Article by:
Shaundell Newsome
Black History Month derived from Negro History Week, created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. The historian, author and journalist felt that the accomplishments of Black people in America were omitted from the country’s story of contributions and triumph. Personally, I believe it was intentional to keep a race of people in its place by eliminating stories that displayed Black people as contributors to the America that we have today. It’s simple. If you can’t see yourself as an asset to your country and you don’t have a native land, then you are destined to think of yourself as less than. It’s psychological slavery!
When my father purchased Black History encyclopedias in the 1970’s for me and my siblings he made it very clear that he was giving us the “power” back from people who intentionally tried to oppress us through education. My dad, a Vietnam Veteran studied and observed how Woodson fought scholars and historians in America to accurately reflect the contributions and accomplishments of Black folks to a country that he was serving faithfully. Later, I, my brother, daughter, and son served in the military to defend America even as she denied our existence by downplaying our influences on the country’s lifestyle and culture. Why did these historians fight with Carter G. Woodson? It’s pretty obvious. They were the oppressors who want to keep African American in their bondage through miseducation.
“It’s simple. If you can’t see yourself as an asset to your country and you don’t have a native land, then you are destined to think of yourself as less than. It’s psychological slavery!”
Shaundell Newsome
In 1989, KRS One, legendary Rap Artist, activist and writer from New York wrote a song entitled, “You Must Learn.” He doubled down on Woodson’s efforts bringing a new generation into self-awareness and education. He used his voice in the newly formed Hip Hop culture to extend the discussion about the omission of Blacks from the history books. These lyrics should be a wakeup call for all African Americans:
Let me demonstrate the force of knowledge
knowledge reigned supreme
The ignorant is ripped to smithereens
What do you mean when you say I'm rebellious
'Cause I don't accept everything that you're telling us
What are you selling us the creator dwellin' us
I sit in your unknown class while you're failing' us
I failed your class 'cause I ain't with your reasoning
You're tryin' make me you by seasoning
Up my mind with see Jane run, see John walk in a hardcore New York
It doesn't exist no way, no how
It seems to me that in a school that's ebony
African history should be pumped up steadily, but it's not
and this has got to stop, See Spot run, run get Spot
Insulting to a Black mentality, a Black way of life
Or a jet-Black family, so I include with one concern, that
You must learn
I believe that if you're teaching history
Filled with straight up facts no mystery
Teach the student what needs to be taught
'Cause Black and White kids both take shorts
When one doesn't know about the other ones' culture
Ignorance swoops down like a vulture
From my Dr. Woodson, my father and KRS One’s point of view Black History needs to be taught for a better America. It’s not just to pump up African Americans with pride. That’s just part of the reason for the Black History Month Celebration. American will become a great society when the truth is exposed to for the greater good of all Americans. It can’t just be “His Story.” It must be a factual depiction of the contributions of all Americans to make it truly American History.