Let's Focus On A 'United Future' – From My Vault

The following is my syndicated column that appeared in print February 17, 2004. It once again shows just how far ahead of the curve I was in discussing the issues we grapple with today. Which is why I titled my book “Random Rants: I Was Right Then And I Am Right Now.”
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February is Black History Month. But instead of black children learning the truth of American history, they are taught revisions and misrepresentations.

Instead of white children being taught the truth of said history, they are imbibed with guilt, shame and the burden of past ills under the guise of truth. In many instances, those teaching are unforgivably ignorant of the truth and /or purposely distort the truth.

My grandmother used to say “You are what you think.” Allowing for even a modicum of truth in her saying, can there be any wonder as to the disassociative, belligerent, self-destructive behavior of many black youths? Of many youths in general, but I digress from my point.

Black inner-city children view life through a different prism (albeit not an all exclusive one) than most of America. They view it through a lens of frustration, anger and malaise. They view the outside world through a prism of shame and inferiority.

They view it that way because those whom they are instructed to look up to feed them a steady diet of the same. And at no time is that diet filled with more bitterness and resentment than during Black History Month. But I get ahead of myself.

[adsanity id=8405 align=alignleft /]In their neighborhoods – and in their social groups – it is a common, everyday, birth-to-death occurrence to hear “that ol’ white man,” “whitey this” or “whitey that” and many other shameful epithets. While at a service station, a black gentleman commenting to me, referred to a college-student customer as “That ol’ stupid white boy.” When I inquired why he said that, I was told emphatically, “Because he is.”

From the church pulpit to the corner store – with radio and television in between – black children hear condescending and racist remarks about “whitey,” and it isn’t just in the “hood.” It is in black homes across the social and economic divide. It’s just that in the “hood” the opportunity to mingle with those outside one’s race is limited.

Black children today claim to be ashamed and embarrassed by books like “Tom Sawyer,” “Huckleberry Finn” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” because of the liberal use of language from that time. But gutter lyrics from the bejeweled oracles of life’s wisdom from the streets – i.e., rappers – cause no such anxiety. How can a book with period language from decades past cause suffering when lyrics about drugs, pimps, hos and killin’s do not? Especially when your best friend might be doing time for drugs or dead from a drive by?

Allowing that one is what they think – should anyone be surprised at the lyrics of rappers?

During Black History Month, black children have Paul Robeson, Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. Dubois – all of whom were purveyors of bitterness – force fed to them. They have charlatans flood the classrooms to teach them about Africa and African culture. The networks replay “Roots,” a damnable lie and charade that has been discredited.

But they don’t hear about James A. Harris, William Lester Jr., William B. Purvis or Capt. Robert Lawrence Jr.

It is time to stop the insufferable stupidity of pretending to have some association with a “motherland.” We are Americans. The word itself is plural, but it is not hyphenated. I trust my intent is understood.

I further submit it is time to abandon Black History Month – it has become a platform for those who would elevate themselves above the factual content of history. Instead, it is time to establish a month dedicated to a “united American future.” One of true diversity and inclusion, not the counter-social affirmative programs of today.

Because as I survey the present, the future of inner-city black youth is not conducive to a month-long celebration 50 years from now.