Tag: History

The Same 7

These 7 aren’t the only ones that have helped the black race in trying to “overcome some day”.

This might be late in the month, but I haven’t forgotten that February is Black History Month.  Being African American, I strongly believe that this month should not be the only time people of African descent are celebrated.  Black History is American History and World History.

With that being said, there is still time to roll out the red, green, and black. To walk with pride in the parades that showcase the talent and musicality of the bands of Historically Black Universities.  Bring on the African American History programs at schools and churches.  Many of our children will write essays detailing why they believe Dr. King’s dream has come to pass; and there will be many debates on why the N-word shouldn’t be used by anyone.  All of these activities that display pride and the betterment of our people are fine.  Though this month seems to be the only time we hear about the contributions African American’s have made, can we please turn the repeat button off and hear about others that have also added to our history?

The same 7 are on replay EVERY February.  Don’t get me wrong, I truly respect the work that Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, Jackie Robinson, George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, and the Obamas did.  Their sacrifices allow much of the liberties we live by today, but there are others that have made great achievements too.  These 7 aren’t the only ones that have helped the black race in trying to “overcome some day”.

Lonnie Johnson

Think about it, what would summer be like if it weren’t for the genius behind the infamous Super Soaker.  Not only was he an inventor, but an engineer as well.  Thank you Mr. Johnson for making summer’s even more memorable.  Read more about him at www.lonniejohnson.com .

 

Fannie Lou Hamer

Growing up the daughter of Sharecroppers to working on a Plantation in the 1950s-1960s.  She was a victim of the “Mississippi Appendectomy” and unjustly had her uterus  removed.  She continued to fight for the rights of the black vote and for the black voice to be heard.  No wonder she was “tired of being sick and tired”.  Read about the Strong Fannie Lou Hamer at https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/fannie-lou-hamer

Isaiah T. Montgomery & Benjamin Green

These two former slaves dreamed of starting the largest U.S. African American town and they did.  Click the link to read about how they developed the city of Mound Bayou, Mississippi and how it became known as the “Jewel of the Delta”. https://blackthen.com/mound-bayou-mississippis-jewel-delta-largest-black-town-u-s/

Benjamin Banneker

A man that allowed his love of education, space, time, and farming to create one of the first annually sent almanacs and the clock.  He didn’t allow race to stop him from writing to Thomas Jefferson about the inhumane treatment of slavery.  Read more about Benjamin Banneker at http://www.black-inventor.com/Benjamin-Banneker.asp

f980af6b-e12b-4a59-8a34-c03752e2ed3d
Lonnie Johnson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Isaiah T. Montgomery, Benjamin Banneker, Benjamin Green

 

These are only a few of the great people that have made a difference to the way America is and they should be recognized.  Many of them are unknown or hardly mentioned in history.  Let us honor them and others, by researching them to learn about what they did to truly make America a great nation for all.

Thank you for reading.  Please like, share, comment, and subscribe.

Photos: Wikipedia and People

Advertisement

How I Honored His Dream

Yesterday was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.  A U.S. Federal holiday that many companies, businesses, and school districts observe by cancelling this day of working…except my district.  Don’t get me wrong, students were off, but teachers had the great pleasure of attending more Professional Learning classes also called Professional Development.  Weeks prior to this day I proudly proclaimed that I would not be going to work.  The problem came when I couldn’t come up with a valid reason to explain why I would not be going to Professional Development.  I couldn’t just walk into my principal’s office and say, “MLK Day is a black holiday, so I should be excluded from coming in next Monday.  Forget the man and forget you.  If you don’t like it then you are racist.”  First of all, I would have never said that.  Plus it’s ignorant and stupid and a lie.  I also couldn’t say, “I feel disrespected at the utter fact that this district doesn’t fully acknowledge MLK Day as a holiday.  So since this district won’t honor him, I will honor Dr. King and not come in to work”.  One of the reasons he and others were fighting were so that people, especially people like me, could be able to work.  Anyway, none of those reasons, I felt, would suffice.  My principal would most likely run home laughing about it to her husband over a glass of wine.  I mean, if I were her, I would.

I went to work.

Because of the dream that Dr. King and all of the many others that dreamed this same dream, I am able to have the job I have today.  I work in a district that seems to slowly be coming out of the dark and into the light, the irony, and can finally see that all people can make America Great, and have made America the great country that it is from the sweat off of all of our brows.  Slowly but surely more and more people of color, not just black people, are being hired.  Three years ago, I was the first African American to be hired as a teacher, not aide, at my current school.  Every year since, there has been 1 more “W.O.C” (Women of Color) hired.  From some discussions I have had with some of my co-workers, they never realized that all of the teachers were able to blend in with each other, until me.  They noticed how un-diversified their faculty was, and wanted to make a change.  Kudos!

Earlier in the year when discussing Dr. Martin Luther King, I explained to my young students that because part of Dr. King’s dream had been fulfilled, someone that looks like me can be their teacher.

So instead of taking the day to volunteer, or watch a MLK Day Parade on the “black side of town”, or sleep in, I chose to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by going to work.  Also in remembrance of the many black people that could not get jobs in the past and presently, simply because of the color of their skin.

Thank you for reading.  Please Like, Comment, & Subscribe.

Featured Images taken by KATherine of Dear Diary… July 2017

IMG_0065

Day 7:Uniting after the Storm

Let’s continue to learn from each other, let us agree to disagree, but always be there for each other even when there isn’t destruction.  Let’s make the dream a true reality and not a dream deferred.

Soooo, what now?  Southeast Texas in recovery mode.  Dickinson is no longer under water, and people are reaching out to help their brothers and sisters in need as much as they can. Rooms, showers, clothing, and food are being offered to those that have lost their homes… The Dickinson high school football team (Go Gators!!!!) is assisting people with pulling out carpets that can now harvest black mold.  High schools around the nation are representing Dickinson by wearing the D.  It’s great to hear how many cities across America are reaching out through charities like Red Cross.

hqdefault

Hometown celebrities have finally voiced what they’re going to do to bring in aid for all that have suffered, along with other celebrities that were already doing so.  Commercials are advertising with the #HurricaneHarvey to bring awareness to the devastation Harvey left behind.  It seems that peoples of all races, genders, sexual orientation are doing what they can to bring relief.

Question: Why is it that in times of crisis, people decide to lend a helping hand to all?

Question: Why is it that in these horrific times of loss, whether it be life or belongings, people tend to overlook those “important issues” like race?

Question: Could it be because those issues really are stupid and unimportant?

Now, I realize that these are questions that bring with it discussions that many have had, but we need to continue having these conversations until there is no longer a need for them.  I don’t know when that time will come, but it isn’t now.

This morning my husband told me about an African American Patriot from the Houston/Galveston, TX area.  He had a truck with an attached trailer full of supplies he was taking to areas south of Houston to aid those that needed assistance from the storm.  He stayed the night at a hotel, but when he came out the next day he found that his gas had been siphoned, his supplies stolen, and the word Nigger slashed across his truck.  This is a man that I’m sure would have helped them if he knew they needed things.

So that makes me think, “You can call this Patriot a hateful word such as Nigger, but you take his Nigger goods because you are in dire need of all this Nigger has? Idiots  To whomever these evil and desperate people are, hear me loud and clear… You will reap what you sow, but God still loves you.

I get so sick of hearing people blaring online, in the workplace, and in my ear about how they are a Patriot and how America is going to be the way that it once was. I guess that depends on where you lived when America was this awesome place to live in.  How was America for you back in the day?  I’m pretty sure that even after the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, blacks were still treated differently in the south, than they were in the north.  Even during slavery, black folks were treated better in the north, since slavery was outlawed, but they still weren’t seen as equals.  Black folks have always had to fight. This Patriot was black, but was only seen as a Nigger with necessary goods.

Don’t get me wrong, I love being an American but I don’t always agree with how things are done in America.  Sadly, not everyone can handle this statement.  Everyone is not going to see eye-to-eye with everything they are a part of.  That’s natural and its okay.  Those that don’t understand this sentiment are the types that believe you have to see things from their perspective and if you don’t, your way of thinking is wrong.  These people will always live in a world of frustration because they can only see happiness and tolerance in the way they believe the world and its people should be.

620-freedom-summer-1964-civil-rights-signs.imgcache.rev1403113568564.web_

The fact that this Patriot was attempting to make lives great again for his neighbors, but was stolen from and insulted all because he had what those racist jerks didn’t, cannot be overlooked. The events that happened in Charlottesville, Virginia cannot be overlooked.  These are events that have recently happened, even though they parallel the events that took place during the Civil Rights movement.  Have things gotten better for African Americans?  Obviously, but there are those in high places and low places that would see changes not be made or changes be difficult to achieve.  I don’t want to be anyone’s marionette.  I don’t want to have someone string me along making me feel like I’m equal, with them knowing I can only go so far.  People can move on from the past, but if the past keeps knocking on their door what are they supposed to do? As I mentioned before, I am proud to be living in the strongest nation (from what I’m told), but I’m not blind to the reality of this country.  Are there other countries dealing with things that are worse; yes, but my focus is my home.  Gotta get things together here first.

I am in no way trying to make this post be about racism, because there would be so much more to write.  What I am trying to say is that I am happy to see how all are coming together in this time of need regardless of race.  Let’s not allow these actions to end as soon as normality comes back.  We are people and should always be united because we only have each other.  What makes this country great, is how people from all races, genders, creeds can live together.  Let’s continue to learn from each other, let us agree to disagree, but always be there for each other even when there isn’t destruction.  Let’s make the dream a true reality and not a dream deferred.

God, Gold, & Glory: Should I Celebrate the 4th of July?

Today in America, the sounds of laughter entangled with music and good times will be heard all around. The air will be…

The 4th of July is finally here! Today in America, the sounds of laughter entangled with music and good times will be heard all around. The air will be engulfed with the comforting smells of bar-be-que and mosquito repellant. Backyards and parks will be overflowing with family and friends gathered together for a fun filled day.  Many will be adorned wearing their best Red, White, & Blue ensembles!  The Stars and Stripes will be waving proudly throughout the day, and bright colors from fireworks will illuminate the night sky. Patriotic songs will be sung during parades and battles of the Revolutionary War will be reenacted.

Many know that July 4th is a day Americans celebrate this countries Independence from England in 1776.  I can remember teaching my students about what led to the American Revolution.  Leading up to this point, we read about the Early European Explorers.  We learned that these explorers set out for God, Gold, & Glory.  (They added God to make themselves feel better in their quest for land and global domination by any means necessary, but I digress.)

When the chapters discussing the Revolutionary War came up, I was Mrs. Proud to be an American.  The pride I felt in explaining how these colonists and our fore-fathers bravely came together to fight and die for this nation was sincere and honest.  As a proud African American, I included how Crispus Attucks, also an African American, was the first to die in a shoot-out that started the Revolutionary War.  Wait, why is his death celebrated again?  A shoot-out? Was this foreshadowing the plight of the African American man in years to come???

Anyway, I remember reading along with my students about how the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. These intelligent, successful, and respected men each represented one of the 13 Colonies.  They came together to draft ideas of what they believed America needed to be founded on in order to be Great.  This document would let England and the World know why they believed America should be independent.  The members gave ideas to be discussed for inclusion in the draft.  The ideas would be included if they were agreed upon.  Thomas Jefferson requested that slaves be given their freedom, since they had written that “all men were created equal”, but the southern states would not agree to this.  They argued that removing slavery would bring a downfall to the south’s economy, so slavery remained even though “all men were created equal” remained in the draft.

Oh yeah, that’s right. Slaves weren’t seen as “men”.  Slaves were property to their master…like an animal or farming equipment.  Slave owners and southern representatives couldn’t have their “billion-dollar industries” go under, so slavery had to continue.  These southern powers were also motivated by “Gold” and “Glory”.

As  we continued to read, I tried to think back to when I learned about this in school.  Either I didn’t pay attention to this part, or this part of the lesson was not focused on by my teachers or district; similar to how the district I work for chooses not to place a strong focus on slavery in America.  It suddenly dawned on me, that America was never supposed to be Great for ME.  These men were gathered to discuss what they believed would make America Great, but I was to be excluded from that.  I was never supposed to be a college graduate or a teacher or free.  My ancestors were stolen from Africa and brought to America with the intent of only being slaves who would eventually produce more slaves.  The life I now live, was not supposed to be.  I was meant to be property and learn that God had created me for slavery.  Remember, God was used to justify the wrong doings of the powerful…the wealthy…the masters.  God, Gold, & Glory right???

So now that July 4th is here, a series of questions haunts my mind starting with, “Why am I celebrating July 4?”  America was made free.  I wasn’t seen as an equal, American, or someone that could benefit from her greatness.  I also wasn’t free.  So does it make sense for me to celebrate the 4th? The English that live in America don’t celebrate the 4th of July because it’s not their holiday.  It’s a reminder of a war that their country lost and wouldn’t they be making a mockery of themselves if they did celebrate?  If the descendants of slaves celebrate this day, is it then a reminder that “Yes you helped build this Great country, but you were not meant to be Great in this country”.  Should this knowledge be overlooked, since African American’s are “free” now?  Maybe, like so many other holidays, I can use the art of ignoring its true origin and and make the 4th be about having a good time with family and friends.

Why do you celebrate the 4th of July?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

Featured Image: The Bronx Chronicle

%d bloggers like this: