That was my mental and emotional positioning on the eve of Black History Month 2011. I was certainly not in a celebratory mood. In fact, I was prepared…again…to totally ignore any efforts made by friends to spotlight African American heritage. I was that frustrated with black people in America!
Then on the 1st day of this Black History month I thought about how ten men and women, including myself, honored our ancestors every month starting in February 2010. For a year now, we have been responsible for either developing a Black Trivia or answering the trivia question. The effort required textbook research, writing, and internet investigation. Our objective has been met for the past eleven months. The objective
"Always strive to be better." –Mr. Alexander Watson, Former Black American History Teacher - Thomasville High School, Thomasville North Carolina
In my effort to be better I grew to love being black and Black People. Consequently, the love has been so intense that I have unfortunately alienated my white friends - and I have regrettably based my happiness on the collective accomplishment of African American people. Both, decisions have been severely detrimental. While both have been damaging, I believe the decision that has caused the most tragic emotional consequence (scar) is/was investing so much of my spirit in black American advancement and achievement.
Certainly, I acknowledge our progression. However, when I take a total stock of the success that we as a people have garnered I must admit that we are still in a less than desirable condition! There is no need to list the plagues that we suffer from...we know them. But, I will sadly acknowledge the condition that has black people on their death bed: Self Hate.
Then finally on the 3rd day of this month, I was searching for one of my favorite song son YouTube. I found it accompanied by a Black History video presentation.
The lyrics were my motivation to focus more on the good without diminishing the reality. Goapele reminded me of the beauty. That beauty is evident in the Beautiful Struggle that’s documented in the video.
I keep hearing
“Close your eyes and see what you believe.”
Muata Nowe
1 comment:
They say, the lie is easier to believe than the truth...
How do you keep a people down? ‘Never' let them 'know' their history.
"If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated."
Dr. Carter G. Woodson 1875 – 1950
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
Marcus Garvey 1887-1940
"A tree without roots can bare no fruit, it will die."
Erich Martin Hicks 1952 - Present
Keep telling that history, our history:
Read the novel; Rescue at Pine Ridge, "RaPR", a great story of Black military history...the first generation of Buffalo Soldiers.
The 7th Cavalry got their butts in a sling again after the Little Big Horn Massacre, fourteen years later, the day after the Wounded Knee Massacre. If it wasn't for the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers, there would of been a second massacre of the 7th Cavalry.
Read the novel, “Rescue at Pine Ridge”, 5 stars Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the youtube trailer commercial...and visit the website http://www.rescueatpineridge.com
I know you’ll enjoy the novel. I wrote the story that embodied the Native Americans, Outlaws and African-American/Black Soldiers, from the south to the north, in the days of the Native American Wars with the approaching United States of America. This story is about, brutality, compassion, reprisal, bravery, heroism and gallantry. Read the novel, Rescue at Pine Ridge, the story of the rescue of the famed 7th Cavalry by the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers.
The novel was taken from my mini-series movie of the same title, “RaPR” to keep my story alive. Hollywood has had a lot of strikes and doesn’t like telling our stories…its been “his-story” of history all along…until now. The movie so far has attached, Bill Duke directing, Hill Harper, Glynn Turman, James Whitmore Jr. and a host of other major actors in which we are in talks with.
When you get a chance, also please visit our Alpha Wolf Production website at; http://www.alphawolfprods.com and see our other productions, like Stagecoach Mary, the first Black Woman to deliver mail for the United States Postal System in Montana, in the 1890's, “spread the word”.
Peace.
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