Increasing numbers of activities are usually planned throughout the entire month of February in observance of Black History Month. Among them was once the opening of the Community Action Center’s theatre/multipurpose room.
Despite the many conflicting schedules however it was still a great crowd of strategic community and area participants and guests in attendance to share the occasion, and marvel at the Howard Zinn DVD, “The People Speak.” So very powerful and thought provocative is this unique compilation of United States history-through the eyes of the people-that all who view it want to see it a second time-at least.
Also planned and coordinated were regular public meetings through the “N-Zone,” resumption of regular weekly Saturday afternoon sessions for youth and adults.
Interested individuals, organizations, and/or groups were encouraged to send representatives to the open forum meetings. In viewing this all-inclusive documentary by the (now) late Howard Zinn, one is broadened by this nation’s “equal opportunity” disenfranchisement of American citizens dating back from Native Americans through various other people’s movements with each group steeped in its own victimization.
Consequently, historical facts about those who do so much to us should be equally balanced with history of the unimaginable sacrifices of those who have done so much for us.
With the continuous explosion of modern technology, the world is now far better equipped to compile history more accurately as it actually happens and not to rely strictly upon “his story,”-recorded and historically used to manipulate “keep hate alive” to more easily control!
“It is evident to all during the past century that the world has been passing through the death pangs of an old era and the birth pangs of a new one. But the old principles of materialism and self-interest, the old sectarian and patriotic prejudices and animosities are gradually perishing, discredited amidst the ruins they have wrought,” state the Baha’i Holy Writings. “Evils there remain in plenty however gigantic and formidable, but they are being exposed, investigated, challenged and attacked with new vigor and hope…”
The vigor with which the evils of modern society is being exposed, challenged and attacked, must however be simultaneously applied to restore trust and hope for “So powerful is “the light of unity” that it can illuminate the whole earth!”
