By Joseph H. Silver, Sr.
The country that was once guided by the words on the Statue of Liberty is hardly recognizable today. Politics aside, there is no real excuse for the level of meanspiritedness being exhibited across this country. We have drifted into a space and time where “truth” means absolutely nothing. Lies can be told so many times until folk accept the lies as truth. This is the reality in the narrative in Florida, Kansas, Texas, Mississippi, Idaho, Kentucky, Arkansas, Arizona, Iowa, Alabama, Tennessee, Utah, Oklahoma, and other states as they are eliminating the teaching of Black History or mandating that it be taught in a way that does not tell the truth about the conditions and realities in the life and times of Black America. The latest mandate in Florida was to teach slavery from the vantage point that slavery was good because the enslaved people were taught skills. This is a lie!
To be honest with you, I had enough of this lying narrative, and I had decided to ignore it completely. However, my recent trip to Ghana, Africa changed my stance on this matter. This was not my first trip to Africa. In fact, I have been traveling to various parts of the African continent for over thirty years. This year I was in Ghana attending the conference of the Pan African Heritage Museum as a speaker and a participant. It was there that I rediscovered what I already knew. The noise and actions to eliminate Black History and diversity initiatives are part of the ”Play Book” of those who seek to marginalize and disenfranchise Black people.
In the time that Africans were enslaved, there was a clear pattern. That pattern was to separate families, emasculate the males, kill those who spoke out against the injustices, rape the women to show dominance, strip the people of their names, forbid the people from practicing their religion, erase their history, penalize anyone who taught the history of the those enslaved, incarcerate those who they wished to control or dominate (e.g.: the Indians, the Japanese, the Jews, and now Blacks), and change the narrative about the achievements of the people. Does any of this sound familiar? It is for these reasons that I cannot ignore what is going on in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Kansas, and other parts of the country.
The “Play Book” has been dusted off and is being used in 2023. This is disheartening, but it is intentional.
Allow me to go back to the lie that slavery was good for the Africans because they learned skills. The real truth is that the Africans brought their skills with them. In fact, Africans with certain and needed skills brought in a higher price at the slave auctions. The skilled Africans were preferred! Growing and cultivating rice, for example, was learned from the Africans. The Bantu people in Africa were engaged in agriculture 4000 years ago. Do the math; the United States is less than 300 years old. Mining was perfected in Egypt (5000 BCE), Southern Africa (10,000 years ago), Sudan, and Northern Africa. The Akan people in western Africa were leaders in mining in the 15th century. Do the math; the United States is less than 300 years old. The blacksmith work in America during the period of slavery was based on the skills that the Africans brought to America. In fact, the smelting of iron began in Africa over 2500 years ago. Do the math; the United States is less than 300 years old. The Moors brought enlightenment to Spain and Portugal around 711 AD. The Moors brought their knowledge of astronomy, agriculture, architecture, and the arts. Yet, the Moors were depicted as barbaric. Do the math; the United States is less than 300 years old.
So this move to eliminate Black History and eliminate diversity initiatives is not isolated. Rather, it is part of the supremacy “Play Book.” This is very dangerous and divisive, and it is for these reasons that we all must speak out and denounce these tactics. America is better than this! Clearly most Americans disagree with these tactics. However, when the masses of the people remain silent on these issues, it only increases the resolve of those who seek to harm and divide. We must speak out to bridge the divide that presently exists in this country. The country cannot survive on lies and division. So, let’s push back on the lies and come together for the greater good of the country. Remember, the words of the philosopher Dante, “The deepest part of hell is reserved for those who remain silent on the moral issues.”