As February draws to a close, the question remains whether black history is separate from American history? With the checkered past of America and its cloudy present, how does one recognize reverence or subtle disrespect. Schools having been running the same playbook since the late seventies on historical figures and their contributions to American society. Is it the black community that needs to redefine its cultural comprehension of both historical and contemporary achievements.
Who’s counting?
With the black experience accounting for significant changes to American society, there are still only 7% college professors telling the stories and passing along the history of a whole community. Defining the experience of a community is echoed in the voices who share it. Many seek only the great strides of the community behind the struggle of the civil rights movement, as if that is the only piece of black history the resonates character, courage or conviction.
There is a total of 50,000 patents owed by black inventors which have enhanced the lives of all Americans. Are we only to believe the greatness of the black community only rests in marching and public speaking? Unrecompensed, the black community enriched the experience that we know today as first world conveniences.
Over the last thirty years there have been several black child prodigies to advance in academia with almost little to no coverage. This is history being made in real time. Are we solely to believe history is a fact of years gone and not moments shaping the world’s understanding of possibility? The pillars of the past have laid a great foundation to build upon. But we mustn’t forget the quiet heroes that are laid to rest who shared their greatest efforts with the world to inspire future generations.
Who’s speaking?
Honorary Jane Bolin, Alice Allison Dunnigan, Loïs Mailou Jones, Juanita Hall are just a few names that young people rarely hear in their school platforms. The history of the black experience spans beyond most recognized and notable names that are used to highlight black excellence. The voices of yesterday have been denied their due. We are in an age of information and yet we still have no campaigns to highlight the visionaries of past, present and future.
Weighed down by the pressures of trying to survive and maintain the status quo of our lives we often have little time to reflect on the bridges built. In today’s climate their are so many buzz words that drown out the truth of the black experience. Diversity and inclusion what does that really mean? How effective is diversity if we deny proper respect to those who scaled the walls of contempt?
There is much worked needed to truly have a diverse landscape where both the good and the bad exist. As a nation we want to erase the hardships and violence. We must recognize that those moments force the black community to show their true potential and talents. While the oppression and harm done has been a dark cloud over the lives of many, it has also given the opportunity to showcase the greatness of the black experience.
Who’s Listening?
As we proceed into the future, less and less of today’s youth display respect for their predecessors. The further we get away from traditions of respecting the work that has provided us with opportunity, the more entitled we become. Seeing only what can be done for us, we lost sight of what we can contribute to tomorrow. The lack of a full view of the experience of the black culture has led many younger generations to believe they are starting from scratch and nothing was really achieved outside of the civil rights movement
A pivotal time in history had many branches of achievement which have been drowned out be the lack of access. We have a month to display and share the millions of stories that have shaped small neighborhoods to ones that have inspired the world. The spectrum of black excellence is wide as the ocean is deep.
Having a month to highlight the most notable figures in black history is needed. As a community originally ripped away from it’s culture, we have lost sight of our true greatness. We are doomed to repeat it if we ignore the need to learn about the struggles and triumphs of many who came before us.
Stand firm and stay ready to learn something new, something old and share it with the future generations.
