History. HIS story. Black history in America has been told by those who have controlled the country from the start; and he who controls the narrative determines the “truth.” Or at least “his” version of it.
Many have formed their values and allegiances to American precepts based on the stories that have been told since founding of this country. Accounts of heroism – of “give me liberty or give me death” have been recounted in school books to boast of the bravery of its forefathers in pursuit of their freedom from British rule. All true, but between the lines of those stories are the FACTS of what it took for those early colonizers to accomplish all that they were able to.
Lies Then…
Early settlers were out of their element coming the shores of America. Sickness and death plagued them as they struggled to harvest the land and survive the harsh New England climate. Their survival tactics included the capture and pillaging of the natives that were here when they arrived. Eventually slaves were brought into the picture with their precious African resources and agricultural acumen. The friendly Thanksgiving story that I learned about of a shared meal between the settlers and natives is a far cry from the truth. It completely ignores the reality of the death and devastation of the native people associated with it.
Lies Now
As they were then, current stories of brutality are told to protect the reality of the bloodthirstiness of the perpetrators. Perspectives told slant perceptions in their favor. Again, controlling the narrative enables the storytellers to shape the perception of the masses and to perpetuate false stereotypes and opinions. Still, Black history in America includes the struggle (to put it mildly!) to defend ourselves and our collective condition. The way our societal issues play out in the news stories and in our communities excludes the historical context of our communities and what led to the current conditions. “Putting it simply, the American ghetto exists almost entirely a result of intentional state action and extra-legal white supremacist violence.” This quote is found in a 2017 article on timeline.com. Please read the article in its entirety https://timeline.com/redlining-federal-housing-racist-14d7f48267e8 for additional information and context.
Truth or Consequence
The roots of racism and prejudice and injustice against Black people in America run deep and wide through virtually every system in this country. It’s hard to fathom that American non-people of color would still feel as strongly as they do against their fellow citizens if they really knew the truth but I’m sure that’s my optimism speaking. The reality is that racism is generationally imprinted on the DNA of many white people just like the trauma that black people have experienced as a result of it is imprinted on ours. What is currently taking place, however, is a rising up. There are cries of “NO MORE” and for the truth to prevail, at long last, over the lies and the hate. Parts of that truth are now plainly in the face of America, the WORLD, for everyone to see, and the narrative is being retold.
“It’s growing clearer that a storm is coming that will upend anti-Black racism that’s been so prevalent in American history since this nation’s inception. While the roles people of color played in the settling and
building of this nation are frequently ignored today, a Black renaissance that sees the truth behind this country’s past proudly championed will soon take hold.” – Jess Marlowe (Nov. 2018). From the following article:
What Remains to Be Seen…
Over the last several years, bits and pieces of the full history of Black people in America have come to the surface. The TV show “Underground,” was a raw depiction of the realities of slavery and the slaves’ (as characterized) determination to find freedom. (It is available on Hulu.) The big screen film “12 Years A Slave,” was the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was captured and enslaved in the years preceding the Civil War. There was also “Hidden Figures,” which told the stories of the contributions that Black women made to NASA’s early efforts to enter the space race. A monumental accomplishment was the construction and 2016 opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (www.nmaahc.org), the only Smithsonian Museum dedicated to the story of the Black presence in America from the time we graced its shores. The museum, opened with a ceremony led by President Barack Obama, tells our story with accuracy, grace and honor to those who came before us and whose stories in many cases have never been told. No longer are we hiding or being silent. The floodgates have been opened, the doors unlocked and we are bounding through them. The movement that’s happening now is just the beginning of the retelling of the story of Black people in America and this time we are telling it for ourselves. Black Lives Matter in this country. They always have and they always will.