From: 01mawatson@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american
Subject: Re: Relevance to African-Am. History to U.S. Citizens
Date: 16 Dec 92 04:15:08 GMT
Followup-To: soc.culture.african.american
Organization: Ball State University, Muncie, In - Univ. Computing Svc's

In article <jpa2001-111292192420@m249-18.bgsu.edu>, jpa2001@andy.bgsu.edu (Sherlette Dixon) writes:
> You will find this same article under alt.discrimination, but here I will
> add a few more comments:
> 
> 2 writers by the name of Brian K. Yoder and William Karomo have been
> disputing the relevance of teaching Black history at all levels of the
> education system, and being the intelligent Black young lady that I am, I
> feel obligated to put my 2 cents in.  Black history, Hispanic histories
> (with it being the umbrella from which Mexican, Puertoriquese, and other
> Latino histories come into play), Asian histories, and the like are all
> important to all U.S. residents, if to only remind ourselves of the mosaic 
> that exists here.  This country represents neither a "salad bowl" nor a
> "melting pot":  terms that have been popularized by the "American"
> vernacular.  I am talking about a mosaic, a work of art  that depends upon
> its many colors and features for its very existence.  Enough said.
> 
> Yoder obviously does not see the significance of learning about his own
> heritage, and that is his business.  But I believe  that I know why he
> feels this way----as do quite a few Whites.  Yoder had access to his
> history before, he has access to it now, and he will continue to have
> access to it:  free and unobstructured access.  He can ignore his German
> heritage or he can study it:  it is purely his option.  Blacks and
> Hispanics do not have the option that Yoder has.  After the "discovery" of
> the New World, to keep African slaves in their place, it became necessary
> to keep them in a state of cultural self-denial.  This process only took a
> generation to reach  completion, but 500+ years later, African-Americans
> are still trying to reverse the damage---and the damage is EXTENSIVE.  ALL
> people can learn from this damage, but emphasis must be placed on the
> enlightenment that Black culture, specifically African-Am. culture, brought
> and continues to bring to these United States of America, which said
> knowledge has yet to be truly realized.
> 
> Sherlette Dixon  

Being the intelligent white young lady that I am, who just happens to have
taken an African-American history course, I feel I must add my two cents also.

As for the relevence of studying African-American history, I think it has 
helped me to understand the situation the country is in today.  I hear too
many people say "Well why don't they just get off welfare and get out of the
ghettos" etc etc, but the history course helped me to understand that you can't
just look at what's happening today . . . you have to look back further and
further in order to understand what's going on.  That goes for all history.
If you have the right teacher, history can be incredibly interesting and 
helpful in understanding your world.

I'm glad I took that course, since now I can reasonably and rationally argue
with someone when I hear stupid generalized comments like the one mentioned
above. But I suppose if Yoder isn't interested in his own history, he's not
going to be too terribly concerned about enlightening himself or others about
anyone else's history.

Maybe someday people will wise up . . . sigh.

-- 
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< Michelle Watson                    "01mawatson@virgo.bsuvc.bsu.edu"  >
< Ball State University              "01mawatson@bsuvax1.bitnet"       >
<                                                                      >
< "Am I buggin' you? I don't mean t' bug ya..."  -Bono                 >
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