Tuesday, February 25, 1997
CULTURE:
Celebrate group’s experience more than one month a yearBy Malik
Francis
Who was the first black in Major League Baseball? Of course we
all know the answer to this question, but for many this is the
extent of their black history, which is sad, because there are so
many wonderful and rich stories about the African-American
experience and the people who helped to shape it. We tend to tell
the story of the "white friendly Negro" every single year as being
the single means of communicating how our history has
developed.
Sure, people like Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr., and
Arthur Ashe, are amazing and uplifting, yet the truer story lies in
the souls of Bobby Seale, Huey Newton, Charles Drew, Josh Gibson,
Curt Flood and Carol Mosely-Braun. These names serve only as a
brief example of our 20th century contemporaries, who, against all
odds, fought for the greater good of man and in the process showed
what lengths one will go to in order to achieve that good.
The African-American experience is not limited to just
African-Americans. For example, John Brown, a white man,dedicated
his life to ending slavery. A short time after the Civil War, Brown
led a group of slaves to Harper’s Ferry, New York to revolt. The
rebellion was quickly put down, and Brown and his group of slaves
were killed. Many know Frederick Douglas’ contribution to Civil War
America, but few know Brown’s role during this time. We glorify
Lincoln and his Republican Party, but few know that although he
disliked slavery, his primary goal was to save the Union at all
costs. He was not married to the idea of a slavery-free Union but
rather that of a strong Union.
Today it seems that politicians care about African Americans
only around election time or a few days out of February, such as on
Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We must put heat on them to see our
views with same priority as other important issues. How can we do
that? I encourage you to read about the history, learn the
heritage, and write letters to your local school board to make
black history a part of the curriculum. Also, make your voices
heard at the nearest polling place on election day.
By celebrating our culture and history once a year, we limit our
history to being separate from the general course of American
history. Our history is not and will never be inferior to that of
any history. This pride should not be confused with that of revenge
and bitterness; it should be a glorious tool to inspire greatness
in the future. We must believe in the American ethic of hard work
and faith as the key to success because we are Americans. One can
debate and deny this point, but the only way to succeed is to join
the mainstream, yet that does not mean giving up one’s culture.
We are the "hope and the dream of the slave," and we must strive
for knowledge, peace and excellence in all areas despite
differences in views and positions. If you are like me and believe
that African-American history begins with the slave trade and the
actual arrival of slaves, or believe that it dates back before
Judeo-Christian Europe, it is your duty to discover the experience
first hand. Do not let a rich, diverse heritage become meaningless
trivia questions every February.