My Reply to Morgan Freeman on Black History Month (830 hits)
The level of ignorance in this country is ridiculous! I like Mr. Freeman as an actor, I really do, but as a person in this interview, I'm pretty dissapointed. Black History Month is based on Negro History Week, created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson.
Negro History Week was created to help Blacks "become constructive forces in the development of their people." It was created to bring balance to a lopsided educational system that taught Black people nothing of their culture in ancient history. Most serious educators know that education has to be culturally relative. When you have students that can make no ties culturally, they fail and/or rebel. The book "The Mis-Education of the Negro" goes into great detail to show exactly why Blacks are in the position they are in socially, educationally, economically and politically. Dr. Woodson makes clear that the greatest form of lynching to take place began in the classroom.
Black History gives US a view of ourselves without the filter of racism woven into the current educational system. It gives us a look into what WE have truly achieved in the areas of Chemistry, Astronomy, Biology, Navigation, Architecture, Philosophy, Government, Mathematics and Religion. It allows us to see OUR true place in the development of the very civilization that others would have us to believe we had no signifigant place in creating at all.
I often ask "educators" what were WE (Blacks) doing at the time of the European Dark Ages? Or, what were WE were doing in Africa before the penning of the Bible? Most have no answer that would instill pride or strengthen the moral and cultural character of a student. The information exists and Black History Month is supposed to be a time when it is thoroughly instilled in our minds through a concentrated effort.
I would have expected Mr. Freeman to say how we need more than a month or that there should be a special class dedicated to Black History. But to say that we don't need one because Whites or Jews don't need one is pretty silly considering our current condition socially, economically, educationally and politically.
Peace
A. Stewart Narrator, The Mis-Education of the Negro Audiobook by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History Month
This may not be a popular viewpoint, but I get what Mr. Freeman is saying. Our whole history cannot be and possibly should not be relegated to a single month.
He's right about another thing, too...said at about 0:36: Black history is American history. I agree with that in great part.
Negro History Week was created for good reason and very much needed at that time, as was Black History Week, the name change in the 1960s. Later on, I think around 1976, Black History MONTH was inducted. "You're going to relegate my history to a month?"
"I don't want a Black History Month. BLACK history is AMERICAN history." I think what he's more inferring here is that dedicated the shortest month of the year to the race of people who built this country is ridiculous. And I think he sums up the fact that it's not nearly long enough because, "Black history is American history."
He's right about racism, too. It's taught. We don't know to think there's a difference until we're taught that there's is a difference that usually ends up with one of us being inferior.
Kudos to Mr. Freeman for being bold enough to say so.
Blessings...
And I think he DID say a month wasn't long enough, or at least he inferred it.
Monday, June 1st 2009 at 3:11PM
Dee Gray
Black history is American history, because without the one you can't have the other. In order for White America to except this fact as truth it means they will have to go against everything that they have been taught to believe. It should be apart of the regular history curriculum in addition to every other subject taught in schools. Blacks contribution to this country goes far beyond being slaves and there are far more people that were leaders than MLK and Malcolm. That is why were are all charged with educating our own outside of the classroom, there is no way those that want to continue the perception of our people as less than positive contributors will supply that information in a classroom. Ever look at the approved reading list for schools? How many minority authors do you see on the list? As the saying goes " If you ever want to hide the truth, put it in a book because a _____ will never read it" This thinking helps to understand the reasoning behind the treatment abolitionist received in educating slaves (especially teaching them to read and write). Because as long as you don't know or understand, then you will believe what it told to you. Just my thoughts.
Monday, June 1st 2009 at 3:14PM
Marquerite Burgess
In reply to Dee Gray:
So your logic follows, since its only a month why have one at all? Get rid of it all together?
As for racism being taught, I agree it has and still is, which is why we have to undo the damage by teaching truth. Not by acting like its not there. Thats like a woman in an abusive relationship who says "I'm not being beaten, he really loves me." We all know how that works out.
Lastly you say that "Negro History week... very much needed at that time...." as if to say you really think that we don't need it now? Even in the face of the current educational crisis, especially in the Black community?
Mr. Freeman didn't say anything about us being taught to be inferior. Those are your words and I agree that we are. So kudos for what again? Implying that the way to deal with racism is by not calling people White or by them not calling us Black? That'll do it? Really? Thats the solution? I think not.
Monday, June 1st 2009 at 4:05PM
Anthony Stewart
I'm not necessarily saying "It's only a month..." per se. I'm saying that I understand Mr. Freeman's point. I'm on the Diversity Counsel at my job and Black History Month is my baby. And I put my all into it. So, I support it.
At the same time, I wouldn't be lost without it. I have a personal interest in black history...history period, but especially black history. So, not having Black History Month wouldn't hurt me, I don't think. We don't need a month to educate ourselves and others. It should be an all year round endeavor.
If anything, giving it a month takes away a part of the significance and maybe even the motivation to incorporate various knowledge points into our daily lives.
And I can understand you're upset...that's obvious because I'm reading your words as if you're engaged in a heated conversation with someone who's view has just pissed you off.
However, calm down. We don't have to agree and there's not necessarily a right and wrong way to look at it. Picking apart my answers is not going to change my answers, unfortunately.
And it's not as simple as not calling ourselves black or white (that was just one point...and keep in mind that we didn't see the ENTIRE interview...nor have I been able to find it).
The truth is that we are black and we are white, etc., but I think Mr. Freeman's point is my point...the inferiority part of being black vs. being white is TAUGHT and therefore, LEARNED.
As for the educational crisis. Beat me that rhythm of the drum roll please. WE are greatly responsible for our children's lack of education. I grew up in the projects so I'm not one whose easily sold on the so-called 'white man' stuff. ...not that it's not real because partly, it is. Racism is very much alive and well in this country and my way to institute change is to start in my own house. My soon-to-be 14-year-old daughter is not making great grades because we live in a rich neighborhood, full of computers and new books. We don't live in a rich neighborhood, the books are average IMO and a lot of the stuff she gets, I have to BUY. Still in all, we go to the library a lot and read a lot of reference books. I have so many black history books, facts and figures in my house, there's no doubt we care about history there.
My point? My daughter's education is not entirely up to the outsiders that run the educational system. She comes home to me everyday...a mother who cares to see her become the pediatrician she hopes to become someday. I stay in her behind about the importance of education and doors that it opens and she's MOTIVATED by that. Two of her 8th grade friends just recently lost their virginity, for instance. My daughter's response when I was trying to have a repeat in-depth conversation about HER thoughts on the subject?? (And thank YOU, JESUS!!) "Mom, I'm not even thinking about it. Books are my boyfriend." I'm wiping the sweat from my brow because more and more of these kids succumb to the pressure (be it from peers, media print and tv images, etc.). So far, so good.
And the educational system didn't imbed all of that into her...her parents did.
And nowhere in my original post did I say anything was a solution. I said I see his point. I stand by that.
Blessings...
Monday, June 1st 2009 at 5:21PM
Dee Gray
If anything, giving it a month takes away a part of the significance and maybe even the motivation to incorporate various knowledge points into our daily lives.
Unfortunately, I don't think Black History would be on our minds much at all if the month was removed. Certainly not on a daily basis.
And yes I am a bit upset. Not at you, but at the fact that Blacks are constantly called to the carpet for nearly every little thing that could be a positve for us with the title "Black" and then we feel some bizzar reason to immediately denounce it! It's bad enough that Black History month has been relegated to Our history here in America as if to say our beginning was with slavery and only everything after that is "Black history." But then to jettison what we have in the form of acknowledgement should be removed sounds crazy to me.
I love the fact that you teach your daughter what you do and that your house is filled with Black history books. More sisters should be like you. Unfortunately they are not.
I know part of the reason our children are failing in the current system is due to parents not taking the time to make sure their children are prepared for school. But, thats not the only reason and more often than not when the subject of why they are failing is brought up either the parents or the teachers get the blame. I'm just shining a little light on the curriculum as well.
I never said anything was as simple as calling ourselves Black or White and we are NOT Black and White. You say that as if we are literally half and half and that is not the case. Which brings me to another point thats still on the topic. Why is it that our differences have to be such a bad thing to discuss? There always seems to be this BIG rush to say we are all the same when that is not true biologically, culturally, linguistically, historically or spiritually. So what if we are not exactly the same. Both races have great benefits in the avobe categories, its just that Ours dont get highlighted.
I'm certainly not someone that blames the "White man" for everything but when it comes to being truthful about our condition and coming up with solutions, you have to know the exact causes of the problem. Doctors don't treat patients based on what they want to believe is the problem, they first look at their medical HISTORY and find out what went wrong and when. Likewise we must do the same.
BTW my "picking apart" your answers shouldn't make you change them. Only your good judgement when presented with the facts or truth should do so. Now if you choose to ignore the facts then fine, it happens but don't disregard what I'm saying because I went through what you said carefully and responded to the parts I felt I needed to.
Yes Black History should be more than a month, but you don't get rid of the month you have. You build on what you have, spread it to 2 months, 6, then a year.
I apologize for coming across in the manner I did and I do appreciate that you do take the time to rear your children properly. As a father of 4, three of which are girls, two of them being twins at the age of 18 and in college, I understand.
Monday, June 1st 2009 at 7:15PM
Anthony Stewart
Anthony, "Unfortunately, I don't think Black History would be on our minds much at all if the month was removed. Certainly not on a daily basis."
Okay, this is true. But who's issue is that? Is it the country's issue? Or is it the fault of black people who are not all that interested in their own culture and history of triumphs via many long and hard fought battles so that WE could have it better (and by "we", I mean future generations)? Black History Month can span 2-3 months and black people (and others) who weren't interested will probably still not be interested.
And the proof is in the pudding. The rap songs selling off the shelves calling women b_tches and wh_ores, innundated with s*xual overtones.
...the women themselves referring to themselves the same way and carrying themselves that way;
...the black mother walking down the street all blinged out (with hair coiffed, nails done, dressed to the nines, etc.) with her child(ren) walking next to her looking like rag doll(s);
...the black father who is so into the hip hop culture that his toddler has both ears pierced and is ALREADY sagging.
...the teenage son so concerned about ballin out of control that no matter how many times he's told or is encouraged to different, still chooses to slang dope, play ball, forget education and can break down any rap song or any basketball or football play but can't do a simple math problem or speak in complete sentences;
...the teenage daughter whose mother has told her time and time again that she has plenty of time LIVE later but that the younger years are meant to spend her time getting educated and PREPARING to LIVE and take care of HERSELF who still chooses the fast life...boyfried who either hoops, has mad money (even if it's from the dope game) and can take care of her...just to wind up making babies while she's still a baby herself, with one or more "baby daddies", at least one probably in prison for said dope game ambitions.
The list goes on and on. The system has something to do with it, of course. But how much?
"BTW my "picking apart" your answers shouldn't make you change them. Only your good judgement when presented with the facts or truth should do so."
Ahhh...that would be true if our truths were the same and in part at least, they are not.
And of course, what I spoke of is not just going on in black communities, but we're talking ABOUT black people so I wanted to stay on point.
"Black History Month can span 2-3 months and black people (and others) who weren't interested will probably still not be interested." Maybe not, but does that mean we don't try? I'm sure someone may have said that before I got hold of some REAL Black History information. Thankfully whomever it was that kept writing it, kept publishing it and kept distributing it didn't give up. Thank God they din't give in to the appearance of a laxidasical movement towards consciousness. I intend to be that same force for another. I won't submit to a mindset of failure and a belief that we might as well quit while we're behind.
"...The list goes on and on. The system has something to do with it, of course. But how much?" Quite a bit! An approximate amount has been chronicled by historians, sociologists, educators, and more. Dr. Nathan and Juilia Hare, Dr. Chancellor Williams, Juwanza Kunjufu, Dr. Francis Cress Welsing, Dr. Richard King, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Drusilla D. Houston, Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannon, Cheihk Anta Diop, Ivan Van Sertima, J.A. Rodgers, Asa G. Hilliard, Mualana Karenga, Dr. Molefi Asante and Haki R. Madhubuti to name a few. All of whom have spent their lives researching and applying solutions to help repair our mental and spiritual state. I ESPECIALLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THE ISIS PAPERS BY DR. FRANCIS CRESS WELSING in regards to all the items of negativity in the Black Community that you listed. Again, I am not saying that some of the responsibility doesn't fall on our shoulders but when you have people running around saying that our condition is OUR own fault without fully understanding the effects of 400 years of terror and negative indoctrination into a society that only amended our original designation as 3/5ths of a human (by their perspective), then you are bound to have irrational solutions. You are bound to misdiagnose the illness. And, you are bound to prescribe the wrong medicine, such as completly removing Black History month. Lastly you've brought up a great point when it comes to just WHAT TRUTHS are the real ones. What facts should we follow? Who's evidence is more accurate. Well that debate could go on forever because I'm sure you can find just as many books as I can to back up what you believe. But I think we should at least make the books by the authors and scientists I mentioned above more available so that people can form an educated opinion. Most of the authors listed above you will not find in Borders, Barnes and Noble or Waldens Books. Why is that? Is it because those scholars and authors are not as good as others? Or is there another reason? The bottom line is that their voice isn't even made as available. So how can most of us form a proper view when we dont have all the evidence presented before us. There is no wonder that our TRUTHS don't match. Peace, and yes this is good dialogue. Always be found In Joy In Yourself
Ok Irma I don't know nearly enough when it comes to slave history. Though I have google and some other books at my fingertips, I won't pretend to know that which I don't. But I'm a bit lost as to whay you would ask if I knew those things? I could ask where the city Memphis gets its name from. Or who was the 1st Pharoah? Who was the most effective female Pharoah? Did you know that the Trinity used to be The Father, The MOTHER and The Son before certain conquerors arrived in Africa in whos culture the woman was not seen as equal to the man; so that the Mother/female was changed to "The Holy Spirit" and was used to depict the vehicle which led to the downfall of man?
Did you know that before the Bible Blacks in Africa had their own religious book? A book that was found by European scholars burried with hundreds of Africans. A book that they DECIDED to call "The Egyptian Book of the Dead" though they knew that the language (hieroglyphics) more accurately called it "Becoming One with God" or "Coming Forth by the Wisdom of God." Instead they chose to call it something more sinister and eventually make movies like "The Mummy" and portay it and the Egyptians as evil.
We each could teach one and each other, but lets not spar over historical facts. Instead lets just present what we know for the sake of proper education.
You stated: "...Mrs. Obama learned this in college as her minor was Black history(from the African-centered view point)not that history 'we' were only allowed to learn back in BLACK HISTORY WEEK!!!"
What history was it that we were allowed back in Negro History Week? If you are referring to what Dr. Woodson presented you are way off. Why do you think he is called the Father of Black History? Study his works. He and W.E.B. Dubois were fans of William Leo Hansberry who's study of history led them to look beyond the shores of America back to Ancient Africa.
Yes the Black Panthers were a factor in creating Black studies but not as much as you may think. You need to look at the whole of the movement and what the government was faced with. They could go with MLK and perhaps find a peaceful solution or go against Malcolm X, The Panthers, the Nation of Islam and others that would have further moved the country towards an inner war while fighting externally as well. So while slowly but diliberately moving to destroy those organizations they made concessions to show that they cared about Blacks (not that they actually did). Also you might want to study the work of Dr. Molefi Asante who is the one who setup the first Doctoral program for African Studies at Temple University.
What CNN does so far as a TV program called Blacks In America I'll take with a grain of salt. I don't expect much. If something is more effective at giving real solutions then fine, I'm all for it, but that has not been their Modus Operandi why should it be now?
Peace Always be found In Joy in Yourself
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 1:25AM
Anthony Stewart
"Again, I am not saying that some of the responsibility doesn't fall on our shoulders but when you have people running around saying that our condition is OUR own fault without fully understanding the effects of 400 years of terror and negative indoctrination into a society that only amended our original designation as 3/5ths of a human (by their perspective), "
We are in agreement here. No, it's not totally us. A great deal of it goes back centuries. I just get frustrated when I hear people blame EVERYTHING on the "white man". I've heard and read part of 'The Isis Papers'. I put it down for awhile a long time ago and haven't gotten back to it. The textbooks were calling! LOL.
So, no...it's definitely not ALL our fault. But why does it have to be about placing blame at this point? Yes, there is some culpability not yet visited upon those who oppressed our ancestors and who still make the attempts today, but like our ancestors before us, we CAN SURPASS it! We have unrealized power because of the insistence to want the quick way; not enough of us want to put in the WORK anymore! And that bothers me most of all. We'll sit back and SAY how bad we have it and how much the man is trying to keep us down and how it's the man's fault for 400 years of opporession that we are this way and that way, but if we're being honest...at this point, that's bull.
That's like a child who was abused as a child growing up and choosing to live his life abusing other people. The argument could be made that he's like that because of what happened to him in his childhood, and whereas that may be acceptable for a number of instances, at some point, in manhood, he has to find a way...choose a way...to not make it EVERY instance or even a majority of instances. He has to make a choice that the cycle stops...that he was treated badly is a viable reason to lash out at others. That's a small analogy that applies on a much grander scale.
Yes, we've been abused, battered, torn, tattered, beat, spit on, lied to and lied on...manipulated, segregated, humiliated and negated. Yes, we've been all of those things. But we've also been nortoriously victorious, we've reacted by fighting back with our knowledge, with our wit, and we've gotten our rights (though some bit by bit)...still, our ancestors and foremother and forefathers persevered through hell and high water so that we could be ALLOWED to read and write...so that we could drink from the clean water fountains like the whites...sit at front of the bus like them, too...so that we could earn at least SOME of what's due!!!! We should be grateful, but we treat each other hatefully, we hate on each other, we perpetrate evil towards one another...we won't go to school-- at least not to learn what's in the books, but we'll go to learn how to be better crooks. Why? When does the cycle end...or actually, when the cycle our ancestors STARTED begin AGAIN???????
The reason I do my best to be the best me that I can be is because I remember my grandmother's stories about being mistreated or treated as less than because of being black and then double by also being a woman. I remember all those stories and I remember how in every circumstance she fought back until white folk respected her and not because they were scared, but because there was something regal about her. Her carriage was very dignified and she never allowed anyone to make her feel inferior. When I was little, the white men in some of the stores my grandmother frequented knew her name and called her Ma'am...softly, with respect and what I now recognize as admiration. And not that she needed to reach for that APPROVAL; she was just very principled. She believed that people should treat you how you treat them; she believed that a person who had never taken the time to get to know YOU, the person, had no right to act adversely towards you based on stereotypes or prejudices. She was very well-rounded, rest her blessed soul. That's how her mother raised here. She raised my mother that way. And she and my mother raised me that way. I'm raising my own daughters that way. She worked too hard, her mother and father worked too hard and my own mother worked too hard for me to have it better than they did, so why would I spit in their faces by disrespecting all they worked for? Why do more and more young people choose to throw away education in exchange for a fast life that only provides the appearance of the high life for a short while?
And what can we DO?????????? ...as a community of blackness, I mean. What can we do? I do what I can from my home, via church and even some at work.
It's so far beyond just a black and white issue. We're not the only ones discriminated against. That said, how still, do we take care of home before sweeping around others' front doors?
Blessings...
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 1:46AM
Dee Gray
Anthony, I left off a question:
You're not suggesting that because my opinion is not based on some of the authors you mentioned that my opinion is then moot, are you? I didn't get my data from a bunch of books (and I'm a huge advocate of educating ourselves, so don't misunderstand me), but I got my data from some live, right in front me sources. Some of the very people that I described, and let's not forget my grandmother, all her sisters and brother, my grandpa and of course, various other mediums, which aside from The Isis Papers, do not intertwine with yours.
You have made some very valid points and the more we dialogue, the more I'm not entirely convinced that we disagree. Despite that, I still see Morgan Freeman's point.
Blessings...
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 1:55AM
Dee Gray
Marguerite, well said, Sister. Well said. If the classroom has more to offer our children about our history, we've reached a serious disconnect.
Blessings...
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 2:23AM
Dee Gray
Wow, that was as much a mouthful as anything I or Irma Robinson or Dee Gray had to say. I have to post my next blog article here and a few other places, but I will definitely get back to this.
I truly believe this discussion can spiral into something greater than where we are with it right now. In fact, would you all be inclined to discuss this over a teleconference? This could possibly become a consistent topic into the realm of education in the form of a podcast.
Anyway, think about it. I'll be back with comments later
Mr. Maxwell, very eloquently spoken and a part of your commentary is why I can see Mr. Freeman's point. "Black history IS American history." You're right, it's not just for US to know...it's for EVERYBODY to know. When I was in elementary and middle school, I always wondered why there were no positive historical accounts about black and not much mention at all of slavery. It's was always instructed in passing, as a bullet point, as if it wasn't a HUGE part of AMERICAN history.
High school was the same way. That's when a lot of my independent study began.
Amthony, you're right, too. This kind of dialogue can open up the flloodgates and positively effect things. I'm looking forward to keeping this up.
Blessings...
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 4:18PM
Dee Gray
Oh and by the way Anthony the Africans were doing back then what most people are doing today and actually believe that Al gore invented this movement...they were showing rspect to Mother Earth, by not abusing her wters, lands, food or her water....You know those very things that the Native Americans were doing that got us called "SAVAGES", uncivilized and not member of the superior race...much like today????But we still have the same basis family structure we did back then as we do today...notice how the White man keeps saying that the single mother is what is distroying our Race??????How many of us believe them while turning against Rev. J. Wright and our president for taking his family to listen to actual Black history for 25 years. Mrs. Obama learned this in college as her minor was Black history(from the African-centered view point)not that history 'we' were only allowed to learn back in BLACK HISTORY WEEK!!! It took the Black Panthers to force this on our Federal government to not only allow this,but to support African-American study departments in our colleges and universities as any other departments funded by the government. Tis is the Black history that we still would rather listen to the White man's version of Black In America than ours.
And, while I am at it please take note of how the rest of the BIA specials on CNN will be totally different than the first ones. These will be form the African-centered view point!!!!!!!!!
his is because the Civil Rights movement never has ended...nor has it ever been what the majority has been taught is is in the first place...
This is why I write those only in america series(SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Do you know of any poems, books, speeches, lectures written by actual slaves? do you know how a "race riot" of slaves helped along the need to let the slaves go free? did you know that it was RICE not cotton that created the need for slave labor in the south?
Now this is Black In America that the average African-American does not know, now do they/ YOU???
What major city in South Carolina and an totally influenced an actual period of time in America is named after something the Slaves did that so impressed their masters they named it________which is the correct answer(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Anthony, are you talking about th e W.E. B. Dubois that brought down the first exclusive Black big business in America, The Black Star, in exchange for the Jewish $ to back the NAACP? By the way, did you ever wonder why Dubois was not a major part of the Civil Right's movement?????Just an example of African-centered BIA and not the European-centered one. Or something else I love to talk about how it is a White man's LIE about Rosa Parks being too tired to give up her seat that day!!!Our next bite at the Seprate is not equal apple in a few years a lot of the truth that would have set us back, back then will come out at last!!!!
Oh and while you are trying to teach me about Egypt please take a look at your world map and see if it is still in Africa on your map?You see what you say is the reason why Egypt was taken out of Africa(smile)And, love, when it comes to religion even the Catholic faith got their saint's status from the Africans.And, please do not get me started on all of that VOO DOO that is used in churches today that few know about until they learn the truth about how much influence brought from Africa dominates this country!!!!!!But, Black people are a patient people, aren't we(smile)
Or even better, look into how Black In America is taught 5 days a week 52 weeks a year in America and if you or anyone else have a problem with this then stop paying your taxes...or go talk with those students who are backing Mr. Obama, because from the Native-American to the Mexican-American to the Japanese-American now have their Ethnic study being taught and not from the view point of the CONQUOR any more. Thanks to the co-founders of the Black Panthers and the tax payers.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Oh, Anthony you have your Temple University facts a little mixed up for trying to take the credit away from Bobby Seale(the Panther cofounder)because you must first have a department before you can have a BA,then a MASTERS and then a Phd. which would never have happened if the panthers had never been classified as public enemy #1 got out of prison and gotten their Phds. OK?"ALL" of the original founders of the Panthers had Phds.Did you know the first Black mayor of D.C. was one of them?????Oh, and the Black Star was the fore runner of the NOI...and the nation of Islam is a threat to the White man only because they do not fit the African-American image of welfare, drug dealers and addicts and not fathers to their children,,,did you know that we are the ones who helps the White man keep the image of our people as VIOILENT enemy of the U.S.A. when we know very well we are not.Anthony why have you cahllenged me when here I am only talking about my University degree as a major in African-American history not something I got of the net, but sitting in lectures and meeting people like Ales Haley and Angela Davis and Bobby Seales members of the NOI who were Dr. King's body guards while we are still being spoon feed how Dr. King and Malcom X were such enemys?among many others...I can never remember that young jazz man ,from New Orleans that came to speak to our university...
Remember the Obamas trying to attend a church that teaches Black history that is African-centered and we sure did help them force this family out of his chosen church now didn't we?And, we know no more about this church than those sound bites chosen by the White man...but, we are taling to each other about our differences and not just setteling for 'being talked about' and this is good, no this is great...this is CHANGE(smile)
Again thank you for this post and thank all of you my brothers and sisters for this conversation about our community and its ups and its downs, but we alway manage to over come(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Anthony, believe it or not this is not just about 'saying' it is about we in the Black community"talking" to gether about us and not just being content with being talked about or accepting that BEING BLACK IS AN EXPERIENCE. Being African-American must not be limited to what we learn in a book without gaining wisdom(from our personal experiences, due to the color of our skin in too many cases) from it or better yet gaining WISDOM-common sense and being able to use it in our everyday lives. But, most of all our survival depends on pro tecting our Black Pride which can only be done if we do not lose our ties with the Mother land...AFRICAN.
Now I will go back to what Dee had to saying in order to farther try to show how our survival depends on each and everyone in our race to pass on to the next generation the mistakes learned by the generation before then,,,from the eyes of our culture because without it we die from lack of pride that makes us determined to OVER COME.
I used Mrs. Obama in the hopes that I would get a chance to explain how we must learn our Black In America from our African-centered view or we will never be able to actually thank the White man for President Obama..."We learn about the past, so that we can better the present as we plan out the future"Or those who forget history are doomed to repeat it...
The majority of African-Americans know about Susan B. Anthony. Our government has made a $1,00 coin in her honor, but they have by as Clark says left our her Black female nightmare Ida B. Well who spent a lot of time before Congress undoing every thing Anthony tried to do to the Black man.
Ida B. Well when the government would not give a helping hand to stop the out of control hanging of our people convinced thousands of our people to migrate to Chicago(get it how Mrs. Obama was born in Chicage and not the deep south).This woman was also responsible in the Women not getting the vote! Why is this, well Anthony wanted the Federal government to take the vote away from the Black man and give it to the white woman...please put emphsis on the W-H-I-T-E woman!!!!!!Her argument before congress for doing this was the Black man was not interested in the vote and would not even take time to vote if(now get this)THE bLACK FEMALE DID NOT PUT SUCH PRESSURE ON THEM TO GO TO VOTE!!!!!!
Now add all of this up as to go along with the White man's so determined to get us away with something we brought with us from the mother land...THE MOTHER IS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY WHEN IT COMES TO SURVIVAL OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!
Anthony when we 'stop' ingoring what Dee had to say we will be able to begin actually thanking the White man for forcing our people to unite when our culture ties are at stake...please as Clark says look at the history of America(smile)The African-American revolt OFTEN(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Anthony, it would be nice if you had someone on your program like Dr. john Steward who came to help us integrate UCD in the late 90s'.This is the man who was the dean before Angela Davis. Ms Davis got this position when Dr. Steward left to go back to college to study Anthropology.His specialty is English.He did this because one day as he was teaching his class the FBI came in and put a gun at his head and demanded that he told him who were the members of the Black Panthers in his class..this is what changed his life.He had to go back to study where these young men got such a drive to advance their people ( in Black history)not matter the cost to them. They had almost single handed taken on the Federal government. But they do not even get creddit for the racial provfiling being made illegal in America!!!
One day we will come tol learn our contribution to this country, but not by waiting for the White man to teach us.too many of us have been taught to accept the Black Panthers, the NOI,Rev. Wrighe, the single mother is a danger to mankind. Can I get an AMEN to that(smile)
Love you all and thank you Anthony for opening this much needed coversation with in our community.One day the mass media will talk about how black social networking exist....YER WE CAN...YES WE WILL..because we are a patient people...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
...this is very important. The University of California at Davis is a part of our states 9 University system. UCD is as conservative as U C Berkely is liberal.Davis allowe not Blakcs to kive in their town. I am from the deep south and it was not until the late 90s did I ever face such baltent racism in a small town.In the deep south they wer decent enough to accept that you had sense enough to know thay did not like you or want you there. Savis still has that mentality that we are too stupid to know we are not wanted so they drive by and remind you on a regular basis. And, teh police harass as if their lives depended on it...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
I will say this then give someone else a chance to speak.This is that I believe that Clark and I ,or maybe only me, have been a part of this community discussion who had actually LIVED those Black History weeks in our public schools while having to go on hours bus rides to the' Black only' school while living with in walking distance to a 'White only' school...look where we have advanced today. Our children have so much legal rights until they are carring guns and drugs to school. If a parent trys to get the child to obey the rules of the house so that it can be a 'home' all they have to do is use their cell phones to call the cops and complain how they are being abused!!!!!!
The young Black man iis prison, the hospital or the grave and the young female must move out of the family home unable to finish her social traning because the welfare agency (who use to have the father move away from the home of his wife and children) having found out that the father is not the head of the BLACK house hold now has the pregnant teen not being able to remain in the home so how is she going to teach the next generation as Dee's mom, grandmother,my mom and grandmom were able to do. I will not stop saying how my mom and dad never married...I am a college graduate (at 48) my children are college graduates and my oldest granddaughter is in her first year of college, first 'vote'(At Temple University , her mom went there also)and is continuing that straight "A" average...And, those like Vick who say "Hi mom" for the cameras then go off and forget how their moms tried to drum into their heads this truth,,,the White male will get a slap on the hand, but they will cut off your hand if you try to do as they do and not as your mom says don't do...never fails Anthony...it never fails...but we always manage to OVER COME with the few who listens to "MOM" now don't we(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
Oh, forgot, the following CNN BIA specials will be from the African-American point of view and as I said because the Civil right quest has never stopped.It is degrading to our people to have a false history teaching us, in the 21st century, that the only way to have generations of a 'positive' family is to get raped by a White slave master(the single Black mother)!!!!!!!! Have you not noticed that since that disgrace on CNN don Lemon now has an anchor spot??!? A man who has countless awards for news reporting not even being able to say any thing because this job has only seen as acceptable from Jackson and Sharpton...those days are over.The Jena, La case is not dead nor the Don Imus case. It stoped to not bring harm to our now president!!!And, that lie about Rosa Parks fall into this catagory, we allow the White media to choose our leaders and how they got there because to tell what is really going on in our Black community would do harm to us.They must never right now know that we as a people can plan...
WE MUST NEVER ALLOW THE WHITE MAN TO KNOW THAT BLACK PEOPLE CAN PLAN IN THE LONG, LONG TERM(smile)
Please pay special attention of how the CNN BIA specials have been forced to change with out the NAACp or Jackson being splashed all over the media 24-7 to teach the world about it. Blacks in America are always on the job to fight against the history Euorpean-centered that we can not do any thing but kill each others, have children out of wed lock and take drugs....Now, I will let it go because we have been trying to get our people to thank the White man for being like the Republican right-wing, the gift that keeps on giving and giving to our people without them even knowing this, THIS IS WAT WAS TAUGHT IN BLACK HISTORY WEEK and to a large extent in Black History month.
Black History is taught 52 weeks out of a year while we argue about a month because so many of us still do not know this!!!!!!!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
My Reply to Morgan Freeman on Black History Month
SUBJECT
Black History Month is based on Negro History Week......by Dr. Carter G. Woodson.
Negro History Week was....to help Blacks..... It was to bring balance to a lopsided educational
system that taught Black people nothing of their culture in ancient history.....
...Narrator, The Mis-Education of the Negro..... Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History Month
Posted By: Anthony Stewart Monday, June 1st 2009 at 1:14PM You can also click here to view all posts by this author...
