Showing posts with label is black history month necessary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label is black history month necessary. Show all posts

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Black History: The Lost Episodes

Black History: The Lost Episodes

Paul Scott




Black History Month is like one of those cheesy 80's sitcom reruns. Even though you know every punch line, word for word, you, somehow, find your eyes glued to the tube every time it comes on. The Black History Show opens with slaves picking cotton and singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" before being "freed" by Honest Abe Lincoln. Then a black seamstress will sit in the front of a bus, a black scientist will get milk from a peanut and a black southern preacher will lead them on a merry march to the Promised Land. Finally, a multi-racial choir will sing "We Shall Overcome" as the closing credits roll, thanking white owned corporations with questionable hiring practices for sponsoring the program.

Every year, we are programmed to death with the same stories during Black History Month. There will be the obligatory stories about Frederick Douglas, Rosa Parks , Rev. Martin Luther King Jr and some inventor or entertainer who died broke after making millions of dollars for a white owned company. Surely, there has to be more to the black experience than that!

Contrary to popular belief, Black people did have a history before they were "discovered" by European explorers. Although, they have been ripped from the pages of history books, there existed mighty civilizations in Africa before "Europe" even existed. Scholars such as Dr. Anthony Browder, George GM James and Dr. Yusef ben Jochannan have done extensive research on the subject but because their scholarship did not conform to traditional western propaganda that promotes the idea that anything worth having came out of Europe, their works have been, largely, ignored.

As Dr. WEB Dubois wrote in his essay "The Souls of White Folk," " Europe has never produced and never will in our day bring forth a single human soul who cannot be matched and over matched in every line of human endeavor by Asia and Africa."

Even when such fan favorites such as Douglas and King are mentioned, their images are white washed, so we are left with a Frederick Douglas who never questioned the black celebration of Independence Day and a Martin Luther King who never questioned the war in Vietnam.

Also, although much of the attention is paid to the lead characters of black History, little attention is given to the supporting cast of thousands. There are hundreds of heroes and heroines that are never discussed because they dared to veer off script that promotes black intellectual, inferiority. How many people know about Imhotep, who, according to historian J A Rogers, was "the real father of medicine" or Marcus Garvey, who led the largest black movement in American history.

The blatant disregard for black history is becoming increasing problematic on two fronts.

First, it has allowed many black youth, who were denied the truth about their history, to develop a Hip Hop pseudo-history that replaces "revolutionaries" with rappers.

Secondly it has allowed nouveau, revisionist historians to create an American fantasy land where legalized slavery was never sanctioned by the US Constitution, Jim in Huckleberry Finn was never called the dreaded "n" word and right wing pundit Glen Beck is the legitimate heir to the Martin Luther King's throne.

So the challenge before us in 2011 is to find a way to change the channel and present a new, high definition picture of Black History. How do we show the real black experience without corporate, commercial interruption?

The answer is, literally, in the palm of our hands. We use social media to show the world the lost episodes of Black History. Everyday during February we should use our ipads, iphones and lap tops to post information about black history on Youtube, Facebook etc. And not just the PC fluff that we get every year. We need the (Malcolm) X- rated stuff too. Whether it be stories about ancient African civilizations, unsung African American leaders or those members of our own families who have made positive contributions to society, we must seize the time and become the executive producers of our own history.

As Malcolm X once said, "of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research."

In this case, the prize is not an Emmy nor an Oscar but a proud history to be passed down to future generations.

Paul Scott is a minister, activist and writer based in Durham NC He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com . His blog is No Warning Shots Fired.com

Thursday, February 4, 2010

"Back to Africa" Lecture Tour Starts 2/8

The Intelligence Over Ignorance Black History Month, "Back to Africa" lecture tour will kick off 2/8 at the Stanford L Warren Library in Durham NC with a lecture by "TRUTH Minista " Paul Scott called "Hip Hop History or Black History."

For more information or to schedule a tour date contact (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Activist: "Go Back to Africa !"

For many African Americans the term "Go back to Africa" is the ultimate insult , rivaling the dreaded "N word." However, a Durham NC activist and minister is urging African Americans to do just that this Black History Month. Not in a physical sense but academically, spiritually and culturally.

"Growing up,' Go Back to Africa was the ultimate diss among classmates, often leading to either tears or fist fights, says Paul Scott, "Now, the term is widely used by racists as an insult."Paul Scott, is urging African Americans to "upgrade" black history by including African History in Black History celebrations and school curriculums across the country.

"We cannot just be happy that black history is being taught and celebrated," says Scott, "We have to ask which type of black history is being taught, the version about African kings and queens or the one that begins with happy-go lucky slaves picking cotton on the plantation."Scott hopes that the same way the Hip Hop Generation has tried to take the sting out of the "N word" they will take the sting out of "Go back to Africa" by promoting Afrocentric education.

"Historically we have been taught that nothing good has come out of Africa and it has infected our young people with the fatal disease of self-hatred, says Scott, "Only through education can the healing begin."

Paul Scott is a minister, writer and activist who recently started the "Intelligence Over Ignorance Campaign." In 2000, he coined the phrase Afrikan Liberation Theology which is the "Black Liberation Theology for the Hip Hop Generation." Scott has been a guest on talk shows across the country including Fox News and MSNBC discussing Hip Hop, rap, race and religion. His blog is No Warning Shots Fired.com

For more information contact (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Go Back to Africa!

Go Back to Africa:
Hatin' on Black History

Paul Scott



"Go back to Africa!"


Back when I was in elementary school that statement would either lead to fist fights or tears, depending on the the temperament of the target of the diss. Although many black folks can recall, in vivid detail, the first time they were called the "N word," and how they eventually got over it, for me, "go back to Africa" has not been easy to shake.

See, for black kids like me, being told to take a trip back across the Atlantic was the ultimate insult as it meant being exiled to a place where cannibals with bones in their noses ran around with spears, just waiting to catch some unsuspecting, stiff slippin' so that he could be Sunday evening supper.

After all, this is the image of Africa that black kids were given courtesy of those old Looney Tune cartoons and Tarzan movies.

Unfortunately, the educational system back then did nothing to counter this negative depiction of Africa. The textbooks only reinforced the idea of "the Dark Continent" as a god forsaken place that made no contribution to civilization besides slave labor.

In the early texts , Africa was divided into "white" Africa (Northern Africa) and "black" Africa (Sub Saharan Africa) . So the achievements of the ancient Egyptians were credited to Greek invaders and the empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhai were written out of history, altogether.

Things have not changed much since I was young. An unbiased view of African world history is still sadly missing from most school systems to the detriment of thousands of black children every school year.

While it is widely accepted that Afrocentricity was a product of the Black Power Movement of the late 60's , it actually started more than a hundred years earlier.

According to Dr. Mia Bay in her book "The White Image in the Black Mind" as early as the 1830's scholars such as John Russwurm and David Walker were championing the idea of the African American connection to the great ancient civilizations of Egypt.

In his 1920 essay, "The Souls of White Folks," Dr. WEB Du Bois proudly proclaimed, "Europe has never produced and never will ,in our day, bring forth a single human soul who cannot be matched and over matched in every line of human endeavor by Asia and Africa."

In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Black History Week (later Black History Month). However, as he wrote in his book "The Miseducation of the Negro " in 1933, teaching African Americans that they had accomplished just as much as any other race would "upset the program of the oppressor in Africa and America." Therefore, there has been a concerted effort to confine all talk of black history to the period after the 18th century.

The modern concept of Afrocentricity can be attributed to professors such as Dr Molefi Asante, Dr. John Henrik Clark and Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan, as their works created a series of arguments and counterarguments over the validity of Afrocentric scholarship in the mid 90's.

Although many bemoan the educational gap between African American children (especially males) and their peers, the suggestion of Afrocentric studies as a viable solution to the problem more times than not falls on deaf ears. Despite the fact that many members of my generation who developed a zeal for reading were inspired by a single book dealing with the African experience whether it be "Stolen Legacy" by Dr.George GM James or "Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization" by Dr. Anthony Browder, many do not believe that books dealing with the African experience could have the same effect on this so called Hip Hop generation.

There are several factors which have served as stumbling blocks to Afrocentricity being included in school curriculum, despite years of prodding by grassroots activists concerned about the welfare of black children.

First, it must be understood that while Afrocentricity is an academic construct, for many, the idea is politically charged. Any call for the affirmation of one's "blackness" is usually drowned out by cries of reverse racism and divisiveness

Secondly, Afrocentricity challenges the very foundation of western thought. Many will shudder at the mere fact of their adoration of Greek culture being challenged by pre 19th Dynasty Egypt.

Finally, the resistance that comes from school administrators and educators who have a vested professional interest in preserving the status quo is perhaps the main obstacle . Either they do not have sufficient knowledge of black history, themselves or do not have the courage to challenge the false doctrine of educational white supremacy. As James Lowen wrote in his book, "Lies my Teacher Told Me," "perhaps the most pervasive theme in our history is the domination of black America by white America."

So they are more comfortable allowing our children to become indoctrinated with Hip Hop lyrics and gang rituals instead of inspirational messages of self empowerment.

As we approach this year's Black History Month observation, parents, activists and concerned citizens must demand not only that the concept of black history be expanded to include the entire scope of the African experience but that it be incorporated year round into the curriculum.

One can only guess how much further along, socially, politically and economically my generation would have been if we had only been exposed to the greatness of African cultural history at an early age.

Sadly, 30 years after the fact , I am still angered by the "Go Back to Africa" comments not so much, now, by the ignorance of my white classmates but by my own ignorance that allowed me to take it as an insult in the first place.

Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com
Coming in February, the Intelligence Over Ignorance "Take Back Black History" lecture tour.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

NWSF Bullet: NJ Star Ledger Mentions No Warning Shots Fired

The New Jersey's Star Ledger newspaper has an article running today posing the question "Is Black History Month Still Necessary? They quoted No Warning Shots Fired.com in the story:

http://blog.nj.com/jerseyblogs/2009/02/do_we_still_need_black_history.html

Saturday, January 24, 2009

After Obama: Is Black History Month Still Necessary ?

After Obama: Is Black History Month Still Necessary ?

Paul Scott



Next month, Americans will celebrate what may very well be the last Black History Month. The annual observance, which was originally referred to as Negro History Week was first started by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. The purpose was to celebrate the contributions of African Americans to American history. However for many, the need for the knowledge of black history is no longer be relevant after January 20th Inauguration.

Since the last election, many are questioning whether it is still necessary to have a month set aside for one specific racial or ethnic group when supposedly a black president signifies that we are truly one America. Therefore, some are seeing Black History Month as a case of living in the past; not recognizing the uniqueness of the African American experience. The deeper we go into the Barack Obama presidency, the harder it will be to convince many Americans that bringing up the pains of the past will be beneficial to this society as a whole.

If we are not careful the study and appreciation of black history, itself will become history.For many white Americans the past is something that they would rather forget when it comes to black people. Who could blame them as the stories of black men getting lynched, black women being raped and black children getting blown up while they attended church services do not make for good dinner table conversations nor bedtime stories. So for them the eradication of Black History Month would be a way to ease their white guilt.

Unfortunately, there are many blacks, as well, who would like to bid Black History Month farewell. For some African Americans black history has been seen as a stumbling block; just another barrier that has kept them from enjoying their piece of the American pie. Many black people strive there whole lives to detach the word "African" from "African American."

The problem of having to be black and American,simultaneously, has plagued African Americans since the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a paradox that WEB Dubois described as "a double consciousness" that black folks had to have in order to survive in a white dominated society.

During the early 20th century, the issue was bitterly debated by those who wanted inclusion into American society like Dubois and his Talented 10th and those who wanted separation like Marcus Garvey and his followers.

Later, during the 60's and early 70's there was a constant ideological war between the Civil Rights activists and the Black Power activists that personified itself in the forms of Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Dr. King believed in a dream where all Americans would be treated as equals and Malcolm X envisioned a nightmare where African Americans would forever be treated as second class citizens.

However, since the election of Obama it seems that those who wanted to be totally immersed in Americana have ,at least for the moment ,won the argument.So is the study of black culture still needed when the color barrier is being perceived as a thing of the past?

We, as African Americans, are in real danger in 2009 of losing our "blackness." We are on the verge of becoming what black historian St. Clair Drake referred to as a "Creole" culture; neither totally black nor totally white. Or to borrow a term from the newly elected president, a culture of "mutts."

Black History Month is still needed but the concept must be upgraded to meet the changing needs of the African American community if it is to remain relevant.

First, Black History Month must find a way to capture the imagination of the young Hip Hop generation. Today many African American youth who can quote the lyrics of any rap artist are totally clueless when it comes to the contributions that their ancestors made to society. Therefore the entertainment industry has made Hip Hop into a pseudo culture that can not trace its origins prior to the early 80's. Unfortunately many young people cannot discern the difference between black culture and Hip Hop. This is also do to the failure of school systems to make the teaching of black history a priority. Educators must see the importance of teaching black youth about their history year round. With the rich legacy of African people it is an insult to try to cram it all in during the shortest month of the year.

Secondly, Black History has depended too heavily on white corporations to tell the story of the African American experience. These corporations have used black history month more as a marketing scheme to get the black dollar than an earnest attempt to share the beauty of blackness with the world. Black people are the only people who depend on other races to tell their story in a truthful manner. African Americans must develop a "black history bailout" to save our history from going bankrupt at the hands of white corporations.

Finally, Black History Month must become what it was really never allowed to be; a celebration of black history not just African American History. We are constantly fed the false notion that African people had no history before they were brought to the West on slave ships. Therefore what is posing as Black History has been merely a history of emancipated slaves.

Contrary, to growing popular opinion, Black History Month is needed now more than ever as our social stability depends on it. As Marcus Garvey once said "a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots."



Paul Scott , the "Hip Hop Truth Minista" writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Saturday, January 10, 2009

NWSF Presents "The Black History Bailout Tour"

Since the election of America's first black president some are saying that there is no longer a need for Black History Month. Therefore, No Warning Shots Fired.com is launching the "Black History Bailout" lecture tour by TRUTH Minista Paul Scott.

The tour will start February 1st 2009.


To bring the tour to your city contact info@nowarningshotsfired.com or (919) 451-8283