Morgan "God" Freeman - Black History Month
I lyke dis
But...I think it should be clarified (assuming Al already knows this), that the other half of there being no black history month, is that black history ought to be taught with regularity alongside colonial history. Same with native history, and anything relevant to historical events and the reality of this country.
Unfortunately today there is still a separation between black and colonial and native and immigrant histories...they are assumed to be entirely separate and the minority histories are seen as entirely the responsibility of minorities to care about. Sooo many things would be different if history lessons were more inclusive.
The only thing I conditionally disagree with is, race is important to those who value ancestral knowledge and family traditions. Go back far enough and we all have the same group of ancestors, but its valuable to realise that our respective families, tribes, nations, & cultures inherit a bit of experience that another family might not have inherited...as with any other traits. We're not homogenous, and we shouldn't be because diversity is key to adaptation and survival. If we can accept that there is no danger of racism.
You would say- thats a person, and that person has inherited a set of traits, and also a set of experiences & insights about the world through their family and racial culture. So they are uniquely valuable, and I am uniquely valuable.. but.... we are infinitely MORE valuable together. (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts)
The problem of course is one of practicalities.
Sounds harsh I know. But consider, in Australia we have a black native population, and we have a push for "reconciliation" (and to work "towards" that). But what is reconciliation and who makes that call? Aboriginal people you say? Not a bad answer, but which Aboriginal people? Leaders? Problem is, which ones? This is a list of tribes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indigenous_Australian_group_names There are a number of Elders in each one. Many Elders are not very traditional and many destroyed by grog.
What possible reconciliation would be enough for what has been done to their culture?
It is basically a bullshit sentiment.
If it were up to me, I would grant Tanya Major, Noel Pearson and Mike Dodson a lot more power, they have good heads on their shoulders and an absolute proven commitment to Aboriginals. That would be practical. But would that be enough?
What sounds nice in theory is rarely nice in practice
I think that a big thing too is that every population has been responsible for some oppression at some point. People are evolved from the survivors of the tribes that won. The smarter, tougher and more ruthless. Travel back down your family tree far enough and you will be the ancestor of an oppressor.
Empires rise and fall. New people subjugated new people dominating. We can not cater to you or give you compensation if your ancient relative was enslaved by the Romans nor if they were enslaved by the Moors. How did those people manage? How did THEY become US?
I think it is following Morgan's advice.