Blacks should be grateful for Black History Month, during
which the peculiar and powerful histories of people of African
descent are brought to the world's attention. It is a time
to reflect on the lives and legacies of Black freedom fighters
that fought and won battles of every kind in every age for
the noble purpose of empowering their people socially, economically,
politically, and culturally. It also serves to remind us that
Black histories are not just about the oppression and repression
of people of color; they also tell of Blacks who have made
invaluable contributions to nations, communities, and institutions
throughout the world.
However,
let us also be mindful that we have a very practical
and personal need for Black history every month. As
we conduct our daily affairs and strive to make a future
for ourselves, we also need to look to the luminous
past for guiding lights. While we should not live in
the past or attempt a wholesale reconstruction of it,
we still need to pore over Black historical records
to gain insights and inspiration that will help us "keep
keepin' on" as we pour ourselves into liberating and
uplifting works of service.
Intimate knowledge of Black histories can also keep
us from taking for granted where we are as Blacks and
what it took to get to these sundry places and spaces
in life. Those who do not learn from the past until
February will repeat it far too often. They are also
not likely to make the most of the opportunities that
have been opened to them by the sweat, blood, and tears
of all the agitators, abolitionists, martyrs, marchers,
rebels, and revolutionaries who came before them. A
visceral understanding of Black histories can move and
motivate us to make the most of each moment of our lives.
Another benefit of delving deeply into Black histories
is that doing so can help us truly appreciate the rich
diversity that does and has always existed among Black
people. Despite how some people try to monopolize and
minimize what it means to be Black, there are perhaps
as many ways to be Black as there are Blacks in the
world. At our best, we have always embraced and encouraged
this diversity because no people can ever be free indeed
if their minds and spirits are held in bondage. Diversity
is desirable also because it allows us to marry ingenuity
to insurgency and thus confront destructive folk and
forces as creative and constructive activists.
Given the good that can come from diligent study of
Black histories, it is needed first and foremost in
Black families. The dissemination of such knowledge
should not be left only to educational institutions
and community organizations, especially so-called multiculturalists
who are content to teach a token Black history. Personal
and collective histories of noted Blacks need to be
taught and talked about in Black homes as liberally
and passionately as they are discussed in Black studies
departments at colleges and universities. In doing so,
we will truly help more and more of our people come
to the realization that the study of Black histories
is not just an elective or special event, but it is
something that is essential to the enrichment of all
Black people.
Black History Month is a sentimental walk down memory
lane for some people and a patronizing one for others.
Moreover, it is the only time a lot of people learn
about the extraordinary lives, achievements, and contributions
of Blacks, while others spend the month trying to set
the record straight for what they think is a captive
audience. But perhaps we should think of Black History
Month simply as a reminder, not just to celebrate Blacks
who made history, but also to stitch their illustrative
histories into the fabric of our own lives and decision-making.
Let us not memorialize, but internalize the importance
and implications of historic Black individuals, initiatives,
and innovations. Let us learn from the past so that
we can truly live in the present.
Richard
Jones (www.iamrj.com)
is a writer living in Detroit, Michigan USA. Please
send your feedback to rjones@iamrj.com or leave your
comments on his blog at http://blog.iamrj.com
Copyright
(c) 2006 Richard Jones. All rights reserved.
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