By Tinisia Branch
A couple of years ago I took my daughter, who is now thirteen, to hear Alvin Poussaint speak at Hutchinson, a private school here in Memphis. The lecture series was called “Facing History and Ourselves”. I was reminded of his lecture when I completed the assignments for Module 3. During his lecture he spoke of the affect that slavery has on African American families today. I found this subject rather mind boggling because slavery happened such a long time ago. It was over and we had to move on as a people. In my mind all I could hear was another version of the phrase “Blame it on the man”. Of course what was done to us during slavery was apprehensible and even unforgivable, but we had to keep our heads in the game. However, I really wanted to hear what Dr. Poussaint had to say.
As I sat there, the beginning of his lecture sounded very familiar. He spoke of slaves meeting, falling in love, marrying, starting families and then being separated. These families were separated and sold off to other plantation owners. Dr. Poussaint also spoke of slaves who were rebellious or tried to escape. These slaves were whipped until the skin on their backs were torn and left with horrible scars. I knew these stories and I was eager to see how Dr.Poussaint was going to tie them into his lecture. He then asked the audience if anyone was ever whipped by their parents or whipped their own children. Dr. Poussaint had my attention.
Of course, I raised my hand, because I had gotten whippings and in turn whipped my children. Yes, I said it, whippings. Good old switch whippings. I got them and turned out to be alright. So I figured my kids would get the same and should be alright also. However, when Dr. Poussaint began to show the similarities between slaves getting whipped and African American children getting whipped I shivered. What I thought was a proper form of punishment quickly turned into a cruel form of punishment. At that moment I began to rethink my childhood and my own children. Did I really suffer from those whippings? Was my mom, the one I will do anything for, wrong? As Dr. Poussaint continued to speak I listened with all ears.
I came to the conclusion that my mom did what she thought was best, and I would do the same. At that point I decided I would continue to whip my children, but it would be my very last resort. I based this decision on what I felt deep inside my heart. My brother is okay and I am okay. Neither of us has ever gotten into trouble, have great work ethic, and we understand the word respect. I felt good about my decision then and I still do today. Dr. Poussaint then touched on the connection between families being separated during slavery and present day single parent homes.
I was so intrigued with this connection. I even came up with my own comparison using modern day terms. During the time of slavery black men were forced to become “baby daddies”. They were not given the choice to stay. If the plantation owner sold them, they had to leave their families. Many of them would go to other plantations and start other families. I don’t believe they started them because they didn’t want or love their previous families. They started these new families because they didn’t expect to see their previous families again. Now let’s jump to 2012. John Doe has five children by five different women and was never married to either woman. Previously, I would have said John Doe was trifling and just plain old nasty. Once Dr. Poussaint finished speaking, I began to rethink my position on this matter. Was “baby daddy” syndrome created during slavery? Could it really be possible that “baby daddy” syndrome was passed on to black men from generation to generation?
There is no way I could really answer these questions. I do know that this all sounded so very surreal, yet the connection could not be ignored. At the time, I had no idea how to handle this new found information. For some reason, I couldn’t process it the way I could process theories in Sociology. Theories in Sociology are very concise. This scientist believes this or that and his or her theory represents what he or she believes. Therefore, you end up with several different theories because everyone has a different opinion. The problem has been none of the theories I have learned could explain the information in Dr. Poussaint’s lecture. Then along came AAAS to the rescue.
I’m not saying that AAAS has miraculously answered all my questions, but it has definitely directed me towards the light. I look at all things African American in a different light. Instead of jumping on the “we shouldn’t do that” bandwagon, I ask why do we that. I realized that Jewish Americans held onto their culture and when we tried to hold on to ours, they stripped it away from us. We were forced to assimilate and lost the majority of our history. We were forced to do things that we would have never done in our original lands. AAAS taught me some very valuable information. However, I am still wondering if there is a theory out there that describes the connection between the slave experience and the current state of African Americans.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Black Women in Society
By: Teneka Hudson
As a black woman in today’s society, I would say that I agree with some aspects of womanism and feminism. There are also many aspects that I disagree with in regard to the topic.
In consideration to how a black woman was treated during slavery in this country, I think about how she was used to make our country so powerful. She was used as a maid/nanny, farmer and the white man’s recreation. As a maid/nanny, she cleaned, cooked and raised her master’s children. She even raised her own children which came secondary to the chores set by her master. She worked in the cotton and rice fields on hot summer days. Even though she was overworked, she still maintained the black beauty that attracted both black and white men. I once owned a shirt that said “When God created the black women, he was just showing off.” I would have to agree with that statement because no matter how bad the condition, the black women maintained her beauty, culture and pride that would empower many generations thereafter.
It deeply saddens me to see black women in today’s society that exploit themselves in the public with no consideration to black history. I sometimes wonder do they know or do they just don’t care. I work in a public place where black women come in the office with hair rollers, hair bonnets for sleeping, sleeping clothes, head scarfs and poor hygiene. They dress inappropriately revealing all of the assets that make them so beautiful. They leave nothing to a man’s imagination. They hunt men when they are not designed to hunt. They talk about why it is so hard to find a good man. They have children by different men and then then they rely on the court system to make the black men pay for their loss of respect for themselves. The court system is a new and improved form of a master. If a woman would follow the rules set by the creator and get married before sex or at least childbearing, I feel that their chances of a healthy fatherhood would last longer and give children the black father experience they deserve. Black women are very powerful creatures, but they misuse it and underutilize their god given power in today’s society. It is clear to me that the slave masters recognized the power of black women many years ago. They used their power to accomplish all of the great things that made them rich that they were not capable of accomplishing on their own.
It is true that there are a lot of educated black women that have attended college and obtained successful careers. I have a high respect for them. I have worked with a lot of educated black and white women. It is my belief that sometimes a black woman in a leadership role can be her own demise, if her insecurities out way the leadership role. I believe that this situation is due to the fact that they have forgotten their heritage or feel that they don’t owe anyone for their hard work and accomplishments. My belief is that a woman especially a black woman in leadership should always assist in helping another black woman reach her full potential. Most races empower within the race but the black race is weak in this area. I wonder what would happen if the black race would do more to empower within.
Womanism VS feminism is really very similar in that women deserve equal rights. They work hard to accomplish the same success as men. In my opinion, there are boundaries that women should not overstep. I feel that in order to know those boundaries, a woman must seek the knowledge of the Holy Bible and know that their purpose in life was set a long time ago by our creature, Lord, God Almighty.
As a black woman in today’s society, I would say that I agree with some aspects of womanism and feminism. There are also many aspects that I disagree with in regard to the topic.
In consideration to how a black woman was treated during slavery in this country, I think about how she was used to make our country so powerful. She was used as a maid/nanny, farmer and the white man’s recreation. As a maid/nanny, she cleaned, cooked and raised her master’s children. She even raised her own children which came secondary to the chores set by her master. She worked in the cotton and rice fields on hot summer days. Even though she was overworked, she still maintained the black beauty that attracted both black and white men. I once owned a shirt that said “When God created the black women, he was just showing off.” I would have to agree with that statement because no matter how bad the condition, the black women maintained her beauty, culture and pride that would empower many generations thereafter.
It deeply saddens me to see black women in today’s society that exploit themselves in the public with no consideration to black history. I sometimes wonder do they know or do they just don’t care. I work in a public place where black women come in the office with hair rollers, hair bonnets for sleeping, sleeping clothes, head scarfs and poor hygiene. They dress inappropriately revealing all of the assets that make them so beautiful. They leave nothing to a man’s imagination. They hunt men when they are not designed to hunt. They talk about why it is so hard to find a good man. They have children by different men and then then they rely on the court system to make the black men pay for their loss of respect for themselves. The court system is a new and improved form of a master. If a woman would follow the rules set by the creator and get married before sex or at least childbearing, I feel that their chances of a healthy fatherhood would last longer and give children the black father experience they deserve. Black women are very powerful creatures, but they misuse it and underutilize their god given power in today’s society. It is clear to me that the slave masters recognized the power of black women many years ago. They used their power to accomplish all of the great things that made them rich that they were not capable of accomplishing on their own.
It is true that there are a lot of educated black women that have attended college and obtained successful careers. I have a high respect for them. I have worked with a lot of educated black and white women. It is my belief that sometimes a black woman in a leadership role can be her own demise, if her insecurities out way the leadership role. I believe that this situation is due to the fact that they have forgotten their heritage or feel that they don’t owe anyone for their hard work and accomplishments. My belief is that a woman especially a black woman in leadership should always assist in helping another black woman reach her full potential. Most races empower within the race but the black race is weak in this area. I wonder what would happen if the black race would do more to empower within.
Womanism VS feminism is really very similar in that women deserve equal rights. They work hard to accomplish the same success as men. In my opinion, there are boundaries that women should not overstep. I feel that in order to know those boundaries, a woman must seek the knowledge of the Holy Bible and know that their purpose in life was set a long time ago by our creature, Lord, God Almighty.
Should I be fighting for the freedom of my race or the freedom of my gender?
by Terina White
I understand the need for a black feminist movement. I will admit I still don’t fully get the terms womanist or womanism. The definitions, scope, goals and ethics are all ambiguous and have changed meaning over the years, but I believe I get the nature of their goals. I don’t really have an opposition to black feminist or womanist. I look at it as it is; That there are several different areas of black life that possibly need to be taken apart and examined at a deeper level by those compassionate enough to dedicate themselves to that area. I think about people who work to advance adult Black men’s literacy, or work to decrease homelessness in the black community. I think these things are similar to women seeing a need within the black community and working to fix it. Therefore, it is a necessary group. My own personal passion just doesn’t lie in the feminist movement. My passion lies in dealing with the larger struggle. My fear with black feminist though is that they often seem to look at themselves as separate from black men and I think this is a dangerous way of thinking. We don’t ever need to look at ourselves as separate. We need to see ourselves as a community who needs to strengthen itself by strengthening EVERYONE in the community, not just the men and not just the women.
Another thing I thought I would comment on from the lecture by Sonia Gipson Rankin is how she comments on how feminism is sometimes inaccurately seen as male bashing. I personally see this behavior amongst black feminist all over the internet. I don’t like it and it is one aspect of black feminism that I don’t agree with. I don’t like it when black men bash black women, and I don’t like it when black women do it either. So, my only suspicion with black feminism is just in making sure it doesn’t do more damage than it does good. I recently read a book called Disintegration by Eugene Robinson and after reading it I fully understand that any further breakdown of our "racial solidarity" would ensure that we never rise from our current state.
I understand the need for a black feminist movement. I will admit I still don’t fully get the terms womanist or womanism. The definitions, scope, goals and ethics are all ambiguous and have changed meaning over the years, but I believe I get the nature of their goals. I don’t really have an opposition to black feminist or womanist. I look at it as it is; That there are several different areas of black life that possibly need to be taken apart and examined at a deeper level by those compassionate enough to dedicate themselves to that area. I think about people who work to advance adult Black men’s literacy, or work to decrease homelessness in the black community. I think these things are similar to women seeing a need within the black community and working to fix it. Therefore, it is a necessary group. My own personal passion just doesn’t lie in the feminist movement. My passion lies in dealing with the larger struggle. My fear with black feminist though is that they often seem to look at themselves as separate from black men and I think this is a dangerous way of thinking. We don’t ever need to look at ourselves as separate. We need to see ourselves as a community who needs to strengthen itself by strengthening EVERYONE in the community, not just the men and not just the women.
Another thing I thought I would comment on from the lecture by Sonia Gipson Rankin is how she comments on how feminism is sometimes inaccurately seen as male bashing. I personally see this behavior amongst black feminist all over the internet. I don’t like it and it is one aspect of black feminism that I don’t agree with. I don’t like it when black men bash black women, and I don’t like it when black women do it either. So, my only suspicion with black feminism is just in making sure it doesn’t do more damage than it does good. I recently read a book called Disintegration by Eugene Robinson and after reading it I fully understand that any further breakdown of our "racial solidarity" would ensure that we never rise from our current state.
Slavery and the Black Feminism Movement
by Aniysha Tate
This lecture series went in depth about the beginning of the Atlantic Slave trade as well as hit on the Black Feminism movement of the 1970’s. I thought it was interesting to cover both topics within the same series because the histories of both of these events are prevalent to our society today. I believe with the issue of the slave trade and giving birth to the racism that still exists in our modern society as well as the gender conflict between the modern black man and black woman have yet been swept under the rug of mainstream America. Although we know these problems are alive and well, there is little dialogue being taken, especially in the African American community to discuss and work towards resolutions of these problems. I had the pleasure of taking a class from the prestigious Dr. Reginald Martin and with our final research papers we could expound on any issue in Black America after the Harlem Renaissance. My topic was on the emergence of black feminism writing during BAM and its impact on the modern black woman writer. To go back and read and research writers like Paule Marshall, Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni, and Toni Cade Bambara and how they were struggling not to only find equality in the collective society, but to find equality and respect with their male counterparts. I focused more on the anthology The Black Woman and how it was groundbreaking in offering black women a vessel that displayed their angst with not just the world, but also with the black man. Black women would more that often receive the "blacklash" of the anger and resentment the black man would have towards society’s constant debasement of their manhood. I feel like this subjected has been placed on the backburner because of the state of the black community today. Some don’t feel that this is a serious enough of a topic that needs the attention of the community but it does and should not be dismissed.
The issue of racism is unfortunately equally shared within the black community. As a youth, I found it confusing to grasp that I was different from my white peers. We went to the same schools, had the same interests, ate the same foods, but some how and in some strange way, they were different. As I grew older, I came across those few and far between episodes where people would place stereotypes on me because I dressed a certain way, had certain interests, talked a certain way and I would be subjected to ignorance just because they were uncomfortable with my color. Unfortunately in some cases it was from other blacks who felt that because of my skin tone I thought I was better than them. From white people, I got the dirty looks that I had tainted their gene pool because I was so light and I was nothing more than wannabe trash. What I would love to have happen for future generations is to reconvene this dialogue because in the current state I can see them confused, misguided, and misinformed about the issues of the world. They are looking to us as examples and frankly at this moment, this country; this world is in complete disarray.
This lecture series went in depth about the beginning of the Atlantic Slave trade as well as hit on the Black Feminism movement of the 1970’s. I thought it was interesting to cover both topics within the same series because the histories of both of these events are prevalent to our society today. I believe with the issue of the slave trade and giving birth to the racism that still exists in our modern society as well as the gender conflict between the modern black man and black woman have yet been swept under the rug of mainstream America. Although we know these problems are alive and well, there is little dialogue being taken, especially in the African American community to discuss and work towards resolutions of these problems. I had the pleasure of taking a class from the prestigious Dr. Reginald Martin and with our final research papers we could expound on any issue in Black America after the Harlem Renaissance. My topic was on the emergence of black feminism writing during BAM and its impact on the modern black woman writer. To go back and read and research writers like Paule Marshall, Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni, and Toni Cade Bambara and how they were struggling not to only find equality in the collective society, but to find equality and respect with their male counterparts. I focused more on the anthology The Black Woman and how it was groundbreaking in offering black women a vessel that displayed their angst with not just the world, but also with the black man. Black women would more that often receive the "blacklash" of the anger and resentment the black man would have towards society’s constant debasement of their manhood. I feel like this subjected has been placed on the backburner because of the state of the black community today. Some don’t feel that this is a serious enough of a topic that needs the attention of the community but it does and should not be dismissed.
The issue of racism is unfortunately equally shared within the black community. As a youth, I found it confusing to grasp that I was different from my white peers. We went to the same schools, had the same interests, ate the same foods, but some how and in some strange way, they were different. As I grew older, I came across those few and far between episodes where people would place stereotypes on me because I dressed a certain way, had certain interests, talked a certain way and I would be subjected to ignorance just because they were uncomfortable with my color. Unfortunately in some cases it was from other blacks who felt that because of my skin tone I thought I was better than them. From white people, I got the dirty looks that I had tainted their gene pool because I was so light and I was nothing more than wannabe trash. What I would love to have happen for future generations is to reconvene this dialogue because in the current state I can see them confused, misguided, and misinformed about the issues of the world. They are looking to us as examples and frankly at this moment, this country; this world is in complete disarray.
Reflecting on Our Class
by Regis Reeves
I first think that this assignment is exciting and full of life. As we are moving through the course and the foundation has been laid, I feel we are getting to the meat of the course. For me that is looking at the dynamics of the African American person, the woman, the man and the family. I enjoyed the review of Slavery and its impact on America. One aspect that I have had a lot of thought about recently is the “40 acres and mule.” We are seeing so many African-Americans affected by the foreclosure crisis. But there are not just middle-class African Americans being affected; we also see the wealthy as well. Rapper and movie star Eve, Michael Jordon, Terrell Owens and so many more are selling off their homes. The idea of owning land/property had been passed down to black families since the emancipation. Most of us who grew up in poverty or poor were told the most solid financial thing we could do was to buy our home. But after slavery, owning your own land meant farming. It meant that the property you owned would produce an income. But today, owning a home is a direct expense. It is not producing income. Equity is not income and we finding that out the hard way now. We really have to look at how we approach whether buying a house is what we need to do, but many of us have over extended ourselves because of the “40 acres and a mule” ideal. We thought that owning a house/property in and of itself would create some kind of economic stability for ourselves.
Moving on, Anderson and Stewart have a great breakdown of the vast dynamics of the African American in the United States. I just enjoyed how they laid out the journey from post slavery to present. I can see that it has been a slippery slope of establishing who African Americans are in society because on every hand, White America has had their hand or voice in the discussion.
From religion to the family, white influence has influenced who we are or how we are viewed/perceived. It is no wonder of surprise that the establishment of Black Studies has been such an up and down journey. I just believe if we as African Americans were left to tell our own story without white filters, the understanding for all people including African Americans would become crystal clear. Every race on this planet has been able to tell their own story, accept the African American and maybe the Native American who were all but wiped out.
Noliwe Rooks continues to show the Ford involvement, the confusion and sometimes manipulation of Black Studies by white influences through the 60’s. I can see that establishing the purpose of Black Studies was in a “nutshell,” a mess throughout the 60’s. However the chaos in my opinion was neither because of incompetence nor the white man. I feel it was because how fast the African American was changing in our society through the sixties. From voting rights to becoming elected officials, sports icons, mainstream entertainers and educators, the black man was changing fast. We were entering middle-class and being to be accepted in white schools and colleges. Because of this we as a people no longer had one way of seeing ourselves and one way of seeing white America. While we were changing, people like the Ford Foundation were struggling to keep up and understand as well. So when I say it was a “mess”, I say it with no blame or finger pointing. It was all new ground being plotted out and the make-up of that ground was changing faster than we could keep up with it. Included in all of that was the rise of the Black Woman. As stated in the clip “Black Women and the Women Rights Movement, the black woman was beginning to assert herself with white woman as they began to take their rightful place in the community. As I look on so much information today, I cannot help but wish that some of those who opposed each other could have seen what we see today as we look back. There was really no one to blame or be against. Everyone was working from their own place of sincerity and authenticity. Although we could not always see it, we were working together and for the same cause. Sadly we face this today as well, black leaders against black leaders and never stopping to realize how huge “blackness” is and that it cannot be approach from one single perspective.
I first think that this assignment is exciting and full of life. As we are moving through the course and the foundation has been laid, I feel we are getting to the meat of the course. For me that is looking at the dynamics of the African American person, the woman, the man and the family. I enjoyed the review of Slavery and its impact on America. One aspect that I have had a lot of thought about recently is the “40 acres and mule.” We are seeing so many African-Americans affected by the foreclosure crisis. But there are not just middle-class African Americans being affected; we also see the wealthy as well. Rapper and movie star Eve, Michael Jordon, Terrell Owens and so many more are selling off their homes. The idea of owning land/property had been passed down to black families since the emancipation. Most of us who grew up in poverty or poor were told the most solid financial thing we could do was to buy our home. But after slavery, owning your own land meant farming. It meant that the property you owned would produce an income. But today, owning a home is a direct expense. It is not producing income. Equity is not income and we finding that out the hard way now. We really have to look at how we approach whether buying a house is what we need to do, but many of us have over extended ourselves because of the “40 acres and a mule” ideal. We thought that owning a house/property in and of itself would create some kind of economic stability for ourselves.
Moving on, Anderson and Stewart have a great breakdown of the vast dynamics of the African American in the United States. I just enjoyed how they laid out the journey from post slavery to present. I can see that it has been a slippery slope of establishing who African Americans are in society because on every hand, White America has had their hand or voice in the discussion.
From religion to the family, white influence has influenced who we are or how we are viewed/perceived. It is no wonder of surprise that the establishment of Black Studies has been such an up and down journey. I just believe if we as African Americans were left to tell our own story without white filters, the understanding for all people including African Americans would become crystal clear. Every race on this planet has been able to tell their own story, accept the African American and maybe the Native American who were all but wiped out.
Noliwe Rooks continues to show the Ford involvement, the confusion and sometimes manipulation of Black Studies by white influences through the 60’s. I can see that establishing the purpose of Black Studies was in a “nutshell,” a mess throughout the 60’s. However the chaos in my opinion was neither because of incompetence nor the white man. I feel it was because how fast the African American was changing in our society through the sixties. From voting rights to becoming elected officials, sports icons, mainstream entertainers and educators, the black man was changing fast. We were entering middle-class and being to be accepted in white schools and colleges. Because of this we as a people no longer had one way of seeing ourselves and one way of seeing white America. While we were changing, people like the Ford Foundation were struggling to keep up and understand as well. So when I say it was a “mess”, I say it with no blame or finger pointing. It was all new ground being plotted out and the make-up of that ground was changing faster than we could keep up with it. Included in all of that was the rise of the Black Woman. As stated in the clip “Black Women and the Women Rights Movement, the black woman was beginning to assert herself with white woman as they began to take their rightful place in the community. As I look on so much information today, I cannot help but wish that some of those who opposed each other could have seen what we see today as we look back. There was really no one to blame or be against. Everyone was working from their own place of sincerity and authenticity. Although we could not always see it, we were working together and for the same cause. Sadly we face this today as well, black leaders against black leaders and never stopping to realize how huge “blackness” is and that it cannot be approach from one single perspective.
What I learned about African Americans
by Kahmeya Lewis
I was born during the height of the civil rights movement in 1964, I don’t remember much about it probably because as a small child you don’t understand the importance of many events. Both my parents were from the south and desired a better life so they decided to move north to Ohio. They lived with family members until they made enough money to get their own place. Their first house was in the ghetto, I don’t recall that neighborhood because I was only a baby at the time. My father worked two jobs and my mother worked two jobs also, they strive to give their children a better life and a nice neighborhood. Eventually they saved enough money to buy a house in the suburbs. It was basically an all white neighborhood, growing up there I found myself the only black kid in the group quite a bit.
In elementary I did learn about history but nothing about African Americans or the cultural history, it was more focused on George Washington, the revolutionary war fought for freedom from Britain, and learning all the presidents’ names. During that time I learned more from my mother, she loved to tell stories and talk about current events. She was the one that told me about the march on Washington in the 60’s, Emmet Till being killed because he whistled at a white woman, and about segregation of buses, trains, etc. She told a story about her brother who fought in the Korean War side by side with white soldiers and when the war was over my uncle riding the train to come home with his fellow soldiers and friends that once the train moved into the south train officials attempted to move all the black soldiers to the back cars. In junior high I learned more about global and white history and bit about Martin Luther King, but it was so brief I truly did not understand what it was all about. When I was young my parents bought some books, it was a set all about black history.
From those books I learned about the real discrimination African Americans endured, it showed a diagram of the plans to transport slaves on a slave ship, all lined up side by side laying down, it was the first I saw images of black people hanging from trees dead, and people being killed because they entered a University. I learned so much from those books they were called Ebony History of Black America, my parents bought the whole set, all I can say is they were amazing books with beautiful and sometimes shocking pictures. In high school the focus was again on white history and global history, there was a chapter on slavery and the civil rights movement of the 60’s that was about it. It wasn’t until I went to college in the 1985 I took a black studies class I learned in detail about African American history. I found this class interesting and it was a class I never skipped, it had my full attention. I learned less in school about African Americans; my parents are the ones who taught me the most. I don’t think my parents had this deep seeded need to make sure we understood our culture, but it seemed more about sharing information and experiences.
I was born during the height of the civil rights movement in 1964, I don’t remember much about it probably because as a small child you don’t understand the importance of many events. Both my parents were from the south and desired a better life so they decided to move north to Ohio. They lived with family members until they made enough money to get their own place. Their first house was in the ghetto, I don’t recall that neighborhood because I was only a baby at the time. My father worked two jobs and my mother worked two jobs also, they strive to give their children a better life and a nice neighborhood. Eventually they saved enough money to buy a house in the suburbs. It was basically an all white neighborhood, growing up there I found myself the only black kid in the group quite a bit.
In elementary I did learn about history but nothing about African Americans or the cultural history, it was more focused on George Washington, the revolutionary war fought for freedom from Britain, and learning all the presidents’ names. During that time I learned more from my mother, she loved to tell stories and talk about current events. She was the one that told me about the march on Washington in the 60’s, Emmet Till being killed because he whistled at a white woman, and about segregation of buses, trains, etc. She told a story about her brother who fought in the Korean War side by side with white soldiers and when the war was over my uncle riding the train to come home with his fellow soldiers and friends that once the train moved into the south train officials attempted to move all the black soldiers to the back cars. In junior high I learned more about global and white history and bit about Martin Luther King, but it was so brief I truly did not understand what it was all about. When I was young my parents bought some books, it was a set all about black history.
From those books I learned about the real discrimination African Americans endured, it showed a diagram of the plans to transport slaves on a slave ship, all lined up side by side laying down, it was the first I saw images of black people hanging from trees dead, and people being killed because they entered a University. I learned so much from those books they were called Ebony History of Black America, my parents bought the whole set, all I can say is they were amazing books with beautiful and sometimes shocking pictures. In high school the focus was again on white history and global history, there was a chapter on slavery and the civil rights movement of the 60’s that was about it. It wasn’t until I went to college in the 1985 I took a black studies class I learned in detail about African American history. I found this class interesting and it was a class I never skipped, it had my full attention. I learned less in school about African Americans; my parents are the ones who taught me the most. I don’t think my parents had this deep seeded need to make sure we understood our culture, but it seemed more about sharing information and experiences.
Tasting the Rainbow is Not Enuff: An Analysis of the Trayvon Martin Case
by Aniysha Tate
AAAS-2100 Student: Spring 2012
On February 26, the life of the Martin/Fulton family was turned upside down by the gunning down of their son, Trayvon Martin. This case has only received national attention in the last three weeks with the sand lines drawn down the middle when it comes to the topic of race. As the details of this case are continuing to be revealed, the public is left with a sense of anger and frustration at the handling of suspect George Zimmerman, who at the moment I type this post is still free without prosecution. Zimmerman ‘assumed’ that Trayvon was a threat to his neighborhood and felt that it was his duty as a citizen to serve and protect his community. What he was oblivious of was the fact that Trayvon was part of that community as he was walking back to his father’s house from the local corner store with some skittles and beverage, which have been symbolic of the protest along with his hoodie which was dawned for protection from the rain. We can sit and make the comments that Zimmerman stereotyped Trayvon because of his attire. Granted he did. But what he saw more than that hoodie was the fact that Trayvon was a young BLACK man with a hoodie shielding him from visual. That is what made Zimmerman jump.
Does that make the situation better to comprehend? It most certainly does not. This young man was gunned down, not just shot at, and made a blatant target because of another man’s bigotry. We have seen social media blaze this story like wildfire and there have been countless pictures of person’s of all colors dawning hoodies in protest and remembrance of a young man who was senselessly killed. This issue hit close to home because I am a parent of a young black man.
Like Trayvon, my son will encounter those who will be unwilling to see nothing more than a black man – a danger to society that must be destroyed at all costs. What they will never see and know is that he’s a brilliant young man who likes writing, playing the guitar, and loves wearing his hoodie because it gives him comfort and security. This tragic incident has invoked others to reignite the discussion of race and the plight of our black youths. The tragedy of Trayvon’s life has given focus to shifting and changing the ideals of this society because although we are naïve in admitting this, this is global. This mentality has been ongoing for hundreds of years and we cannot expect a couple of decades of struggle to have changed that. This must continue.
AAAS-2100 Student: Spring 2012
On February 26, the life of the Martin/Fulton family was turned upside down by the gunning down of their son, Trayvon Martin. This case has only received national attention in the last three weeks with the sand lines drawn down the middle when it comes to the topic of race. As the details of this case are continuing to be revealed, the public is left with a sense of anger and frustration at the handling of suspect George Zimmerman, who at the moment I type this post is still free without prosecution. Zimmerman ‘assumed’ that Trayvon was a threat to his neighborhood and felt that it was his duty as a citizen to serve and protect his community. What he was oblivious of was the fact that Trayvon was part of that community as he was walking back to his father’s house from the local corner store with some skittles and beverage, which have been symbolic of the protest along with his hoodie which was dawned for protection from the rain. We can sit and make the comments that Zimmerman stereotyped Trayvon because of his attire. Granted he did. But what he saw more than that hoodie was the fact that Trayvon was a young BLACK man with a hoodie shielding him from visual. That is what made Zimmerman jump.
Does that make the situation better to comprehend? It most certainly does not. This young man was gunned down, not just shot at, and made a blatant target because of another man’s bigotry. We have seen social media blaze this story like wildfire and there have been countless pictures of person’s of all colors dawning hoodies in protest and remembrance of a young man who was senselessly killed. This issue hit close to home because I am a parent of a young black man.
Like Trayvon, my son will encounter those who will be unwilling to see nothing more than a black man – a danger to society that must be destroyed at all costs. What they will never see and know is that he’s a brilliant young man who likes writing, playing the guitar, and loves wearing his hoodie because it gives him comfort and security. This tragic incident has invoked others to reignite the discussion of race and the plight of our black youths. The tragedy of Trayvon’s life has given focus to shifting and changing the ideals of this society because although we are naïve in admitting this, this is global. This mentality has been ongoing for hundreds of years and we cannot expect a couple of decades of struggle to have changed that. This must continue.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Another Case for African-American Studies
One of my personal concerns or torches that I carry regarding African-American Studies is that one or two carefully selected courses be as mandatory as Basic English or American History for all students on college campuses. My reason for this still stands the same. How can our educational system produce the leaders, gatekeepers of employment, caretakers, civil servants etc., and those persons be produced not having the understanding of the people they lead, serve, protect or care for?
As I have while living in Louisiana and now in South Carolina, I am a certified single African-American male foster parent. Here you have a system with many White or non-African American social workers, who know nothing of the dynamic of the African American family. Often as the case in my home this week, I had a White female case worker who clearly did not understand this 18 year old under developed teen beginning to live in my home. But to make my case stronger, involved in this placement is also an African-American female case worker. They both visited my home on the same day at different times. The African-American case worker and I were in total agreement. However, the Caucasian case worker and I disagreed to the point of augment and me almost throwing her out of my house. The problem was that she did not understand what was going on what was needed in that moment regarding me and the foster teen in my home. In my opinion, her main barrier was ignorance of the African American dynamic. Without making this blog too long, I am purposely leaving out the details of the events that lead to the two case workers visit. But here you have one teen, one foster parent and one occurrence, all African American. But we have two social workers, one African-American female and one Caucasian female. The two professionals both are having two different views of what is needed in this instance. Or in the best case scenario, the Caucasian knew what was needed but didn’t know how to effectively communicate with me, an African American that she understood.
Many, who become Foster Parents for the right reason, often send the child they have back to the system and leave foster parenting forever. (Leaving only those who are in it for the money.)We are often made to believe in the African-American community that the foster teen crisis is because the teens in foster care are “too bad” and no one wants to take them in. However, I say that there is another issue at the root of the problem. That issue is that those who work as professionals in the foster care system too often do not understand the dynamics of the African-American family. The break down is not as we are lead to think with the foster parent and the foster child, but with the foster parent and the often Caucasian professionals within the foster care system. Please understand that I writing in terms of African-American foster children and African-American foster parents or potential foster parents engaged in the social system of foster care. All of those no longer active foster parents that I’ve talked to did not quit because of the children. They quit because of the case workers.
As I stated in the beginning, this is another important and highly visible case of why AAAS is more than an alternative with our educational system. AAAS is a necessity and a prerequisite for all who truly want to be the best of the best leaders, protectors, caretakers, and employment gatekeepers in our society today. This is not to take away from the sincerity or hard work that all social workers are doing every day. This is to say as the bible states, “In all thy getting, get understand.” Our colleges should take a higher responsibility to insure that the professionals that are released into our society are equipped to engage and understand those whom their lives, decisions and perceptions will inevitably affect. A course in African-American Studies should not be an option to a college student; it should be a prerequisite to any course of study that any student chooses, just as important as Basic English, Math, or American History. The population and affect that African Americans have on our society and the world is too great for those that lead our world and society, to not understand who African Americans are.
Regis Reeves
March 15, 2012
As I have while living in Louisiana and now in South Carolina, I am a certified single African-American male foster parent. Here you have a system with many White or non-African American social workers, who know nothing of the dynamic of the African American family. Often as the case in my home this week, I had a White female case worker who clearly did not understand this 18 year old under developed teen beginning to live in my home. But to make my case stronger, involved in this placement is also an African-American female case worker. They both visited my home on the same day at different times. The African-American case worker and I were in total agreement. However, the Caucasian case worker and I disagreed to the point of augment and me almost throwing her out of my house. The problem was that she did not understand what was going on what was needed in that moment regarding me and the foster teen in my home. In my opinion, her main barrier was ignorance of the African American dynamic. Without making this blog too long, I am purposely leaving out the details of the events that lead to the two case workers visit. But here you have one teen, one foster parent and one occurrence, all African American. But we have two social workers, one African-American female and one Caucasian female. The two professionals both are having two different views of what is needed in this instance. Or in the best case scenario, the Caucasian knew what was needed but didn’t know how to effectively communicate with me, an African American that she understood.
Many, who become Foster Parents for the right reason, often send the child they have back to the system and leave foster parenting forever. (Leaving only those who are in it for the money.)We are often made to believe in the African-American community that the foster teen crisis is because the teens in foster care are “too bad” and no one wants to take them in. However, I say that there is another issue at the root of the problem. That issue is that those who work as professionals in the foster care system too often do not understand the dynamics of the African-American family. The break down is not as we are lead to think with the foster parent and the foster child, but with the foster parent and the often Caucasian professionals within the foster care system. Please understand that I writing in terms of African-American foster children and African-American foster parents or potential foster parents engaged in the social system of foster care. All of those no longer active foster parents that I’ve talked to did not quit because of the children. They quit because of the case workers.
As I stated in the beginning, this is another important and highly visible case of why AAAS is more than an alternative with our educational system. AAAS is a necessity and a prerequisite for all who truly want to be the best of the best leaders, protectors, caretakers, and employment gatekeepers in our society today. This is not to take away from the sincerity or hard work that all social workers are doing every day. This is to say as the bible states, “In all thy getting, get understand.” Our colleges should take a higher responsibility to insure that the professionals that are released into our society are equipped to engage and understand those whom their lives, decisions and perceptions will inevitably affect. A course in African-American Studies should not be an option to a college student; it should be a prerequisite to any course of study that any student chooses, just as important as Basic English, Math, or American History. The population and affect that African Americans have on our society and the world is too great for those that lead our world and society, to not understand who African Americans are.
Regis Reeves
March 15, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Noliwe Rooks and Black Studies
by Iesha Jones
The Book “White Money Black Power” is rather interesting. Noliwe M. Rooks does a great job as far as pointing out the facts and even inserting situations that were or had happened to her. This makes the reading very eye catching. It made me think of individuals such as my great grandmother and my grandmother and wonder if they experienced any of the same types of experiences such as Noliwe Rooks. My great grandmother and my grandmothers never talked about how life was during the time of segregation, although at the same time I never asked. I feel that if people do not willing engage you in on historical events of their past it is a possibility that they either do not want to talk about it or that they are waiting for you to ask them. But considering the fact that I know how my great-grandmother and grandmothers are I am quite sure as much as they talk about all kinds of other stuff if they wanted to talk about it they would have been told me plenty of stories. Mainly because I have always been that type of person that sat around old folks and listen to them gossip! When Noliwe Rooks spoke about how a lot of students did boycotting from schools that really interested me. I really do not feel that I would have been able to participate in those boycotts. I have always been the type of person to avoid drama or confusion and I am pretty sure those boycotts stirred up a lot of confusion. I do not like pain so being threatened physically or verbally would not sit well with me. I would be afraid of the office “sticking the dog” on me. If I was living back in the 50’s and 60’s I would most likely be one of those individuals who were for doing things to make or help out African American equality but I would rarely participate.
I feel that for whites to only accept a certain amount of black teachers in to schools to lessen drama tells a lot about them. I know that even know there are jobs that are predominantly white and that is completely by choice. And these jobs only have a few black just to so call “prove” that they do accept other ethnicities. I know growing up I was always told if I am applying for a job against a white individual and I am over qualified or have more experience and is a better fit for the company’s bettering being as far as work goes, 9 times out of 10 I will either get the job and be paid less than any other white employee or I will not get the job just because of the color of my skin. When I was young I really did not understand that concept completely but know that I am older I do understand it and I really feel that that is not fair. But if I was to be talking to my grandmother she would tell me “sweetie life isn’t fair so don’t expect things to be, you have to fight for what you want”. The words fight brings chills through my body. Just to know that early African American really did fight to get where we are today and many us of take for granted all the opportunity we have in this world. And then there are individuals who still see the inequality that yet exist among African Americans and whites and we choose not to continue to fight for our rights.
The Book “White Money Black Power” is rather interesting. Noliwe M. Rooks does a great job as far as pointing out the facts and even inserting situations that were or had happened to her. This makes the reading very eye catching. It made me think of individuals such as my great grandmother and my grandmother and wonder if they experienced any of the same types of experiences such as Noliwe Rooks. My great grandmother and my grandmothers never talked about how life was during the time of segregation, although at the same time I never asked. I feel that if people do not willing engage you in on historical events of their past it is a possibility that they either do not want to talk about it or that they are waiting for you to ask them. But considering the fact that I know how my great-grandmother and grandmothers are I am quite sure as much as they talk about all kinds of other stuff if they wanted to talk about it they would have been told me plenty of stories. Mainly because I have always been that type of person that sat around old folks and listen to them gossip! When Noliwe Rooks spoke about how a lot of students did boycotting from schools that really interested me. I really do not feel that I would have been able to participate in those boycotts. I have always been the type of person to avoid drama or confusion and I am pretty sure those boycotts stirred up a lot of confusion. I do not like pain so being threatened physically or verbally would not sit well with me. I would be afraid of the office “sticking the dog” on me. If I was living back in the 50’s and 60’s I would most likely be one of those individuals who were for doing things to make or help out African American equality but I would rarely participate.
I feel that for whites to only accept a certain amount of black teachers in to schools to lessen drama tells a lot about them. I know that even know there are jobs that are predominantly white and that is completely by choice. And these jobs only have a few black just to so call “prove” that they do accept other ethnicities. I know growing up I was always told if I am applying for a job against a white individual and I am over qualified or have more experience and is a better fit for the company’s bettering being as far as work goes, 9 times out of 10 I will either get the job and be paid less than any other white employee or I will not get the job just because of the color of my skin. When I was young I really did not understand that concept completely but know that I am older I do understand it and I really feel that that is not fair. But if I was to be talking to my grandmother she would tell me “sweetie life isn’t fair so don’t expect things to be, you have to fight for what you want”. The words fight brings chills through my body. Just to know that early African American really did fight to get where we are today and many us of take for granted all the opportunity we have in this world. And then there are individuals who still see the inequality that yet exist among African Americans and whites and we choose not to continue to fight for our rights.
Eurocentrism and American Education
by Mary Green
My textbooks greatly condensed and/or remained silent about the achievements and struggles of the African American community (and, really, every community identified as nonwhite). To claim that my (required) high-school American history courses presented history through a Eurocentric lens is an understatement: the teachers chose to only focus on European culture and the “achievements” of white America.
My Literature courses rarely covered literary works of nonwhite writers and (barely) attempted to examine nonwhite characters in literature. On the rare occassion, these courses did so in a very troubling way: texts with nonwhite characters that highlighted the nobility, humanity, and/or complexity of a white character were used to explore American racism (texts like Ernest Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying, Stephen King’s The Green Mile, and Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mocking Bird, for example). This, obviously, is extremely problematic because, outwardly, one sees Black characters being taught in English class and thinks, “Yes, finally!” .... until one realizes that these characters are only being used as a way to further explore white characters.
Before I attended high-school, the idea that knowledge is biased, that history is not simply a set of objective “facts,” and that the American literary canon is not just about literary merit was absurd to me. Yet, the ways in which Eurocentric (read: white) ideology is embedded in an American high-school education is undeniable and troubling. However, from my experiences, the failures of various departments in America’s public schools and the complete disregard for African Americans and other nonwhite communities that have founded and shaped American life forced me to think critically about what I was being taught and why I was being taught that particular information.
My textbooks greatly condensed and/or remained silent about the achievements and struggles of the African American community (and, really, every community identified as nonwhite). To claim that my (required) high-school American history courses presented history through a Eurocentric lens is an understatement: the teachers chose to only focus on European culture and the “achievements” of white America.
My Literature courses rarely covered literary works of nonwhite writers and (barely) attempted to examine nonwhite characters in literature. On the rare occassion, these courses did so in a very troubling way: texts with nonwhite characters that highlighted the nobility, humanity, and/or complexity of a white character were used to explore American racism (texts like Ernest Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying, Stephen King’s The Green Mile, and Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mocking Bird, for example). This, obviously, is extremely problematic because, outwardly, one sees Black characters being taught in English class and thinks, “Yes, finally!” .... until one realizes that these characters are only being used as a way to further explore white characters.
Before I attended high-school, the idea that knowledge is biased, that history is not simply a set of objective “facts,” and that the American literary canon is not just about literary merit was absurd to me. Yet, the ways in which Eurocentric (read: white) ideology is embedded in an American high-school education is undeniable and troubling. However, from my experiences, the failures of various departments in America’s public schools and the complete disregard for African Americans and other nonwhite communities that have founded and shaped American life forced me to think critically about what I was being taught and why I was being taught that particular information.
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