Beyond Black History Month

What became of the Black People of Sumer?" a weary traveler asked the elder. They were truly a great and honorable people. Yes, they were once great and honorable replied the elder, but they forgot there history and they died.

The quintessential scholar, Dr. Chancellor Williams opened his pioneering classic book, The Destruction of Black Civilization,"(written in 1974), with the above, insightful statement, which should not be ignored or minimized. To not know one's history is tantamount to a tree without roots, or a towering skyscraper without a foundation. The tree would die and the skyscraper would crumble to the ground despite their outward magnificence.

The great historian, author and educator, Dr, Carter G. Woodson founded "Negro History Week" in February, 1926 (77 years ago) to promote a greater awareness of African American achievement. He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915, and he wrote in 1933, the powerful and thought-provoking book, "The Mis-Education of the Negro," which is still considered a classic work. He is known as the Father of Black History Month," which is celebrated annually. Unfortunately, what is really celebrated is a very scant treatment of a people's entire history.

I believe Dr. Woodson would turn over in his grave if he knew that the history of Black people has been turned into an annual commercialized, mis-interpretation of the essence and souls of Black Folks. Needless to say, most Americans in general and Africans in America, in particular still know very little about the rich and glorious history of African ancestry people. Relegating the history of a people from 4500B.C. to 2003 A.D., to twenty-eight days a year is an abomination and totally disregards the myriad relevant, transformative and inspirational stories of African people. Again, what happens to a people who loses or forgets their history?

If we are going to forever recapture our identity, purpose and direction as a people, and reclaim our sanity and our dignity, I suggest we begin to look beyond the annual Black History Month celebrations by doing the following:

• to address and solve our challenges with racism, read and study the solutions offered by Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Neely Fuller, Dr. Bobby Wright and Dr. Andrew Hacker.
• to address and solve our economic challenges, read and study the solutions offered by E. Franklin Frazier, Marcus Garvey, Booker T. Washington, Robert Wallace, Dr. Claude Anderson and Reginald Lewis.
• to save our children, let's read and study the solutions provide to us by Dr. Amos Wilson, Dr. Asa Hillard, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, Dr. Barbara Sizemore and Marian Wright Eldeman.
• to restore our psychological health, read and follow the solutions given to us by Dr. Na'im Akbar, Dr. Price Cobbs, Dr. Wade Nobles, Dr. John Chissell and Dr. Maxie Collie.
• to transform the educational system and enhance the academic achievement of our children, we must read and adopt the myriad solutions provided to us by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Dr, Janice Hale Benson, Dr. James Comer and Neil Postman.
• to restore our group esteem, we must read and implement the solutions laid our for us by Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, Dr. Maulana Karenga, Dr. Molefi Asante, Dr. James Turner, Dr. Chancellor Williams, Sonia Sanchez, Dr. Maya Angelou and Dr. Edward Robinson;
• to reclaim our Black manhood, we must read, internalize the definitions and the powerful examples provide to us by Paul Robeson, Haki Madhubuti, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Dr. Acklyn Lynch and Nelson Mandela;
• to design an accountability system for Black Leadership, we can find a system already developed by Harold Cruse, Dr. Cornel West, and Dr. Earl Ofari; and, to strengthen our spiritual resolve, we must practice the belief and faith systems offered to us by Dr. Martin King, Dr. Cain Hope Felder, Dr. James Cone, Minister Louis Farrakhan and Father Clemens.

  We must look beyond Black History Month if we are to truly honor the great works and many sacrifices made by our ancestors. We must begin to instutionalize and "operationalize" our history to send the message to the world and our children that we are a proud people worthy of respect and a people who should be taken seriously. And, we must let all of humanity know that our history is replete with many examples of achievements against the odds and that we have not forgotten our glorious past.

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