Each year, Black History Month is ushered in with mild fanfare from Black folks and Whites. As some of my students told me, "We probably don't need it anymore because we learned it all in school already." (Don't worry I took me about 2 minutes to blow that assertion out of the water) Still, I think it's important to contribute to the work that our ancestor Carter G. Woodson initiated. Black History has been and should be a living history. With that being said, I've decided to contribute to the project. All too often, we compartmentalize the utility of our history. "Teach the children their history so they know who they are(were)." History must apply to the contemporary contours of life. If it doesn't, we risk making Black history, the present, and the future a mockery. I'm creating a post category called BHC which stands Black History-Contemporary. These posts, in my humble opinion, reflect Black History but are pertinent in the contemporary day and age. For those reading, most will acknowledge Black history is relevant, but how do we agree on yesterday's meaning for today's relevance? The posts will be short, feel free to share you thoughts.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Black History - Contemporary
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1 comment:
Hmmm...
I've been thinking about Sankofa...if you've lost it, it is okay to go back and find it.
I live by that creed in a lot of ways. I think the historical and the herstorical is so very important with relevance that is crucial to the choices we make in our day to day.
As someone who thinks and feels and explores and writes and creates, though...
I think my interpretation of Sankofa has to allow me some space to revere the ancestors, to revere their contributions and build on the lessons their struggles offered without simply mouthing their words and copying their moves.
My version of Sankofa resonates with this approach.
I understand that because it was taken, of course I can go back and find it...but when I bring it forward, it will be necessary for me to bend it shape it work it mold it to fit my needs and experience in the present day.
I often try to point out to other bloggers, but also to people real time how important it is for us as a peopling to not just rest on what has come before.
I think it's so important for us to use what we've been offered, what's been struggled and died for as a firm foundation on which to build upwards and outwards.
When you mentioned the Black bourgeoisie in the post up above, I thought about people who insist on playing it safe. Like the person in the parable who got the talents of silver and buried them.
I work hard, really hard to invest the talents of silver the ancestors bequeathed to me. I am their daughta, it would be a grave insult to do anything less.
Histor. Herstory. Very important.
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