Black history deserves to be part of American history’s main menu
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One doesn’t have to be a baseball fan to have heard about Jackie Robinson. Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball when he started playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. However, does the name Willie O’Ree ring a bell?
O’Ree, an African Canadian from New Brunswick, broke the color barrier in ice hockey when the Boston Bruins called him up in 1958. He played 45 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) and many more in the minor leagues. After an illustrious career, he retired in 1980. That’s when the NHL forgot him.
Black history is dedicated to the recall of the never heard of and the forgotten. The focus on Black history is attributed to the unhonored, dishonored and honored, what I call the “side dishes” that are never part of the main entree of American history.
When Black people are not featured as an integral part of all that is honorable, American history becomes white history. When Black and white Americans are served what is unhonored or dishonored about their past, they are served side dishes. Generally, white university and college historians are responsible for what gets cooked up and offered on the menu of American history.
The so-called trickle-down theory of economics is mirrored in school cafeterias across America. According to the trickle-down theory, what starts at the top of the economic pyramid should be beneficial to the masses at the bottom of the pyramid. What’s true of economics is true of education. Neither has worked as promised. Revealed truth at the top runs into barriers along the steep decline to the masses at the bottom of the pyramid. Revealed truth through evidence-based research meets opposition and obstacles. Revealed truth becomes purposefully distorted and revised to fit a particular well-established narrative, simultaneously, leaving openings only for debunked myths and outright lies to make their way to the bottom where average Americans live, move and have their being.
Part of the psychological damage of the chains of American slavery is Black people have what I call a taste deficit disorder, not having enough taste or appetite for Black history as a main entree of American history. This taste deficit disorder among too large a portion of Black people is evidence of the success of the falsification of American history. There is a good reason for the falsification of the truths of American history.
The suppression of the honorable contributions to American history by Black Americans can never be told without the elephant in the room, namely, the obstacles and opposition encountered against which barriers were broken and achievements reluctantly acknowledged.
One reason given for the national opposition to teaching children “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help us God” is the bad feelings or guilt complex left behind in white children.
Let us be clear about such reasoning. Does this not suggest it is fine for Black children to grow up feeling bad about themselves, mentally chained with guilt, inferiority complexes and self-hatred as long as the comfort zone of white children remains undisturbed?
High self-esteem built on lies and low self-esteem built on ignorance will never serve a wellness of our nation’s soul. Lies and ignorance of constantly reinforced debunked myths perpetuate the racial and ethnic divisions that lead to war.
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Making wholistic Black history a main entree of American (white) history would take a major bite out of the crime of whitewashed truth for the continued reinforcement and advancement of white political power and authority.
We must institutionalize truth-telling about the Black barrier breakers of American history, not just in the field of sports, also in the sciences, humanities, religion, politics and technology.
More:Turning pain into purpose, why Erie must engage Black history
If we go back far enough to pre-American history, our roots will take us to the awesome civilizations and inventions of Africa and Egypt. The question is how far back are we willing to go for the salvation of the truth that can set whites free from lies and Blacks free from ignorance?
An additional question worth answering is what structural barriers need to be broken to avert another civil war, and instead, advance America’s global geopolitical position?
Jackie Robinson and Willie O’Ree played many games in the minor league before their giftedness was given a chance to make it to the major league. One might say they arose from side dishes to main entrees. Consequently, Americans and America are better served because of an expanding menu of Black American contributions and future possibilities.
Charles Mock is the pastor of Community Baptist Church in Erie.
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