At my local university, I’m taking U.S. History I & II. These required courses are insufferable. I am appalled that in the 21st century this university is still using watered-down versions of American history.
While most whites will agree that past treatment of Blacks was brutal & inhumane, continues to tout their superiority, through this out-dated curriculum, over a people who never asked or wanted to live in America is beyond total comprehension.
Make no mistake: Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass are heroes & it is not my intention to diminish their heroics in any way. However, there are many other Blacks who also proved their heroism by staring down the face of racism.
Like William Gould, a slave in Wilmington, North Carolina. Gould, along with seven other enslaved black men, fled from their masters to enlist in the Union Navy. Although Gould & his companions faced prejudice by white soldiers, they weathered adversity because they believed they were fighting to end slavery.
There were also Black women, like Cathy Williams, who escaped the horrors of slavery by joining the Union Army disguised as men. Many of these women served bravely & honorably without any accolades or fanfare.
After slavery & reconstruction, there were Black local & state elected officials (John Mercer Langston & Alexander Lucius Twilight), one appointed govenor (P.B.S. Pinchback), one congressman (Joseph Rainey), & one senator (Hiram Revels). So tell me, why is this university trudging out the same old tired stereotypes of Blacks while continuing to promote the white race in their curriculum?
The primary event that kicked off the Civil Rights Movement was the brutal murder of 14 year old Emmett Louis Till in Money, Mississippi. During their subsequent testimonies, Moses Wright & Willie Reed testified against the white men who killed Emmett. Mr. Wright & Mr. Reed stood up in an all-white courtroom, in front of an all-white jury, & a white judge to point out the murderers. A black person was committing suicide by doing something like that. Mr. Wright & Mr. Reed did it anyway. They are heroes, my heroes.
I could name many more blacks who were inventors, entrepreneurs, & activists who will never see the light of day when it comes to so-called U.S. History taught in many of our colleges.
It is high time for this university, that claims to serve a diverse student population & is located in a Black neighborhood to get up to speed, think outside the box, & implement new history courses geared that include more positive black role models.
Or, include history books that don’t continue to tell the same old tired story.
Fanfare
January 25, 2007 blackbeautifulqueen
At my local university, I’m taking U.S. History I & II. These required courses are insufferable. I am appalled that in the 21st century this university is still using watered-down versions of American history.
While most whites will agree that past treatment of Blacks was brutal & inhumane, continues to tout their superiority, through this out-dated curriculum, over a people who never asked or wanted to live in America is beyond total comprehension.
Make no mistake: Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass are heroes & it is not my intention to diminish their heroics in any way. However, there are many other Blacks who also proved their heroism by staring down the face of racism.
Like William Gould, a slave in Wilmington, North Carolina. Gould, along with seven other enslaved black men, fled from their masters to enlist in the Union Navy. Although Gould & his companions faced prejudice by white soldiers, they weathered adversity because they believed they were fighting to end slavery.
There were also Black women, like Cathy Williams, who escaped the horrors of slavery by joining the Union Army disguised as men. Many of these women served bravely & honorably without any accolades or fanfare.
After slavery & reconstruction, there were Black local & state elected officials (John Mercer Langston & Alexander Lucius Twilight), one appointed govenor (P.B.S. Pinchback), one congressman (Joseph Rainey), & one senator (Hiram Revels). So tell me, why is this university trudging out the same old tired stereotypes of Blacks while continuing to promote the white race in their curriculum?
The primary event that kicked off the Civil Rights Movement was the brutal murder of 14 year old Emmett Louis Till in Money, Mississippi. During their subsequent testimonies, Moses Wright & Willie Reed testified against the white men who killed Emmett. Mr. Wright & Mr. Reed stood up in an all-white courtroom, in front of an all-white jury, & a white judge to point out the murderers. A black person was committing suicide by doing something like that. Mr. Wright & Mr. Reed did it anyway. They are heroes, my heroes.
I could name many more blacks who were inventors, entrepreneurs, & activists who will never see the light of day when it comes to so-called U.S. History taught in many of our colleges.
It is high time for this university, that claims to serve a diverse student population & is located in a Black neighborhood to get up to speed, think outside the box, & implement new history courses geared that include more positive black role models.
Or, include history books that don’t continue to tell the same old tired story.
Entry Filed under: black commentary
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