Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 12, 1993 TAG: 9301120396
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By J. LYNNE BOUKNIGHT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PROUD HERITAGE IGNORED
I HAVE HAD several heated debates on a 373-year-old problem: racism. These conversations have taken place with my brothers and sisters in the area and surrounding counties. At least those persons are awakening to a new era.It is difficult to face the truth and be understanding on some occasions, to know that we are young and growing in number. We are a new breed of African-Americans, who must come together in all areas to be united with other African-Americans in this country.
Far ahead of us, the door must swing open to political awareness, minorities must pass through that door, and our objective must never change. The objective is complete freedom, but we must change our method of achieving the objective.
I am often asked, "What is the objective of the African-American?" My answer is simple: Complete justice, complete equality and complete freedom - with no strings attached. These objectives must be confronted, using any means possible, and must harmonize and comply with the laws of this land.
In 1992, we are still fighting for these rightful necessities that our great-great-great grandparents have fought for: a place within this society in which the words justice and equality are applied with meaning and understanding of a people who are "up from slavery" but still kept destitute enough to feel this cold hand of poverty and hunger.
Our school system teaches very little of our ancestors long past. This system overlooks those Africans, who have contributed so much to the making of America. An America that turns the wheels of the world neglects black achievers and their contribution to making this wheel rotate.
Without regret, I must focus upon the present generation and its chilling ideas of justice. I must bring to light those history-makers: W.E.B. Dubois, Marcus Garvey, Eldridge Cleaver, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Harriet Tubman. Upon this avenue of names, the list goes on and on, and still today we remain ignorant of our heritage. Because of this great neglect and lack of knowledge of our lineage, we have been set back upon a dusty road of near destitution, much like the days of Reconstruction in 1866.
In our own Grayson County, I have seen racism and stereotypes of that degenerate past.
Just a few weeks ago, I was in a local store. An elderly white gentleman spoke to me with kindness and respect. But, he addressed me as "gal." This gentleman seemed to have not forgotten those days when every black man was a "boy," and every black woman was a "hey you."
I am a woman of maturity, and it disturbs me to know that a 50-year-old black man is still referred to as "boy," and black women are still "gals." It is these occurrences that fuel the engines of hatred and plant the hot coals of rebellion in the attitudes of black America's youths. When will it ever end?
I express my outlook as I am looked upon and I feel robbed of both respect and decency. I have been spat upon and have been unjustly labeled with names that should have passed with that degenerate past, and buried beside that dusty road from slavery. We have been overlooked on the highways of success, and we have been neglected in our schools.
In writing my views as I see them, I - as my mentors, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, W.E.B. Dubois - will no doubt be labeled as a troublemaker. These persons were labeled as such because this society - black and white - is unable to face the facts, and is afraid to face the truth.
As I conclude, I leave a message to the young, as well as to my 3-year-old daughter:
You are of African-American heritage, and you are to be respected by others, no matter who they are. If one must take a stand in America to better his or her flight from destitution, one must devote this attack with love and respect for those who disrupt the roads on which we travel.
If one should focus his attention to the letter "X" embossed upon the apparel of another, be not afraid or ashamed, for it is only a reminder that someone still watches over us.
The letter "X" is a reminder that we are not alone. This "X" is not intended to be a symbol of hate, destruction or murder. It is only to remind this society that equal rights, equal housing and equal treatment still bear heavily on our minds.
J. Lynne Bouknight of Elk Creek is a housewife.