Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 21, 1993 TAG: 9302220250
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFFREY L. ARTIS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
BLACK HISTORY
AS BLACK History Month is celebrated, we must begin to realize that it is more than a time to pay homage to Martin Luther King Jr., or to the many overlooked historic, social and economic accomplishments that African-Americans have made to this great country of ours.It is also a time in which the African-American community can review its own history, in order to find solutions to the problems facing our community daily. In addition, it is a time in which the African-American community desperately needs to educate our young people about ourselves.
No other racial, ethnic or minority group has contributed as much to America, yet knows so little about its history, as African-Americans. This is especially true among our young people under 20.
My point is best illustrated by the current rediscovery of Malcolm X. Ask any young person wearing a Malcolm X hat, T-shirt, jacket or any other piece of clothing who he was or what he stood for. More than likely, that person will say Malcolm stood for violence, hate - or, as one young person told me, "Malcolm X stood for making the white man pay for his sins by any means necessary."
There is little or no knowledge of Malcolm's opposition to drugs, alcohol, adultery, crime, premarital sex, racism (after his pilgrimage to Mecca) and violence. Nor is there much knowledge of Malcolm's support of education, the family unit, the brotherhood of all men, and the concepts of truth, justice and equality.
Knowledge of Malcolm has been determined by news sound-bites, music videos and statements he made that are printed on T-shirts. Some young people - left alone to form their own historical interpretation of the man - have used their interpretation of his message to reinforce and continue inappropriate behavior.
If young African-Americans had a better knowledge of our history, they would see overwhelming evidence that they do not have to be athletes to be successful.
They would know many examples of people who have worked hard to become successful, often overcoming adversity we today cannot even begin to imagine.
They would see it is possible to be successful while maintaining their blackness, their heritage and their dignity.
They would see that making good grades and excelling in school are not a "white thing."
They would know that education is a legitimate means to gain the economic and political power young African-Americans feel is lacking in our community.
Young African-Americans must know they do not have to sell themselves into athletic prostitution to be successful. Our history shows us we are an intelligent people, building great civilizations while other cultures lived in caves. It shows us the great contributions African-Americans have made in the building of this great country.
Young African-Americans must realize that though Michael Jordan is a good role model, Barbara Jordan is an even better one.
However, young blacks will never realize this until the adult African-American community stops being more concerned with the number of baskets and touchdowns our children score in a game than the number of A's and B's our children get in the classroom. How much longer are we going to allow our community to be raped by allowing our young to be excellent on the playing field but ignorant in the academic field?
A study of African-American history would help show young black males the true meaning of African-American manhood. Young black males would learn fight at the drop of a hat, get a woman pregnant, treat his female partner like a piece of property; can, as they say, "talk the talk."
A study of our history could help young black males realize a true black man defends himself only when necessary. He takes care of his children at all times, not only when it is convenient. He treats his female partner with respect and dignity. He not only can "talk the talk," he can "walk the walk" as well. He is proud, dignified and intelligent. He is peaceful unless threatened. He thinks first and uses his fists as a last resort. No one can take his heart, his pride, his blackness or his dignity away from him. He will not allow it.
African-American history holds the same for young black females. She would learn she would not have to be subservient to any man. She would learn how to demand respect through her actions and not through her words. She would learn how to depend upon love of self before depending upon the love of any man. She would know that true beauty is not measured by a Barbie Doll image but by the image she has of herself, established by her and no one else. She would know it is not a crime to be self-sufficient. She would demand and receive total equality. Most important, she would be able to pass her best attributes to her offspring with the help of her husband or partner, or by herself.
The African-American community must be the primary provider for the education of African-American youth in the area of black history. This is especially true during Black History Month. While the white community is beginning to be less threatened by the concept of a black-history celebration, it still lacks understanding of this event's importance, often belittling it with demands for a White History Month.
As for the American public-school system, while it no longer degrades African-American history, confining its teachings to the happy slave, Uncle Tom and Little Black Sambo, it has done a poor job across the board of stressing that African-American history is a significant part of American history and not a competitor to it.
Black History Month is more than a time to celebrate the work of Martin Luther King Jr. It is not a rejection of American history as it is taught in the American public-school system. It should not be a time when young blacks walk around with a chip on their shoulder angry over the injustices done to the African-American community in the past.
Black History Month is a celebration. It is not only a celebration of names, dates and events. It is also a celebration in which we should examine the African-American way of life, in order to live free and proud every day of the year.
Jeffrey L. Artis of Roanoke is a former history teacher at William Fleming High School.