Date: Thu, 01 Feb 96 15:02:47 EST From: coatesrd@casmail.muohio.edu (Rodney Coates) Reply-To: coatesrd@casmail.muohio.edu (Rodney Coates) To: PROGRESSIVE SOCIOLOGISTS NETWORK , revs@csf.colorado.edu Subject: bLACK hISTORY bLUES Black History Month and its "celebrations" for many has become a burdensome exercise in lethargy. While the messages we glean from beneath the screen of our screams that "they" deem is worthy of their time. Just as long as we pay for the line with one silver dime. Sing a song of paradoxes - we shall overcome as soon as we overcome. Sing a song of freedom as soon as we are free. Sing a song of survival as soon as we learn to survive. Sing a song of hope as soon as we find hope. Lethargic because all too often this period is spent bemoaning the victim status of blacks, re-identifying the age-old problems that confront us, hearing tired old speeches of events all too often and too quickly forgotten; buying that dress or that tie, that book or that art work - overpriced, overly gaudy, and made in China. I've got the cure, I've got what you need, I've got the answer - vote for me cause I'm all you've got. Lethargic because all my white colleagues, feigning, sensitivity want to talk about black issues, the newspapers suddenly discover black feature stories, black leaders, academicians, and preachers in high demand to speak to the masses about blackness. Hey, come on over...lets talk awhile tell me bout your problems I'll cry for you... Lethargic because many will play semantical games about what is the appropriate name for blacks of African origins living in Amerika. Are we black, colored, negro, African American, or what is the flavor of today. The flavor for today is chocolate, but beige will do..now don't you try to be too black that just won't do. Lethargic because the networks and local stations, dusting off the only black films they have in their collection -we'll see Roots, Malcolm X, Lady Sings the Blues...Do the Right thing...over and over again...did you say Shaft -well shut your mouth...but I'm talking about shaft... Overly pompous asses getting fat on my pain, selling me this crap - yesterday's stain. Sad refrain, Missy Jane...still looking for Cane...but he died last year in the rain. Moesha, poor little Moesha...my heart goes out for you, trite expressions and stereotypes of what we used to be like, viewed today, but we're not like that now. Mr. Bo Jangles, won't ya dance for us...smile that smile that hides your grief...Shirley T" really didn't like Mr. T..but he was so cute with all that gold you see. Local programs, national assemblies, public displays of tokenism gone astray. The dreamer reduced to a mere sound bite "I have a dream" Malcolm reduced to a mere letter "X". No angela, no stokely, no bell hooks, James W. Johnson -cringing as off pitched voices make a half-hearted attempt to sing...make sure the words are printed ... it is our national anthem..but we've forgotten the theme. The meaning lost midst the buying and selling of that noble dream. It might be unfortunate to be black, but it is verrry commercial a thing... Black makeup, black hair products, black art, poetry...bet (i.e., BET) Michael wasn't good enough for the king's daughter...goes back to the closet... Teachers will instruct their students on this weary assignment, find the black, find the cause, present the issue. Preachers extolling the virtues of long suffering, endure the strife, endure the pain, endure your plight. A million did march, but what the hell...no plan, no action, no evidence of presence - another fatherless child, abused wife, misused life...and crack sells still on an all time high... Problems, problems, please don't invite me to supper...i'm tired of the freedom bird, ray charles, and your idle banter...the poor blacks...have you heard this one...another lost soul...lets save the blind, spotted, crippled whale...poor blacks...why don't they just get over it...poor blacks...poor blacks...February..........why February: Its the most unique of all Months...only one every four years has an extra day...what will you do with that extra day this year 7 suggestions for making this celebration meaningful 1) Don't buy anything "Black" made in China, Korea -or by any one who isn't black 2) Don't say or do anything that you wouldn't ordinarily do (hypocrisy is especially bad during black history month). 3) Make this celebration an Afro-centric one....where past, present and future coincide...rather than concentrating on the past (successes/failures), look at how these impact on the present, and devise solutions that will reconcile these in the future. 4) Parents seek out your children, let them know you love, support and care for them and their future. 5) Children seek out your parents, let them know that you love, understand and need them and that you will be there for their future. 6) Teachers commit yourselves to excellence, high moral standards, and your students -Your vocation is a sacred one, for the future rest in your hands. 7) Students commit yourselves to learning, achievement, high moral standards. You are our last, best hope - for the future is you. "Only when lions have Historians will hunters cease being heroes." African Proverb UMOJA, Still in the struggle Rodney D. Coates Director of Black World Studies Associate Professor of Sociology Miami University Oxford, Ohio - 45056 PH: 513-5291235