Last year during our first month of blog-ver-sa-tions we asked; Is Black History Month becoming irrelevant? It generated a couple of interesting comments...
Is Black History Becoming Irrevelent? Createavoice brings up an excellent question. Also presented are parallels to challenge us African American of the current value of our divinely driven global brand/(identity). One Word
Yes! I, personally do not feel that we need it today. It's almost patronizing, as is most things when it comes to Black people. I am not stating that it is unimportant for us to know our history... StereoTypist
"According to One Word - African Americans should consider their identity; but commenter, StereoTypist personally felt - it's not needed and/ or it is patronizing."
This question, Is Black History becoming Irrelevant comes out of wanting a revival. It seems only a small percentage of African Americans is maintaining its awareness. There are good people taking its awareness into new arenas, but where is their support outside of February?
In retrospect, the names of... writer/ statesman Frederick Douglas, activist Sojourner Truth, businesswoman Madam C. J. Walker or socialpreneur activist Marcus Garvey and educator W. E. B. Du Bois. Great names of policy, women's rights, business, movements and education. Our question is, have these names become irrelevant to a new paradigm of African Americans' and their conscious.
Origin
First established as Negro History Week in 1926 by the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), it grew in popularity teachers and organizations. Until becoming an official month of African American History in 1976.
"Now in 2012 how much African American history do you reserve as a calendar event of experience, a lesson and/or achievement?"
What new personalities, would you honor and add...
Today African Americans have achieved heights and surpassed expectations as individuals; a direct result of hard work, personal determination, and the freedoms gained by earlier generations. There's a lot of new names to add into the timeline. Including local heroes who may not have national awareness, but their contribution are vital for community strength. Who would you mention?
African American history hold great lessons of humanity, and there are a number non-Africans who fight on behalf of urban communities, unemployment (49% of African men are unemployed), urban education (50% of Los Angeles Unified School District seniors do not graduate). We can consider acknowledging the efforts of those fighting for African/ Latino Americans' rights. Why mention Latinos in Black History, because we share the neighborhoods and our historical narratives share commonalities. In today's world poverty, employment, and education affect us all, and there are many people organizing for our rights as well as theirs'....IJS?
Open the dialogue for social justice to start advocating human rights around lessons/stories of humanity, Black History Month - Revive.
Open the dialogue for social justice to start advocating human rights around lessons/stories of humanity, Black History Month - Revive.
Revive Black History Month, the only objective of this blog-ver-sa-tion is revive awareness and hold this knowledge more dearly and for practical reference. Teach the people to respect their leaders and their ancestry. Every Thursday here on Create-A-Voice will feature a current personality. Some you know, some maybe controversial and others just deserve the recognition. As an African American blogger; I love my people, just as you love yours.
Please join Create-A-Voice as a member and follow us on Twitter @whoopwoop. Use hash tags #rbhm #reviveblackhistory. Below is a track we thought would motivate you, listen to I-20's lyrics, 100 Percent. Have fun and WhoopWoop!
Please join Create-A-Voice as a member and follow us on Twitter @whoopwoop. Use hash tags #rbhm #reviveblackhistory. Below is a track we thought would motivate you, listen to I-20's lyrics, 100 Percent. Have fun and WhoopWoop!
random Thinking "random Thinking" means exactly what it is. Thought clouds of various random relevant topics. So just like reality TV - this is reality "Blogversation"
Yes, Blog-ver-sa-tion community, speak-up. Being part of this community; I have noticed the decline of afro- American documentaries shown on TV channel/s such as KCET and PBS(Los Angeles,California) which had a television program that would air frequenty during black History month- THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
ReplyDeleteThis series would show us MALCOLM X MAKE IT PLAIN, FREEDROM RIDERS, EYES ON A PRIZE and others that I would look forward to watch with my grandfather, who experienced segregation face-to-face. In Closing; It's a real struggle trying to find our history on the TV search. I would ask the Blog adm. to add this vid which pertains to the question asked
( http://youtu.be/1zPdkKuEXFM )
@Anonymous...Your moments with your grandfather, that type of communication is rare; oral narration a good way to learn about someone's life/times. I was thinking about posting the documentary about Muhammad Ali http://youtu.be/iyhqZNcF9pM this is good...
ReplyDeletePlease share this blog-ver-sa-tion with your friends and thank you. Follow us @whoopwoop http://twitter.com/whoopwoop
I see a lack of interest within the youth of my family.. They are either unknowing of great examples of Afro-Americans such as Marcus Garvery or W.E.B. Du bois. And to question them of Martin luther king, they become aware but lack motivation to understand who these great Americans are. Is it possible to conclude they are not being schooled in their history classes?- possible! perhaps schools need to Revive BLACK HISTORY! If they can't get it done.. Intelligent BLACK MEN & WOWAN should instill the facts to our own children. perhaps the children will become intelligent enough to Demand a revival of A year of Black History on their own.
ReplyDeleteQuoting you Salih WA "Intelligent BLACK MEN & WOWAN should instill the facts to our own children."
ReplyDeleteYour point is an excellent solution to revive awareness of Black History. Our Anonymous commenter; mentioned their grandfather passing his story through oral narration, a tool that have always powered our intellect. So Yes Salih, it's going to take us to teach us. Take up the slack and just keep pushing.
Be sure to share our blog-ver-sa-tions and join the Watch, Listen and Read community - Create-A-Voice, thank you!
First of all, I must state my race and ethnicity. I was born and raised in the United States of America not Africa. This would only classify me as an American who's race is Black therefore, I'm a Black American not African American.
ReplyDeleteSo many times theoughtout history, my herritage name has been changed various times. I won't rant on the political issues of which name is or isn't appropriate. I just want to make sure my identity as I see fit is a beautiful American Black Woman.
Now as for the month given to acknowledge Black History. I don't agree that Black History should be favored and highly acknowledged one month of 28 days. Black History is an on going continuum that should be approached everyday. Myself, as a Black American see the lack of knowledge given, more so during the month of February. Ex specially given from so called Black Americans.
I see Black Americans in the media talk about the same old SHIT! We can digress to slavery but I see south more that needs to be said about Black Americans in the 21st Century. We have so many ancestors that has paved the way but new Black Americans after and now has successfully created positive change.
Most schools and parents speak of Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Fredrick Douglous, and OMG Rosa Parks. Their are so many others that need to be talked about. God forbid that our children should acknowledge first the Black American mother and father. That would be to muck like right. Maybe if talk about those even today that struggle to maintain working full time while putting themselves thru school. What about those who work everyday just to survive inspire of obstacles.
It may be to much to ask for but I figure while the same old SHIT is being taught in February since the day that Black People were no longer in slavery. Let me correct myself, slavery as ignorant people know it because mentally, many Blacks are still slaves.
I do realize that I may have taken this topic off shore but DAMN freedom of speech is a moths. Let's not be fooled people. Black History month is everyday. Black History elevates everyday,
@Sistah Anonymous thank you so much for your thoughts, we appreciate you expanding this blog-ver-sa-tion.
ReplyDeleteOur understanding of 28 days for BH; a time where there is a national observance, acknowledging the history and contributions made by Black/African Americans. Though Black/ Africans Americans to maintain oral narrations and teachings, definitely totally agree.
Our intention for a revival is basically to re-invent this month as mention in the conversation under "What new personalities, would you honor and add..." We have unknown heroes and heroines across urban communities such as Manuel Compito http://goo.gl/GLKE7 or Bertha Jordan http://goo.gl/8KvM6 (copy/paste or search our blog)
Sistah Anonymous Create-A-Voice is a platform for relevant blog-ver-sa-tion and thank you for being open. Please share and join our Watch, Listen and Read community.