Lack of Appreciation or Knowledge ?

Keita Kenyatta

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Feb 7, 2004
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I reveiwed the thread concerning the lack of appreciation for our elders and ancestors...and in all respect, it had its' merits. Only after giving it deeper thought did I begin to realize that it's really much deeper than it looks or is. I am a parent with two grown children and a little one. In analyzing this issue, I decided to use some serious introspection to get to the root of this.

First and foremost; I do not blame anything at all on our youth or children. In as much as they may be influenced by social environment and the so called times, the facts are this: Every child born is a peice of clay waiting to be shaped and molded. This molding is largely done by their parents and the so called educational system.

In the mis-educational system we now have teachers whose sole criteria is not that of teaching but of collecting a pay check...which means that they do just enough to get that check and little else. This denotes that their heart is not in their so called profession.

Secondly, we do have many parents who are younger today, but once again, those we designate as our ancestors or elders within our own communities have abdicated their position of authority and wisdom in favor of sitting behind a window sill instead of standing up for who and what they are.

Example: If Grandparents and parents took back to the porch or were actively visible in their communities or direct neighborhoods, there's certain things and activities that would not take place there or at least decrease. Even a child or teenager doesn't want their grandparents or parents to openly see them out their clocking or engaging in certain activities that are not condoned by them. This forces them to take it away from where they live so as to not be visual. But if this were going on in every neighborhood where elders live, then it again changes the dynamics of what will or can be allowed it that neighborhood.

In terms of education: Honestly, I can't blame any African child for not wanting to go to school...for what ? Miseducation ? Whitewashed history ? Gangland grounds ? Beauty pagents ? Teachers who don't care and they see they don't care ? 12 years of indoctrination and then when they get out they are still like, "okay, what now ?" We can talk all this bull**** when the reality is that we have the power to totally overhaul the system to their benefit so that they have a reason to stay, to graduate.
If I had my way, the last four years would not only be educational but job functional. This means that at graduation every student is going to come out as a carpenter, or an electrician or a plumber or a heating ventilation specialist or computer something. This means that they leave highschool ready and able to function and make a living in society even if they choose not to go to college. As it is now, upon graduation the majority only have the corner.

Thirdly; The majority of what's going on in the school I can trace back to the apathy of our elders once again. Of course at the same time, lets not forget that they are still learning slave history or the history of our people in struggle or subjugation. This is not what they need ! This don't motivate or stimulate anything in anyone except resentment, anger, frustration, pain and confusion. So with this educational overhaul, they must be motivated and stimulated by the history of when we ran nations and empires, ran commerce and trade, governed science and industry. They can not even think of duplicating what they never knew they did, now can they ?

Fourthly; Of course this ultimately means that they are going to have to be taught the truth about life. There will never and has never been any rainbow anything. Integration is a lie and has no basis in world history at any place or time. They will have to be taught the systems of control that have been used as manipulating tools against our people. I was going to say the world's people which is equally true, but later for the world's people, ours is first. They will have to be taught to be the movers instead of the moved....the manipulators instead of the manipulated, the players instead of the played.

Like they say: Cash Rules Everything Around Me, cream, get the dollar, dollar dollar bill yall. Our people show them that everyday but do not show them the mechanisms to getting it. Name the rapper, the sports player, the politician...everyone is in the same boat...MONEY ! They know how to get it, they know what loop holes to use, they know what doors to open....but no one is passing it to our young, and so they use their own devices ! Get off all my African babies ! Those that do right or wrong, cause everybody is acting like they can't see the CAUSE AND EFFECT OF WHAT'S GOING ON...THEY ARE THE EFFECT, NOW LET'S GET THE CAUSE IN ORDER SO THEY CAN BE RIGHT !
 
Thanks for posting this. As an elder, you have really stepped up here and are bringing to peoples attention the real problem. Rather than blame the young as many do, you see the problem as multi-dimensional.

I am really happy you posted this becuase if a young person like me did, all sorts of destee members would lash out and be upset with me talking about "you just dont wann respect your elders and are making excuses".....then my "rep power" would sink into the negtives...further. LOL

Thanks..this was an informative post. I hope more people respond to this thread and take a hard look at how things are in the present day.
 
I agree. I'm 24, with a young child. I'm faced with the challenge of trying to raise a boy-child in the 21st century. How do I teach him about his culture and the history of his people if I'm not too sure of many things myself? I want to say that many of the elders did the best that they could. However, sometimes I feel cheated. I know there are many, many older people who can still teach me a great deal. But people my age, and younger, have tuned them out for so long that most of the elders have given up. So where do we go from here? There are many lost arts and stories. How do we go about reclaiming what has been lost? Or is it not lost, yet, but only hiding?
 
HISTORY is NEVER LOST! If you are able to go back to school, and take up a black studies course. And as far as teaching your child, do what you said: do the best that you can to teach your child what you do know. Not anyone taught me either, but I listen to people here on Destee, search the web, read books, visit black libraries, and so on. I educate myself. Use that method to educate yourself, and your child. There is too much to learn from our history to be lost! Get a hand on it, and you will be alright!

Cedric Denson
 

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