I’ve maintained a blog for years, despite not always having something to say. When Black History Month approaches, I feel a responsibility to write– for sentence exercise, if nothing else. As I’ve gotten older and more comfortable with being a poet, I’ve begun feeling a need to push more creatively, especially with Black History. The notion of re-writing an already written biography is pointless. If you read anything at all, you may as well read my sources. So this year I tried something different– looking for different aspects of history to create some new writing.
Its hard work. I do have a day job and at night and on weekends I’d rather turn off than think and write. Plus: finding something of interest for me to play with is work itself. I have little interest in sports so I’ll probably never engage a sports profile. Same with politics; I honor Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, Colin Powell, Harold Washington, and Name Somebody– but I have no energy to re-write their CV.
I almost prepped some writing about Alex Haley and Malcolm X. Its interesting to imagine sitting in Haley’s apartment for the infamous Playboy interview that ultimately became The Autobiography of Malcolm X. But its messy. And that Haley was hit with plagiarism charges between both the Autobiography and Roots left me discomforted, particularly since I haven’t read either books. Haley should be my avatar, personal hero as a journalist, historian and author– but he’s the first person in my life I’ve cancelled, I guess.
I woke up this morning with my mind on Reverend Ike, but I can’t write seriously about him. My mom did raise me on the track If You Can’t Say Anything Nice Then Don’t Say Anything At All (and the B-side Don’t Speak Ill Of The Dead). But please note influencer Druski’s recent preacher skit had references going back decades. New York City born Ike preached “prosperity” and I promise if he’d thought of using a wire-rig for flying he’d have done it. “The best thing you can do for the poor is not be one of them,” he said. He didn’t want miracles or healing from God, he wanted money. Money for his followers as much himself. “Money up to your armpits, a roomful of money and there you are, just tossing around in it like a swimming pool.” Viewed during my childhood from my minister grandfather, he was more hustler and money changer than preacher. But to be fair, his message was wildly different because he encouraged positive thinking and self improvement and abundance to families used to oppression and poverty. More motivational speaker than Bible thumping pastor, he would make a good subject for a poem, but I haven’t worked anything out yet.
I’ve enjoyed this month’s discoveries and there’s hope for the poems drafted this month. Hope you’ve gotten something out of it. It strikes me that the Black History I studied in college should have been required for All Students, not just those of color interested in learning past the Top Ten names and events recited every February. And watching Eyes On The Prize was a requirement for me and my family, inside and out of any classroom. Can you say the same? What would you like to learn about? History is more than names and dates. Our country is currently imploding over its lack of knowledge of and respect for history and tradition. People are graduating ignorant with pointless degrees.
Black History month used to be a bad joke– occurring during the shortest month of the year. Not until writing these blogs did I learn Black History Month began as Negro History Week. It was chosen not randomly or for brevity, but because the month featured birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass — both worth remembering and celebrating. It is unfortunate that right through today, African American contributions to the history and identity of America is still overlooked, ignored, discounted and suppressed. This is active erasure, empowered by our growing national illiteracy and social media-fueled narcissism. Truth has been drowned by AI animation and forceful monologues from charismatic liars. Its stunning to see history books being re-written to make slavery appear kinder and voluntary. Slavery was not a sit-com and did not have a laugh track.
Nothing is more cruelly dismissive and offensive than a lie. Especially lying to children.
Nothing is more horrific than re-writing history to soften its villains and make them look better.
Carter G. Woodson, the man behind Black History Month, quoted here from Wikipedia:
We should emphasise not Negro History, but the Negro in History. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hatred and religious prejudice.
Black History IS American History.
‘Nuff said — Thank you for reading. Till next time.
The Dirty Rat 