Don’t Sleep on Black History”

Today I want to inform you about the past, the present, and the future of Black History as I reflect on a man by the name of Carter G. Woodson. He created Negro History week in Washington D.C, in February 1926. We now call this day Black History Month. Woodson knew that his role was to use black history and culture as a weapon in the struggle for racial uplift. He wanted to ensure that school children were exposed to black history. Although this was his dream decades ago, in 2021 and 2022 during the pandemic the government started its removal of African American History from our children’s textbooks. Critical Race Theory is the term they use negatively as an excuse to remove Black History from the textbooks.

After George Floyd was murdered, many of our children wanted answers. They asked their teachers questions about history and sadly most of the teachers couldn’t explain our history in the past nor present. 14 states removed black history from their curriculum, and unofficially Mississippi and other states have begun to adopt the same practices. It's unofficial because they sneak these things in without us noticing, but they will remove student’s access to topics that are of such importance to our African American Culture. NO government official should have this right. SN: Who you vote for is important!)

As I stated earlier, Woodson knew that his role was to use black history and culture as a weapon in the struggle for racial uplift. My question to you today is what is your role in contributing to Black History? As you can see, our education matters and we matter as it pertains to our children’s education. So I admonish you today to get out of bed, take your rollers out your head, dress up really nice, and be a part of your child’s education. It is more to education than defending your child for a suspension, fight, or bad grade. What is the government saying about your child’s school? What can you do as a society and people to change it? Some schools have already been written off by the government, which is why the buildings are dilapidated, they are continually an F rated school,  and the people in high seats are not caring anymore.

Sometimes our own culture is demeaning the value of our history because we lack education and expectations that we can make a change. I encourage you to Read, Read, Read, and Read some more. Encourage your children to read. It is important to Read so that you and your children will know what the textbooks are teaching and most importantly what the word of God says.

I want to leave you with this scripture

Matthew 6:31-34, Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

This scripture is a testament of what our ancestors lived by. Their power of faith and hope in God allowed them to have expectations that God would provide better days ahead. So, we must Read the Word of God, be constant in faith, be actively involved in our children’s education, and we too can keep alive the History of African American culture while becoming a part of the present and future of Black History.