BLACK HISTORY-LESS

[BOSSMAN YA DIG]

WHAT HAPPENED FOLKS?.....(RAISING EYEBROWS)......IS IT ME OR HAS THERE BEEN NO DIALOGUE ABOUT GREAT MOMENTS THIS MONTH IN BLACK HISTORY.....ITS EVEN SADDER TO SAY PBS IS RUNNING RE-RUNS OF LAST YEARS PROGRAMS....IS HAVING A BLACK PRESIDENT JUST CAUSE TO END BLACK HISTORY MONTH?.....ALL I'VE SEEN ACROSS THE NET ARE BLOGS ABOUT DEVIANCE AND NOTHING REALLY INFORMATIONAL BASED UPON A GREAT MOMENT IN BLACK HISTORY....EVEN BET (WHICH SHOULD RENAME ITSELF S.UM-B.ULLSHIT-E.NTERTAINMENT-T.ELEVISION) HAS NOT ONE PROGRAM EACH DAY SHOWCASING THE BLACK LIBERATION....JUST GOES TO SHOW WHERE EVERYONE'S PRIORITIES LIE WHEN ALL THE TALK ON THE INTERNET/NEWS HAS BEEN ABOUT LACK OF RESPECT FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS.

JUST IN CASE YOU WANTED TO INCREASE YOUR BLACK EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE

http://www.blackfacts.com/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28895616/
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/K-12/Today_B_History.html
http://www.informationman.com/today.htm

[Jigabod]

Awwwww, now you done opened the can of worms...

1. I wish BET WOULD try to get on some Black History right now... like they ain't been UNDOING everything our ancestors fought for for the OTHER 11th months!!!!

2. To be honest, Black History month is an appeasement. 'Nuff respect to our ancestors, but we haven't "won" anything until American History as a WHOLE gets integrated. Having one month set aside just reminds us each year that we still are, indeed, set aside in America, and not included as equal individuals. It's as ridiculous as Valentine's Day--- a single day set aside for love when love should be a 365 day experience. I shouldn't have to wait til February to hear about my people, I should hear about them in equal proportion and quantity to White or any other ethnic group ANY TIME OF YEAR. THAT's what we should be striving for.

3. HECK no having a Black President isn't a cause for ending Black History. Number one because he's a MULATTO, not just a Black man. Number two because having a Black President doesn't solve ANYTHING for Black people; it only shows what is possible for us with the right amount of assimilation and grooming. We're still lacking in education, work opportunities, and family structure, so we've STILL got work to do! What good is Barack in office or Oprah on TV when your kids are looking up to Lil Wayne and Souljah Boy and Rick Ross and 50 Cent instead! FOCUS!!!

4. We've spent enough time reminiscing on Black glory days; we should be concentrating on MAKING Black history, not LEARNING it! Granted, you've got to know where you're from to know where you're going. But then you've got to actually GO. And not just go blindly, but go with DIRECTION. Instead of talking about those who lifted us up in the past, let's get SERIOUS and talk about WHO'S BRINGING US DOWN RIGHT NOW!!! We've got some PRUNING to do in the Black community to keep us elevating and not following the examples of fools.

5. Click-clack: your ethnicity ain't Black! You didn't come from a color, you came from a father and mother. Who carry geneologies of multiple peoples. Africa is a continent of countries; what do we do? Lump them all together, thanks to racist agendas. Sacrifice our heritages right into a blender. Dismiss any traces of intermingling races. Settle for lumping together based on color of faces...

Translation: the very need for a Black History month is TRAGIC because it was born solely out of racism! If it wasn't for the deculturalizing institution of slavery and Whites discriminating against dark people, Black History wouldn't even exist! It's a purely reactive invention!


(Pardon the overkill; I'm a history teacher, it can't be helped.)

[Necole Clout]

I partially agree with Jig on this one and can't agree with you on everything. I watch BET, MTV and VH1 and they’re other channels to always be informed about the music business and also to keep up with Music and where it is going in general. I can honestly say that on the show 106 & Park, there are excerpts and dedications to our African American heritage and the people who fought to get us where we are today. The show has been acknowledging the fact that it is Black history month. There are also commercials about the history of our people and important facts about Other blacks (not just Harriet Tubman, MLKJ, Malcolm X, and Frederick Douglas) that they point out. So the kids that are watching BET are getting some knowledge.

On February 9 there was an Honors program on BET honoring our African American heroes in certain aspects of politics, media, and entertainment. I watched the last hour of it last night (right when they were honoring my girl Mary J, Congressman James E. Clyburn, and Tyler Perry. I know people who read some of my posts are like that’s all she talks about but I promise it was a coincidence!!!!:) I was smiling from ear-to-ear hearing of their achievements and why BET decided to honor these individuals. That is our history.

The NAACP also had an honors program that aired this month.honoring "us." So I cannot agree with you when you say there are no Media outlets for educating others about the great works we as a people are doing. We made history in November when President Obama was chosen as President Elect; we made history in January when Mike Tomlin became the second-youngest black coach to win a super bowl; and we will continue to make history through our art, talents, and gifts. We as parents, or all who have an ability to teach and educate our kids must step in and provide that knowledge must do it consistently.

It is not the television or Internets responsibility to teach our kids about who we are and what we have accomplished. We are to do that. I know you just don't send your child (if you have a kid) to school and expect the teacher to teach your child everything he or she needs to know. Teachers help but you have to guide and instill morals, discipline, and education. I set aside time everyday to teach my son what he needs to know in life.

I agree with Jig when he says that Black History month does not project equalization and there shouldn't just be one month that specifically acknowledges African Americans. We can't expect other people to do what we are supposed to do for our families and communities. We are supposed to explain to our kids the difference between being educated (Oprah) and famous (Lil' Wayne). When your child watches TV or hears certain types of music, it's because you as the parent has allowed it. You either purchased the CD, iPod, or allowed them to be all on the Internet. And you can’t deny them friends or who they choose as their friends. All of these things are influential. It is still our place to explain to them the difference in right or wrong; good or bad; and history which includes more than blacks. Once we have educated our kids we must then pass it on to our communities, churches and so forth. It's not a one-month focus. It is continuous and when educating, it shouldn't be just about our race and our achievements. It should be general, broad based, and factual.

[ATL'S OWN GREG-W]

I was just now talking to one of my friends about this same topic... It's really sad.

I guess now that Obama's president we all think that the job is done... but that's so not true.

It actually has just begun!!!