Black History Is More Than Racism!

Black history began in freedom and greatness - long before any captivity in the US or any other land.

So called African American as well as Africans scattered throughout the world have a rich history - not to be compared with any other history on the planet!

Our rich history is about so much more than just racism and how we are treated.

On this website, I may touch on the reality of racism every once in a while because it is real... but if you notice, I hardly ever deal with "racism" per say.

The more important issue for us has to be understanding our history.. in the correct context. Then we can place racism in it's proper context and deal with it more effectively. First thing has to stay first!

"If a people lose their historical memory, they become a very fragile people... they regress. And it is that historical memory which permits them to be a strong people!" ~ Cheikh Anta Diop (1923-1986)

Don't be distracted family...

The "normal" conversation that I hear about Black History generally revolves around racism and how bad White people treated Blacks. The truth is that our history is not, and never has been totally enveloped in racism. Whether we realize it or not, limiting your history to how bad you were treated gives whoever mistreated you an unhealthy amount of power over you right now.

History gives you your identity... which generally begins in the family. Every kingdom began with a family. The first kingdom in the Bible was a family.

Even when you start doing genealogy researches in your families you find out a very important rule of thumb... it is that verbal or what is called oral history is always more credible than any written history, or even documents found. In genealogy you want to always consider the oral history from a relative more credible than anything you may find on the internet or other methods.

Family history is passed down through generations.

Racism is part of our history here in America and other parts of the world - but please understand that our history is more than racism.

The way we generally speak of racism is about how we were treated. Black people were, and still are many times, treated very badly. In slavery, our ancestors were hardly ever allowed to raise their own children because they would be sold away. No family history could hardly survive through black families. And because our authentic history had been stripped from us through the dividing of our families, we lost our culture and identity... because we did not know our own history for ourselves.

Also, because we were not allowed to learn how to read for ourselves, we had to depend on them somewhat for our identity.

It was a sho nuff rough ride for our ancestors.... we owe it to them to know who we are! We have no excuse now days. They didn’t have much of a choice, but we do have a choice.

**For starters, one thing we can all do is make a genuine effort to know as many family members as possible. Family reunions are, and has always been the best way to remain connected with family.

So... just like we don't allow how people feel about, or treat us as individuals, to determine who we are... never confuse our complete history with how we were treated by another group of people!

We do have to deal with and fight against racism still today, most definitely... but don't let your whole conversation on black history be about how we are treated! You are giving away way too much power - and that is only part of our story. The part where we were victims... but we were not always victims!

Knowing and understanding your history - when you were not victims is one of the most powerful tools to empower you to see yourself in the most healthy and fruitful way. Then we can do more healthy and fruitful things.

For it is almost impossible to do what you can not see.

Stay focused on understanding your true history... which goes way past slavery.

Better yet, find out WHY our ancestors were taken into slavery and oppressed. The true answer to that will change how you view EVERYTHING!

This is what The World's Best Kept Secret's webs is all about!

Blessings!

By Minister Rodney Jones, specializing in Biblical History