I just heard something rather troubling. This is in regards to the Bid Em In video. A friend just mentioned that two of her children recently saw a video and captured nothing from it. Let me be clear, one child is 22 the other is 16. They have no concept of slavery. One referred to the video as "selling hoes" and the other thought it was an auction of people. There was no mention of that the people were Black or that this was during colonial times. There was no anger over the video, or any emotional connection. This is opposed to the very emotional and angry response to the Read-a-book BET public service announcement.
In speaking with a friend the conclusion seems to be that kids today have no connection to slavery. The concept just does not come to mind. It's almost as if to them it never happened, which is somewhat understandable since it’s never spoken about. I have no kids so this is a matter I wouldn't readily expect, nor conceive of. But a great point was made and it deals with Black history month. For all of the Leave No Child Behind rhetoric and all of the increased curriculums, there is nothing mentioned about slavery itself. When was the last time you recall seeing Roots on TV or heard that it is available on DVD? [Hey BET; think you could run this sometime?]
There been many studies about the Holocaust to remind children in the world of the atrocities that happened some 60 years ago. Yet there are no equivalent programs at high schools and in many colleges to address slavery in America, to my knowledge. As a nation we discuss taking the land from the Indians, the Japanese internment, the Holocaust in Germany, the killing fields in Southeast Asia. Even most recently the problems in Bosnia, but it is verboten should we speak about slavery in America. And the result is that young adults, African-American young adults, can watch a powerful statement about their ancestors, and neither raise an emotional response nor contextual one. That seems wrong to me.
My friend’s children are intelligent, the 22-year-old having gone to college. These are not gang-bangers, drug addicts, criminals, or wanna-be-felons (in other words, rappers). I am amazed. So I ask you to help me out in understanding something. Let's call it an informal survey, a fact-finding mission, or just bloody curiosity. Those of you who have children or grandchildren, who have not yet seen the video, take an opportunity and show them this. After they've seen it, asked them what they've seen. Don't tell them beforehand anything about the video, and then asked them their response. And then please come back, and send me an e-mail or make a comment and let's see what the general sentiment is out there.
If the generations coming up now have no concept of their past then they will be doomed to repeat the hardships that occurred then. They will have the American Dream in reverse. As it has been constantly said ‘history repeats itself, if we do not learn from the lessons of history.’ I for one will not sit idly by and allow my nephew (or other young adults) to have to experience the same things my grandmother and great-grandmother and fathers experienced.
This is what I would do you think?
** I first posted this video in A bit on my Labor Day - 9.3.2007.1 but I will repost it here for ease.**
2 comments:
i think everyone should watch this video. i let my daughter which is eleven put it in her schoool project on slavery. she has been through racsim already and she hasnt hit her teenage years we need talk about this now and stop acting like it dosent exist. i prasie those who put this video on the air and on the internet. and thank you.
mainemaine
I’m glad that my site was helpful in providing you and your daughter with information about out past. Too little is spoken about this aspect of America’s past and far too often it is ignored in school curriculums across the nation.
I’m sorry to hear that your daughter has had to face racism at such a young age, or at all. But according to the major media prejudice and bias based on race is all but a thing of the long ago past. That’s what they would have us believe if we close our eyes and ignore what is happening. And that’s why we must speak about what we go through and the events we overcome.
We need to be proud of our past, and remember more than just that there were slaves and then suddenly there was civil rights. We need to delve into the centuries of history that is excluded, yet the benefits of which are enjoyed everyday. And if I and this site helped in any way, I am proud.
And I think this video is very powerful. Since Roots was on television (once since airing in1978 as I recall) there has been nothing that really touched on this message so visibly and honestly.
Do let me know your thoughts from time to time. And those of your daughter too.
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