Black History Programs

You might talk with some folk who express their displeasure with Black History programs. Well, I'm one of those but for a different reason than most folk would think with their "first thought." I'm called a racist at least 3 or 4 times a month because I issue consequences for poor behavior and don't give in to people who want things their way but I'll stand on my record and my relations with black folk as well as white folk. So I'd like to share some of my basic beliefs as they relate to black folk and black history programs.

1. FACT: black folk, as US History goes have been done a great injustice. No one should be force into a life of slavery, no one should be forced to serve any one without proper reward. Even with that no one should be allowed to become a slave to anything that keeps them from being all they can be.

2. FACT: there is but one true God. His word tells us to love others as we would love our selves.

3. FACT: there is only one National Anthem. It is meant for all Americans no matter what color. The fact that you would select an additional national anthem indicates to me that "THE" United States of America is not good enough for your group whether it is because of your color or religion or shoe size. I kinda feel like inserting the "America. Love It or Leave It" bumper sticker here. "Lift Up Every Voice" is a beautiful song but National Anthem????

4. FACT:Black children need role models to look up to and they shouldn't all be sports figures or musical stars. Where are the fathers? Where are the successful black figures when the youth are walking the streets at night when they should be in the bed alone sleeping in preparation for getting their education. Step up to the plate or loose an entire generation.

5. FACT: our government has place the largest chain around our black children by providing them with "checks" that are almost never used in the way they are intended. The United States of American has placed a dependence on black people that is as dependent as "crack" and as the affect probably more long lasting. Welfare?? If a person doesn't work for what they get then they will never work to get what they need.

These are just a few of my beliefs but how about the way many organizations approach Black History programs.

1. All of our children not just black ones, have not been taught to behave in any kind of program. Their attention is elsewhere. Whether they just want to make fun of their friends on stage, play with their phones or just chat to the person 4 rows over. Of course those who are "monitoring" these kids are at the point that they are afraid to say anything to them because of their behavior towards them of their parents behavior towards them. The apple don't fall to far from the tree.

2. Programs should be "short", to the point and be done. "You lost them" after the 4th poem.

3. Be sensitive to the entire audience. To make some stupid statement about white folk when they are sitting in a Black History program because they choose to be apart of a profession that doesn't pay them what they are worth, in a profession where they are abused by parents and students daily, well character is hard to hide.

4. Shouldn't we be teaching black history daily along with white, yellow, red, and blue history. How about teaching human history instead of categorizing special groups.

Please don't forget to honor all tribes of the earth, but please don't put me down because I'm white and you are another color until you know where I come from and what's inside my heart. I think when you look into my heart you'll like what you see and things won't be just a matter of color.