Article 1 Volume 13 March 7, 2023
BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION IS A YEAR-ROUND THING
Don't stop now! Just because the month of February ended this year, doesn't mean we have to stop reporting and researching news about Afro-American's accomplishments in the world. Don't grow weary in doing it. Other races and nationalities do it year-round. For example, we spend 11 months of the year talking about Jewish history in black churches. The Jews were slaves in the Bible, but when they left Egypt they had silver, gold, clothes, animals, and some even had slaves, so when God parted the Red Sea for them to cross they were not lacking the necessities needed for survival.
Whereas, when the Negroes (that was our official classification) were emancipated after the Civil War ended in 1865 they only had the clothes on their backs and a small sack of whatever. That is all, believe me. No money, no animals, limited education, no job, lack of essential basic material for basic needs in life.
Though free, many of the ex-slaves agreed to continue to work for their ex-slave owner. They were promised that they would have a better opportunity for survival if they would share crops. For some, it worked out okay, but for many others, it didn't work out. They couldn't read or write. So, their survival was dependent on the integrity of the landowner.
Today, our knowledge is limited on our USA and World History. We really know very little. Although we have come a long way. We still have a long way to go. When I was in school Black History was celebrated for one week in schools. Let me share what we talked about:
1. George Washington Carver and the peanuts, 2. Mary McCloud Bethune, 3. Booker T. Washington, and a few entertainers.
2. Africa was referred to as an uncivilized continent.
3. In the movies, we thought that Tarzan, Jane, Boy, and the monkey ruled all of Africa. We had no idea that it was the largest continent and had more natural resources than any other continent.
4. All of the African people were black, like the real black, that appeared in the movies. This depiction affected the self-esteem of some dark complexion children in schools. Today, we are identified as Black. But in the '50s and '60s if you called somebody Black in school you would be suspended for two days, and subject to 10 licks in the hand, by the teacher with a ruler.
5. I mean, I had no idea that Africa had so many beautiful women, black, brown, tan, light, and many other human shades until I saw more positive news from and about Africa. Realization really hit me, while in the military, I spent two years in France, with a lot of trips to Paris.
I am not going to try and write the whole story at this time. I just want to say, there is so much history to be told or shared.
We cannot be satisfied with just reporting on crime, entertainers, sports figures, political issues, gossip, and a whole lot of other stuff that is happening in this world.
So, keep reporting. Churches need to report more about the Black race. There is a lot of Black History in Biblical studies. Bringing this information to the forefront requires more reading and studying.
Look what is happening in the USA today. The study of Black History is forbidden in many schools. Yet, the same people who say it's offensive, find it okay to teach about how the Indians were massacred and their land confiscated, how the Mexicans were treated in the USA's drive to enlarge its territory.
In February, I read a lot of Black History news presented by a retired teacher, Mrs. Susie H. Bennett of Suffolk, Virginia, and Ms. Liisa Barnes, a current teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia. Great job ladies! Also, add John King, a former high school basketball coach, and resident of Bailey's Crossroads, VA.
So, to everyone with an interest, keep on reporting and studying. Your readers will be enlighting and happy to say, "I'm Black, and I'm proud."
Copyright 2023 Grady E. Bryant Sr. All Rights Reserved.
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