGE BLACK THOUGHT OR AFRICAN THOUGHT is so 'phenomenal' it should be read by as many of us as possiable...or please just make it a separate blog....thanks Rich and thanks robert.(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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What a great country America is where we no longer allow one size to fit all.(smile)
EDUCATE, EDUCATE , EDUCATE AS OUR WEAPON OF CHOICE used to bring this about....YES WE CAN(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Thanks Rich, "I" can say the more "I" learn about our 'true and actual" history in this great country the more proud I am to be an African-American.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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