Why Black History Matters Part 2

London Black History Walks have been holding events about Black people in WWI for many years.  We have now reached the centenary of the start of the First World War and I have noticed that, over the past few years, more and more documentaries have started to emerge about the Black contribution to, and involvement in, the war.  For example, this one about Togo. 

I can’t help thinking that this is partly due to the example set by Black History Walks. 

I am wondering:  what do you think is the importance of Black history? 

Further to what I said in Part 1, I think there are two main benefits to gaining knowledge about our history. 

1) Understanding and analysis.  I touched on this in Part 1. 

2) Self-esteem and confidence.  The more we know about the Black contribution, the clearer is our sense of ourselves, our identities – individual and collective – and our gifts, talents and strengths. 

This is one reason why I publish the More Black Success ebooks.

My mother taught me about slavery and resistance when I was a young child.  Although she never used the word “resistance”, she taught me about Black heroes and sheroes like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass and Toussaint L’Ouverture. 

These stories gave me a sense of pride.  They also meant I had a little bit of knowledge on which I could build.  

It is the responsibility of each and every one of  us to pass on what Black history knowledge we have to the next generations.  

Click here for more opportunities to expand your knowledge. 

There are lots more Black history posts on this blog, so do explore.  Use this as a resource, and share it with your networks.  I welcome your comments below. 

Harriet: A New Choreopoem

In the latest instalment of my blog tour, I talk about my new choreopoem, Harriet.

“My most significant role model and shero is Harriet Tubman. My mother told me about her when I was a young child, and used to give me Harriet Tubman comic books (it was the Sixties). So Tubman has always been a major influence for me. I think it’s the fact that she was so uncompromising...."

You can read the rest of the inteview here:
http://www.danafredsti.com/blog/?m=200802

To read the other interviews, please visit:

http://myafricandiaspora.com/WordPress/?p=31

http://blackwomenineurope.blogspot.com/2008/01/black-success-stories.html

http://asanetwork.blogspot.com/2008/01/black-success-stories-by-zhana.html

To read about the choreopoem, visit:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewevent.asp?AuthorID=6641

The Black Wall Street

I am all in favour of Black people taking responsibility for our own development and progress. This is one reason why I publish Black Success Stories.

I also understand the importance of being historically accurate.

The next time someone says Black people need to deal with our own issues and stop blaming white people, tell them about the Black Wall Street.

"The best description of Black Wall Street, or Little Africa as it was also known, would be liken it to a mini-Beverly Hills. It was the golden door of the Black community during the early 1900s, and it proved that African Americans had successful infrastructure. That's what Black Wall Street was all about.

The dollar circulated 36 to 100 times, sometimes taking a year for currency to leave the community. Now in 1995, a dollar leaves the Black community in 15 minutes. As far as resources, there were Ph.D.s residing in Little Africa, Black attorneys and doctors. One doctor was Dr. Berry who owned the bus system. His average income was $500 a day, a hefty pocket change in 1910. "
Like many African American communities, it prospered and thrived until destroyed by white people in riots which burned it down, displacing thousands of people.

This is just one of the African Heritage Resources on my Nurture Success site.

Knowledge is power.

International Sharing and Communication

It's so important that we, as people of African heritage, share information and communicate with one another. Whether we live in the UK, the U.S.A., Africa, the Caribbean or anywhere in the world, we share common experiences.

I just came across this article. A young student was banned from giving a speech about how the Eurocentic curriculum in his school had damaged him and other Black students: http://www.frostillustrated.com/full.php?sid=1265

Although this happened in the States, it could easily have happened here in Britain and it affects all of us in the Diaspora.

I also just found this link: Basic Black Griot, A Conversation with [the playwright] Wole Soyinka.

The page asks: How would you describe the relationship between Africans and African Americans? Should there be a relationship between the two cultures or is that a “feel-good” sensibility that has no basis in fact?

Check it out and leave your comments.

In my work, I make no bones. I publish work from the UK, the U.S.A., African, the Caribbean and everywhere else there are African people. We did not stop being Africans when they put us into the slave ships.

We must keep dialoguing and communicating with each other. This is vital in order for all of us to survive and thrive.

Click here to read my article on Celebrating Black Heroes and Sheroes.

Click here if you want to submit your article or story.