It seems not.
Why would I say this? Because I just learned that the school system in Endicott New York has removed all Black studies in the curriculum. There was nothing discussed in this past month about Black History, not even Dr. Martin Luther King, because the entire subject was deemed unimportant.
Hello, stop and read that again. Unimportant and having no place in the minds of any of the children, including those that are African American. And this was all done without a single word to the parents, a single complaint from ANY of the students. It was just wiped out without a concern as if it was no more than a piece of errant string found on a piece of clothing.
Why am I upset? What if the school decided not to discuss the Holocaust, or Native American history? What if all the history about England was removed, or France, or Ancient Rome? What if history in schools forgot about President George Washington, just not ever mentioning what he did, or the Constitution?
People would be up in arms. Parents would be inflamed. Jewish communities would claim its anti-Semitic, Native American Indians would say it’s a slap in the face. Whole communities would demand a reason why their rich pasts were being denied their children. Cries that the fundamental based of what is America was being corrupted.
And I ask, in what way is this different? How are the lives and blood of the African Americans that helped build and shape this nation any less important than anyone else? I am not just talking about the Slaves that literally built the foundations of the nation, but the inventors that created thousands of items we use every day, like the stoplight, or save millions of lives, like blood transfusions. How can we value the lives of soldiers like the Tuskegee Airmen, or those that fought in the Civil War, or the American Revolution with any less honor than every other American.
I don’t know how we can equate those lives and contributions as less, but obviously this town in Upstate New York has. I’m willing to bet that they aren’t the only ones. What are the odds that kids in Montana, or Florida, or Ohio, or any other State have no idea about these inventions or people? How many believe that being a slave, less than a dog or piece of furniture, was no different than having trouble getting a job? I know there are more than a few as I’ve read comments that insist that the trouble the Irish had in getting a job was the same as working 20 hours a day for your entire life, with no days off or concern for your health, without pay, and with the reality that at any moment your entire family may be sold away from you and that you can be killed for no more than amusement or the crime of looking at the wrong person.
If we can allow these schools to just toss away a piece of American History, a history of an essential people that helped found and defend this nation, what will go next? Dr. Martin Luther King’s Holiday? A holiday that over half the nation fought from coming into existence, and many still ignore? Maybe the laws dealing with segregation could be next. And if we get that far, why not restate Jim Crow? Hell, just bring slavery back and make it national.
It’s not that crazy. Slavery was just 5 lifetimes ago for some families. Jim Crow was just 2 or 3. Segregation was just 1. And a people without a history aren’t really a people are they?
And this was so important an issue, that not one child mentioned it. Not one parent noticed. Not one meeting was held. It was just understood that it was ok. As long as no one spoke about it, and no one asked why.
So as long as no one asks you if you are Black, or Hispanic, or whatever color, religion, or background you claim, you are nothing. And you can’t hurt nothing. You can’t defend, offend, steal from, brutalize, rape, murder or anything to nothing. And in Upstate New York, that’s what they are equating being African American with. Perhaps the Jews will be next?
Are you nothing? Is your history, your family nothing? Are you sure?
“Don’t learn Black History because of what you know, learn it because of what you don’t know” – C. Miller
I don’t have children. I’m not a teacher or involved in the school system. Maybe that’s a cop out, maybe not. But I am now aware, and so are you. Part of my responsibility is to let you know, and ask for your comments. What will you do?
4 comments:
Stop wasting time ,money, effort and valuable resources honoring slavery by resisting freedom. Stop naming your children after the European players in honor of chattel slavery.
Stop resisting freedom by resisting evolution. Stop perpetrating slavery with African American History month and false tributes and hnors. Our slave ancestry deserves no such tribute. We were not captured in battle. We dishonored ourselves by submitting to slavery without resistance.
African Americans were dishonorable discharged from slavery.
The European players dishonorably discharged African Americans for cowardice conduct unbecoming any person with dignity or self-respect.
There are no black history honors or reparations due African Americans in lieu of bravery, honor, self-respect and dignity.
Defined intelligence suggests that you forget about it too.
Wow. To all my readers I must say I’m at a loss.
Mr. Mubarak’s comment is beyond me. Well, not entirely. I had to read it several times and I understand this much, European players seem to mean any and all Whites. What I will say is that I disagree with every part of his commentary.
I was torn about deleting or letting stand his comment. I will let it stand, because I do believe in freedom of speech, even when I disagree with what is being said. But that does not mean I will let it stand idly, especially on my blogs.
I take the comments of Mr. Mubarak to be badly worded polispeak. There is a message in the jumble of words, and once somewhat deciphered I find it repulsive and insulting. Its arrangement is meant to infer credibility and intellect. I may not be a genius, but I am well educated, enough so to understand what is lacking in the words left on my blog under this post.
The first paragraph I will comment on in a moment. In the second I see that Mubarak seems to believe that African Americans are resisting becoming free and this has to do with evolution. I find that ludicrous. He insults the slaves that were taken from Africa, their lives and efforts, and any memory we may have of them individually and collectively. I say this is a foolish way to envision those Africans and their tribulations. I’m lead to wonder if this individual is Black, American, or in any way educated.
The next paragraph is in the wrong structure, inaccurate, and laughable. It’s insulting, crude and an affront. I denounce it’s every implication in the most aggressive manner.
Rather than deciphering the rest of this diatribe for you I will say this. In my opinion not only does Mr. Mubarak not know what he is talking about, he is possibly delusional. His mock intelligence is unimpressive and demonstrative of self-hate, in my opinion.
But this caused me to search for who this person is, and why in the world they would write such dribble on my blog. Following the link of his name, which I implore none of my readers to do, I found that he has several blogs, each started today with 1 post a piece and one link to the African American Opinion.
I have contributed posts to African American Opinion for over a year, and have spoken to several of the bloggers there. I have generally found that they are a good group of intelligent writers, and even when we disagreed on a subject they have always been generally respectful. I do not feel that any of these people nor the African American Opinion has anything to do with Mubarak.
In looking at his blogs I found more dribble trying to disguise itself as deep intellectual commentary. I think most with more than a junior high school education would agree. And of course I found the real point of all of this, a link to his site.
That site, which I won’t bother to name, is one big sales point for various quasi-black goods. It’s all wrapped around images of positive African Americans and colorful. But at its core is hateful, confused, ignorant and time-wasting gibberish. I can only hope none of my readers ever lose money to this fool.
I despise lunatics, self-aggrandizing tactics, and attempts to use my site to bilk my readers. Were this attempt more direct, I would delete it outright. But it is not, and it is an expression of Mr. Mubarak.
Because it is a grand example of self-hate, and lack of respect or knowledge in my opinion, I will leave this comment on my site. But only this one.
Mr. Mubarak, and any individual or link to anything connected to him, that I find on my site will be deleted. I refute his comments, and reject his place on my sites. M V Consulting, Inc denounces his work, and ideas. I, Michael Vass, reject every ill-formed concept and product Mr. Mubarak has and represents.
I will not take any more time to respond to this trash.
To Enoch,
As I first stated, your comments are not welcomed on my site. That stands, regardless you your pleas and subtle insult.
Second, I am a professional regardless of whether or not you agree with my professional decisions.
Third, I am an educated Black Puerto Rican Man. If you do not agree, and find my writing and bio insufficient for proof of that, I can’t help you.
Fourth, my comments were not emotional. I don’t know you and could care less about you.
Fifth, it is because I am professional, credible, and accountable to my readers that I sought to investigate your sites and other written work. I do not take the exclusion of any source lightly, and as of this date you are the only person to ever be prevented from commentary.
I do not agree with sites that I feel only exist to hustle goods based on a pseudo-logic and pulling on the heartstrings of African Americans connection to Africa. I do not agree with the insult you made to my ancestors and those of at least some of my readers.
And I will remind you; this is not a “black professional public message board.” This is a blog I own. I am not obligated to you or anyone. To claim such a right is absurd.
But I choose to hear the voices and thoughts of my readers. I do this because I accept that I am not omniscient, nor am I the only opinion on many matters. And I fully accept and approve virtually any comment, even those I disagree with or those that attack me.
As to my motivations and actions, you have no idea of them. I am not a journalist, but I do present my posts in a professional manner. I make no claim that I will not be emotional or passionate on any issue I wish to discuss. Nor am I obligated to write in a manner that pleases just you.
If you feel that imparting my disgust at your insults to my fore-fathers is immature and makes me a fraud, I accept that. If you feel that I have unfairly judged your sites (which you have not defended), I accept that.
But my opinion stands. As does my decision to not accept any comments from you.
If anyone wishes to receive a copy of the comments you sent to me in reply, please send me an email and I will happily comply. But I will not post the comments themselves.
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