Black People : The Reconstruction History

[Tariq Muhammad]

Many of us in Black Studies who are reconstructing history(the history of the United States)think that we are entering a new era in American history.We may think that the things we are witnessing today,i.e the election of Black to political office and their appointment to various positions their accomplishments in various corporations and so forth are something new in American history.yet the study of Reconstruction history should quickly convince us that we are currently undergoing deja vu. we had the first(Black President( John Hanson)1781 to 1782).Our first African American Senator Hiram Revels(R-MS)1870 to 1871.(First Black Governor of Louisiana name Pinckney Benton Stewart for one Month.Go to Google and look it up!.In both cases social and political leaders failed to provide the economic ballots that made political ballots viable.No one understood this better than the Black masses of the 1860s who said in marches and demonstration that their freedom was not secure without a firm economic foundation.Therefore think again when we celebrate Frederick Douglass,Harriet Tubman,King,and others.We should begin to look at the central issues .If our study of Black history is merely an exercise in feeling good about ourselves then we will die feeling good.We must look at the lessons that history teaches us.We must understand the tremendous value of the study of history for the re-gaining of power.If our education is not about real power,we are being miseducated and misled.

 

[Jahari Kavi]

this better than the Black masses of the 1860s who said in marches and demonstration that their freedom was not secure without a firm economic foundation.

although booker t. gets criticized a lot (and rightfully so), the emphasis he put on economics made a whole lot of sense..............

 

[Keita Kenyatta]

Many of us in Black Studies who are reconstructing history(the history of the United States)think that we are entering a new era in American history.We may think that the things we are witnessing today,i.e the election of Black to political office and their appointment to various positions their accomplishments in various corporations and so forth are something new in American history.yet the study of Reconstruction history should quickly convince us that we are currently undergoing deja vu. we had the first(Black President( John Hanson)1781 to 1782).Our first African American Senator Hiram Revels(R-MS)1870 to 1871.(First Black Governor of Louisiana name Pinckney Benton Stewart for one Month.Go to Google and look it up!.In both cases social and political leaders failed to provide the economic ballots that made political ballots viable.No one understood this better than the Black masses of the 1860s who said in marches and demonstration that their freedom was not secure without a firm economic foundation.Therefore think again when we celebrate Frederick Douglass,Harriet Tubman,King,and others.We should begin to look at the central issues .If our study of Black history is merely an exercise in feeling good about ourselves then we will die feeling good.We must look at the lessons that history teaches us.We must understand the tremendous value of the study of history for the re-gaining of power.If our education is not about real power,we are being miseducated and misled.

On the real, our people ain't trynna hear this and don't want to understand it either. The truth of the matter is that before the second reformation when white folks came to the decision that they wasn't gonna have black people making laws for them, we had more Black mayors, congressmen, senators and governors in America (not counting Presidents) than any of us or our parents and grandparents have ever seen in our or their lifetime!!!! I am not deceived about what's going on and I'm glad to see that you know also. In Obama due to our lack of not knowing our history in this country, we think for unknown reasons that we and the world have something worthy of holding up to our children and the world at large and of saying; "See, this is who we really are". This is a great thing and a bad thing at the same time. It's great because it is happening and the effect is there. It's bad because this only happened when "white people acknowledged it also". It's bad because when I think of the really great men such as Lumumba, Garvey, Malcolm, Toure and others who came with answers "for our people, about our people and with our people, we didn't acknowledge them as such....and that's a living testament of the damage that white supremacy had and still has upon us psychologically. For in essence we have subconsciously and actually declared that "the only things and people of value are those that white people accept or approve of "...which is a testament that we are still a conditioned people

 

[Keita Kenyatta]

The Name of this should have been "Unknown History Ignored".

 

[emanuel goodman]

sad but true

unfortunately for most our history is not relative they are only concerned with current peception. the reality of the matter is most of our people don't have self esteem or knowledge of themselves . these individuals require the symbolic representation of hope that barack represents. I came to this humble conclusion a short time ago. their is a reason for leadership in nature . all spirits are not the same. some would rather be told than investigate. when I came to this conclusion I decided to refrain from showing the people what is real behind the illumation illusionary hope that is the currnet phenomenon known as barack obama.
these people have been waiting for a symbol a sign for quite some time. like spock said on star trek" the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" so if this illusion of inclusionment does better for the psyche of our young brothers and sisters than the truth. I will take the outcome even though the method breaks my heart!
hetep