Comments on: >> The Utility of Black History Month… http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/ Honest and Open African-American Culture Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:20:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: reflecting on black history month « Nite*Vision http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/#comment-45 reflecting on black history month « Nite*Vision Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:05:13 +0000 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-45 [...] Sun recently sparked an interesting and lively discussion about Black History Month called “The Utility of Black History Month.” His original post included a quote from M-1 denigrating the month and ended questioning the [...] [...] Sun recently sparked an interesting and lively discussion about Black History Month called “The Utility of Black History Month.” His original post included a quote from M-1 denigrating the month and ended questioning the [...]

]]> By: djtigger89 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/#comment-27 djtigger89 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:35:24 +0000 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-27 @ TCS: Obviously John thinks blacks are a moral superior who would never sell their own kind into slavery. Hmm, what's the quickest way of generating a quick buck. Well how about selling my enemy into slavery. It's even been shown, throughout history, that even whites sold their own kind into slavery. Any black historian who would suggest that blacks didn't sell their own kind into slavery is seriously misguided or is naive when it comes to human nature at that time. @ TCS: Obviously John thinks blacks are a moral superior who would never sell their own kind into slavery. Hmm, what’s the quickest way of generating a quick buck. Well how about selling my enemy into slavery. It’s even been shown, throughout history, that even whites sold their own kind into slavery. Any black historian who would suggest that blacks didn’t sell their own kind into slavery is seriously misguided or is naive when it comes to human nature at that time.

]]> By: TCS http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/#comment-26 TCS Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:44:38 +0000 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-26 @ John: Honestly, I can definitely see rival Black empires/nations selling captured enemies to slave traders. Is it that you don't think that Blacks ever sold other Blacks to slave traders or that it wasn't as prominent as it's made out to be? @ John: Honestly, I can definitely see rival Black empires/nations selling captured enemies to slave traders. Is it that you don’t think that Blacks ever sold other Blacks to slave traders or that it wasn’t as prominent as it’s made out to be?

]]> By: John http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/#comment-25 John Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:58:21 +0000 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-25 ur only reason for believing that some african "tribes" (And i hate that name, cause more than tribes, africa was full of great empires like the Mali Empire in the west) sold our ancesters into slavery is what you were told by white historians all ur life. Do you know that many black historians today are just not buying that anymore ? School yourself out of the white system ! ur only reason for believing that some african “tribes” (And i hate that name, cause more than tribes, africa was full of great empires like the Mali Empire in the west) sold our ancesters into slavery is what you were told by white historians all ur life. Do you know that many black historians today are just not buying that anymore ? School yourself out of the white system !

]]> By: djtigger89 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/#comment-24 djtigger89 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 03:44:45 +0000 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-24 I'm going to have to agree with the assertion that reparations are detrimental. If we are entitled to it, will we also be collecting from the African tribes who also sold our ancestors into slavery? I’m going to have to agree with the assertion that reparations are detrimental. If we are entitled to it, will we also be collecting from the African tribes who also sold our ancestors into slavery?

]]> By: thecoppersun http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/#comment-22 thecoppersun Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:52:55 +0000 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-22 BIG UPS to my homegirl nite*vision for stopping thru and doing her thing...I just noticed the "black books" jumpoff you've got going on...niiiiice. ...well, I know you said you're not anti-BHM, but it sure sounded like it LOL. I don't know, I guess I just think that people try to make too much out of BHM. It's a month. Focus on Black History. Remember the sacrifices made....end of story...but that's just me. With that being said, most folks are ignorant to the historical background that created Black America...but in solving that problem, I have to start with pointing the finger at myself. I should be doing more to educate the youth as to African History and African-American roots (as a fellow public high school educator...BIG UPS AGAIN nite*vision LOL). Lastly, I told my friend this last night, and he disagreed...but you know me, I'm gonna post it anyway (*clears throat* ahem ahem): REPARATIONS WOULD BE MORE DETRIMENTAL TO AFRICAN AMERICANS THAN SLAVERY EVER WAS! I mean just think of the mentality it supports (bartering goods for history) and imagine the stipulations ("now that we gave you this lil money/land/WHATEVER, we don't want to hear that slavery is the reason behind your poor test scores, low achievement rates and overall hood mentality")... ...but that's a post for a different day >>TCS BIG UPS to my homegirl nite*vision for stopping thru and doing her thing…I just noticed the “black books” jumpoff you’ve got going on…niiiiice.

…well, I know you said you’re not anti-BHM, but it sure sounded like it LOL. I don’t know, I guess I just think that people try to make too much out of BHM. It’s a month. Focus on Black History. Remember the sacrifices made….end of story…but that’s just me. With that being said, most folks are ignorant to the historical background that created Black America…but in solving that problem, I have to start with pointing the finger at myself. I should be doing more to educate the youth as to African History and African-American roots (as a fellow public high school educator…BIG UPS AGAIN nite*vision LOL).

Lastly, I told my friend this last night, and he disagreed…but you know me, I’m gonna post it anyway (*clears throat* ahem ahem):

REPARATIONS WOULD BE MORE DETRIMENTAL TO AFRICAN AMERICANS THAN SLAVERY EVER WAS!

I mean just think of the mentality it supports (bartering goods for history) and imagine the stipulations (“now that we gave you this lil money/land/WHATEVER, we don’t want to hear that slavery is the reason behind your poor test scores, low achievement rates and overall hood mentality”)…

…but that’s a post for a different day

>>TCS

]]> By: nite*vision http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/#comment-21 nite*vision Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:11:53 +0000 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-21 i think m-1's point is more about the fact that having a black history month necessarily makes the history and issues african americans face separate from present-day reality. it either becomes about romanticizing, mourning, or dreaming...but, what about really understanding our history and cultures and working to make a change? as a public school teacher, i've found that this separation results in whole generations not knowing anything about 'black history' other than notable civil rights figures...there's no connection made of 'blacks' (american or others) to the sciences, literature, math, government, etc. clearly, the only meaningful, scientific, and/or civilized contributions to these disciplines have only come from caucasians and asians. it's really like being beaten...or ignored...all year, then hugged all month and expected to go out and leap mountains. it's actually kinda schizophrenic. on a side note: if it's only one tragedy that should be apparent, it's that black history month has effectively contributed to "black" becoming synonymous with african-american. you'd be hard pressed to find any connection being made to our histories before the transatlantic slave trade or the retentions in religious practices (and not just in christianity), culture, world view, etc. that still persist these centuries later here and abroad in the diaspora. one thing i really hate about black history month is that for all of its celebration ofpopular images of african-americanness, it simultaneously distinguishes us as unrelated, disconnected, and unconcerned about our aunties, uncles, great-great-greats, and cousins abroad... if it sounds like i'm anti-black history month, i'm not. i don't feel either way about it. but, your post got me thinking and writing, so... ...regarding reparations, i'll say the people and organizations actually doing the work to call for reparations are not just asking for money to be given to people; that's a popular, sensational lie that obscures the real issue. to be honest, i think the reparations movement is still questioning the "how", but is researching and working from a belief that a comprehensive agenda - funded by fruits of slave labor - be designed by and for descendants of slavery, the vast majority of which are being miseducated by the public school system as they enter the pipeline of the prison industrial complex, while whole families and communities are destroyed in the process. damn. this started as a comment and turned into a post. i'm surprised there's no word limit on this thing...lol. i think m-1’s point is more about the fact that having a black history month necessarily makes the history and issues african americans face separate from present-day reality. it either becomes about romanticizing, mourning, or dreaming…but, what about really understanding our history and cultures and working to make a change? as a public school teacher, i’ve found that this separation results in whole generations not knowing anything about ‘black history’ other than notable civil rights figures…there’s no connection made of ‘blacks’ (american or others) to the sciences, literature, math, government, etc. clearly, the only meaningful, scientific, and/or civilized contributions to these disciplines have only come from caucasians and asians. it’s really like being beaten…or ignored…all year, then hugged all month and expected to go out and leap mountains. it’s actually kinda schizophrenic.

on a side note: if it’s only one tragedy that should be apparent, it’s that black history month has effectively contributed to “black” becoming synonymous with african-american. you’d be hard pressed to find any connection being made to our histories before the transatlantic slave trade or the retentions in religious practices (and not just in christianity), culture, world view, etc. that still persist these centuries later here and abroad in the diaspora. one thing i really hate about black history month is that for all of its celebration ofpopular images of african-americanness, it simultaneously distinguishes us as unrelated, disconnected, and unconcerned about our aunties, uncles, great-great-greats, and cousins abroad…

if it sounds like i’m anti-black history month, i’m not. i don’t feel either way about it. but, your post got me thinking and writing, so…

…regarding reparations, i’ll say the people and organizations actually doing the work to call for reparations are not just asking for money to be given to people; that’s a popular, sensational lie that obscures the real issue. to be honest, i think the reparations movement is still questioning the “how”, but is researching and working from a belief that a comprehensive agenda – funded by fruits of slave labor – be designed by and for descendants of slavery, the vast majority of which are being miseducated by the public school system as they enter the pipeline of the prison industrial complex, while whole families and communities are destroyed in the process.

damn. this started as a comment and turned into a post. i’m surprised there’s no word limit on this thing…lol.

]]> By: Black History http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/the-utility-of-black-history-month/#comment-20 Black History Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:33:21 +0000 http://thecoppersun.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-20 [...] >> The Utility of Black History Month… [...] [...] >> The Utility of Black History Month… [...]

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