There’s a degree of excitement about this year’s observances of Black History Month motivated by a feeling of hope that this “Revered Nation” can survive and eclipse the division and damage done by current conflicts. One reason involves a feeling of hope though this year’s multiple current political aspirants offering new hope for those most adversely affected to date. Another reason involves accent on more regional unity, overflowing into one unific common whole.
Having been frozen out of “History,” but for its slavery-related insertions, emerged the birth of “Black History.” Among the early isolated exceptions ranks high inclusion of a Black chorus from the University of Atlanta Center singing and marching to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” at the inauguration of a former Governor of Georgia. There was also a Dawn Prayer once offered at the Lincoln Memorial offered by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. at the very sight where his son led the great “March on Washington” in 1963. Then, too there was the a protest march during the time when southern drinking fountains were all marked “white” and “colored.” On the flip side, however, ”Daddy King’s sermon was part of the official inauguration ceremonies! That’s quite a change!
Black people finally received a strong boost to research of our past, however in the popularity of Alex Haley’s revolutionizing book, ”ROOTS, further galvanized by the television series reaching out to millions with the saga of the Black experience in America!
“Roots” and the search for our Black past should ever remain with us, whether on professional or personal levels. That is as it should be as what we are (or become) will ever be contingent upon our past journey there. Daily life and the way we cope with issues large and/or small reveals what and who we really are. What legacy will we leave for posterity? They shouldn’t have to search for it. It’s not too late for families to gather on a frequent basis to record FACTS while they are yet fresh enough to be true!
Black History should not be just an annual observance, but daily examination and recording of the present–(for future accuracy) instead!) It’s not too late to start!
