Knowledge of the past is a key to understanding the present. French Philosopher Paul Valery says it is necessary to study history, even to study it deeply, in order to obtain a clear meaning of our immediate time. There is always a connection between the way in which men contemplate the past and the way in which they contemplate the present. Although history cannot give us a program for the present or future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the present and future.
Hence, history isn't really about the past but it's about defining the present and also the future. The Roman philosopher, Marcus Cicero strongly argued the study of history because “to be ignorant of the past is to remain a child.” In short, to borrow historian Sidney E. Mead, history, is an analysis of the past in order that we may understand the present and guide our conduct into the future.
Carter Godwin Woodson (1875-1950), remembered as the Father of Black History, realized the importance of history and argued that those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history. He recognized and acted upon the importance of a people having knowledge of its race and its contributions to civilization.
Woodson believed that if you can control a man’s thinking, you don’t have to worry about his actions. “If you can determine what a man thinks you do not have worry about what he will do. If you can make a man believe that he is inferior, you don’t have to compel him to seek an inferior status, he will do so without being told and if you can make a man believe that he is justly an outcast, you don’t have to order him to the back door.”
Woodson saw the current history books no more than a record of the “successes and disappointments, the vices, the follies, and the quarrels, of those who engage in contention for power.” As a result, Woodson said, blacks had virtually no knowledge about their history and were seen as a “child-like race.”
He observed that schools are places where they must be convinced of their inferiority. “The thought of the inferiority of the Negro is drilled into him in almost every class he enters and in almost every book he studies.”
But for Woodson the necessity of documenting black history was more than just about the recognition of black contributions: it was to wage a battle against racism. Woodson believed that racism was not inherent in human nature, but was a consequence of the belief that blacks had contributed nothing to mankind; therefore, blacks were viewed as inferior. It was inevitable, said Woodson, that all achievements would eventually be attributed to one race.
Born to parents who were former slaves, Woodson spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at the age of twenty. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. The scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population - and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time.
Woodson decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. The initiative was also aimed at underlining the harms of racial prejudice and to cultivate black self-esteem following centuries of socio-economic oppression.
Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926 but what you might not know is that black history had barely begun to be studied - or even documented - when the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they gained a respectable presence in the history books.
When the tradition of Black History Month was started, most representation of blacks in history books was only in reference to the low social position they held, with the exception of George Washington Carver (1864 –1943). Carver was an American botanical researcher and agronomy educator who worked in agricultural extension at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, teaching former slaves farming techniques for self-sufficiency.
Today, unlike in Woodson’s time, knowledge about black history has certainly come a long way. Now, there are numerous books written about important black people and their contributions. This is definitely one part of Woodson’s goal that has been achieved. As for Woodson’s goal to end racism, it has not been completely recognized, but significant progress has been made and this, in fact, may be due in part to the education about blacks in American history.
Interestingly, Black History Month sparks an annual debate about the continued usefulness and fairness of a designated month dedicated to the history of one race. Some African American radical/nationalist groups, including the Nation of Islam, have criticized Black History Month. Other critics contend that Black History Month is irrelevant because it has degenerated into a shallow ritual. Some critics argue that sanctioning a racially distinct observation moves Americans away from a common history.
In February 2006, Actor Morgan Freeman re-energized the debate over the pertinence of Black History Month, now an 82-year-old cultural institution for African Americans. In an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" Freeman said: “You're going to relegate my history to a month? ….. I don't want a black history month. ... Black history is American history.”
Perhaps Woodson, creator of the Negro History week in 1926 that later turned into the Black History Month, had hoped that the week would eventually be eliminated, when African-American history would be fully integrated with American history.
However, Mel Watkins, author of “On the Real Side,” a history of African American comedy, believes it is necessary because African American history isn’t yet fully integrated into American history. “The irony of it is that we still have to have a Black History Month to remind people that we have a history.” The Black History Month is celebrated in the United States and Canada in February while in Britain in October every year
Author and journalist.
Author of
Islamic Pakistan: Illusions & Reality;
Islam in the Post-Cold War Era;
Islam & Modernism;
Islam & Muslims in the Post-9/11 American.
Currently working as free lance journalist.
Executive Editor of American Muslim Perspective: www.amperspective.com
DESCRIPTION: Tragically, progressive community’s editors and writers, including Afro-American writers, again did NOT take advantage of the national holiday to feature martyred King’s 1967 -68 anti-war, anti-imperialism, anti-international predatory capitalism speeches which since his assassination remain completely media suppressed from public attention; did NOT seek to publicize King’s thundering condemnations into public awareness. Why?
TEXT: Yet Another Abysmal Holiday Failure to Publicize King's Condemnation of His Nation's Imperialist Wars.
With the exception of a "CommonDreams" reprint of King's "Beyond Vietnam", one is dumbfounded WHY
as usual, tragically, the progressive community’s editors and writers, including Afro-american writers, did NOT take advantage the national holiday for the most powerful and universally known progressive martyred American, whose 1967 -68 newspaper headlined anti-war, anti-imperialism, anti-international predatory capitalism speech remains completely media suppressed from public attention.
Our progressive alternate media writers did NOT seek to slam King’s thundering condemnations into the face of the world’s criminally insane oppressors,
did NOT headline in their articles the King that conglomerate entertainment/news has buried, namely,
King, the condemner of U.S. genocidal foreign policy,
King, the condemner of monstrously life taking wars of occupation in the defenseless third world,
King, the condemner of internationally predatory capitalism, and the fiery denouncer of commercial promotion of selfishness, disinterest in the crimes of the nation, and apathy and the acceptance of their connection with inequality at home.
Jesus, Jay Janson did his best all year*, but now that free alternate media's annual chance to throw light on big media’s forty year blackout of the King’s condemnations of U.S. government crimes and blistering criticism of the American nation's priorities has been lost for another year, a sinking feeling in the stomach corrects his erstwhile faith in the eventual effectiveness of America's non-capitalist, non-imperialist, pro peace and justice editors and writers.
Establishment TV has again reprogramed King's image into that of a heroic and model representative of America the Great, the Best, the Fairest (in its worldwide rule by corporate governance through war and financial coercion).
OpEdNews readers will forgive this writer's loss of journalistic detachment in bringing to their attention his bitter consternation and inability to understand mentors and peers not having given top priority to promoting King the 'condemner' of the daily insanity, death and destruction we most certainly will continue to witness before the next King national holiday opportunity presents itself. At which time maybe everyone could please give it one's best shot at awakening public awareness of the existence of a posthumous unassailable iconic leader all peace and justice activists could have as an impervious protective shield out in front of their organizing actions.
* Eleven articles on the beyond the domestic, 'world' civil rights leader Martin Luther King:
Corporate media blocks public knowledge of the fury of King's outcry over U.S. wars of occupation and the powerful indictment of his government in his Beyond Vietnam speech, that made bold headlines in newspapers around the world. OpEdNews has highlighted ten Jay Janson articles which review King's, now media buried, thundering imperialist war condemnations in context with current events King was not permitted to live to see. ___________________________________ January 20, 2008 Corporate Media Keeps King "in his place"! Buries King's Fiery Condemnation of US Wars
King thundered eloquently against U.S. genocidal imperialist wars, international predatory capitalism, factually denounced CIA overseas crimes, the cruel indifference and blind immorality of America. Corporate media blocks public knowledge of the fury of King's outcry over U.S. wars of occupation and the powerful and vehement anti war pronouncements from his Beyond Vietnam speech, that made bold headlines news around the world ________________________________ February 13, 2007 King's Anguish versus Our Apathy Then and Now / Quote Rev. King Day, the 15th of EACH Month
Passages from King's "Beyond Vietnam", if widely known, would be enough to make network entertainment/news current promotion of both Vietnam and Iraq military ventures as glorious look ridiculous at best or dastardly otherwise. King spoke firstly to the foreign lives so wantonly taken in the destruction of their homelands. That the 15th of each month be "Quote MLKjr Day" for peace and justice activists. _______________________________ August 17, 2007 MLK Jr. & Acceptable Killing of Children by Air Strkes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia
What if the heartbreaking photo had instead been that of an AMERICAN father clasping his dying infant son to his chest staring vacantly into the camera, holding an AMERICAN child with shrapnel wounds. Amoral Mr. & Mrs. America approve sending terror under the American flag! MLK Jr said, "Every man of humane convictions must protest." Its easy. Just quote King! We need his moral leadership. _________________________________ July 22, 2007 Rev. King Jr. Re: U.S. Extermination Programs and 1/2 Humanity living on $2 a Day
An Anglo-American terror tactic of extermination is traced up to present indiscriminate air strikes in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia stopping off at genocide in Vietnam to quote MLK Jr., who is also quoted regarding capitalism's horrendous effect on most of the non Western world, making a breeding ground for communism then and today's savage suicide bombing reaction to the brutal violence of the superpower over control of oil. __________________________________ June 17, 2007 A Letter to MLK Jr. re the Same Media War Promotion He Fought & the FCC
Dear Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Jr., we are still watching the same war mongering on television as when you were with us, but we are much more zeroed-in on the fact that only deceitful conglomerate media programming makes wars possible by first making war acceptable. Here is what media has been doing to us. Here is how we are finally filing complaints with the FCC in your style and in your name by phone, fax, mail and e-mail. ________________________________ May 16, 2007 The Silence of Clergy Today versus Rev. King's "Silence is Betrayal!
At the polls, citizens have finally expressed themselves against the war in Iraq. Candidates and incumbents feel the need to call for an end to the war. But we rarely hear even a peep from Clergy. Is this for its observing the doctrine of 'Separation of Church and State' or because the Church has become BOUND to the State and SEPARATED from its faith? ____________________________ April 15, 2007 Quote A Martyred Progressive's Condemnation of U.S. Wars
Asks why Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus do not repeat MLK's condemnation of U.S. war policies on the floor of Congress. The fourth article in the series appearing on the 15th of each month exhorting peace and justice activists to follow the example of Howard Zinn, who, in radio interviews quotes King Jr.' strong condemnations of U.S. murderous war policies and the use of its military throughout the 3rd world _______________________________ March 16, 2007 Dems, Bush, Fear Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.' Words! Shake 'em Up! Quote King!”
Exhorting peace and justice activists to follow the example of Howard Zinn, who, in radio interviews quotes Martin Luther King Jr.'s strong condemnations of U.S. murderous war policies and the use of its military throughout the third world to support inequitable and oppressive trade arrangements. Send King's words to Dems backing the Iraq occupation! _______________________________ April 5, 2007 MLK Assassination Anniversary Yesterday Unnoticed, Useful Today
A Memphis jury's verdict on December 8, 1999, in the wrongful death lawsuit of the King family versus Loyd Jowers "and other unknown co-conspirators," found that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by a conspiracy that included agencies of his own government. Read UN Ambassador Andrew Young testimony. put King's condemnation of U.S. wars to use today as 'peoples historian Howard Zinn does in his radio interviews! ________________________________ January 15, 2007 King's Anguish When He Condemned U.S. War Crimes and Foreign Policy Worthy of Emulation
A call for activists to make frequent use of the words of Martin Luther King Jr in his 1967 speech "Beyond Vietnam", condemning the U.S. war in Vietnam and its violent foreign policy toward countries in the third world. Being that the entire speech is relevant to our deathly predicament today, and King's stature being such that his outcry and accusations if often quoted could have a belated effect on foreign policy. _______________________________
SUGGESTION: Write to Congressmen and Media: Why blackout a national hero's condemnation of his government?
by
Jay Janson (70 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 86 comments)
on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 11:45:09 AM
