Understanding the Importance of African American Studies

There is such a great importance to the studiesThis trip to Atlanta was the start of his cultural
of African American History. As stated byeducation as well as mine. While in Atlanta we
George Santayana, "Those who do not learnvisited the Dr. King Memorial Site and King Center.
from history are doomed to repeat it".My then 5 year old son was very intrigued with
The history of the African Americans in Americathe images he saw on the walls throughout the
can sometimes be a touchy subject because ofKing Center and was fascinated to actually see
all the attachments that comes along with thethe very house that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
story. The mere thought of the North Americangrew up in. Our Atlanta fun soon came to an end
slave trade in such a modern time as this causesand we had to get back home to St. Louis and
many to feel uncomfortable. As uncomfortable asprepare for another week of pre-school and
it may seem I think there is a lot to bework. Though we had left Atlanta and had left
celebrated post the Slavery Era, Reconstructionthe King Center my sons' mind did not stop
Era and Civil Rights Era. Through the proper studyticking. On our drive home my son inquisitiveness
of African American History/American Historykicked into full gear. He asked me, "Daddy, can
World History one can see the great maturity ofyou turn off the radio so we can talk?" From this
a Nation!point on I became a true student of the history
African Americans and America have come aloneof people that defeated all odds.
way since our original blend in 1619 when the firstBack home from our Atlanta trip my son would
20 slaves arrived to the Colony of Jamestown,often sit on my lap, turn off the TV and ask,
Virginia. If you truly examine the tenacity and the"Daddy, would you tell me about more important
courage that was displayed by these Africansblack people I should know about in our history?'"
turned Americans you would be nothing butThese questions and my own quest for
inspired. Here you have a people that even whenknowledge led me to doing extensive research of
being bound by chains and restricted by the lawsthe African American people. After spending
of the land, still found a way to rise above thesecountless days and nights studying I was beginning
complexities.to fall in love with who I was as an African
A clear and precise study of the AfricanAmerican. I know longer felt inferior; neither did I
American people should be mandatory to allfeel that whites were superiors.
Americans because many of the traditionalFor the first time in my life I felt that we were all
History books in the classrooms throughoutthe same. I found many eye opening facts like
American have left many to believe that theblacks and whites would work together, fight
African American people have always been atogether and live together in times as early as
helpless/hopeless people, a people of despair.the 1600's. Do this mean that all blacks weren't
However, when one thoroughly study andjust slaves and that all whites weren't just slave
examine the likes of Anthony Johnson who wasowners? That's what it is beginning to look like.
one of the original 20 slaves turned first AfricanWhy then are these things not discussed in
American Entrepreneur, Denmark Vesey whoclassrooms and homes all across America? This
fought to liberate his people from slavery bywould truly put an end to the age old race divide
organizing 9000 slaves and freemen to revolt andand would instill great self value and self worth to
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler who was the firstthe millions of African American kids who grow up
African American woman to earn a medicalfeeling the same way I did.
degree in the US, they would conclude thatLearning and teaching my own history (the
African Americans have always been innovators,African American History) in my own home led
fighters and intelligent.me to putting together a collection of phenomenal
Growing up as a young African American male IAfrican American Achievers' biographical
often felt lost as if I had no identity. In my mindsummaries and composing them into a book
all whites were slave owners and all blacks wereentitled "RISEN: From Jamestown to the White
slaves. I lived with this for some 30 years. ThisHouse." I wrote the book RISEN after being
made me feel as if whites were superior and thatinspired by my now 8 year old son to inspire
we as blacks were inferior. Once I became a dadothers through the lives and contributions of
to a boy child I had it in my mind that my sonsome great African American Achievers dating
could not and would not grow up not knowingback to the year 1619 when the first 20 slaves
who he is as an African American. So I toldarrived to the colony of Jamestown, Virginia up to
myself that I must learn and teach from thisour present day in time when we have a family
point on. When my son reached his preschooloccupying the White House that resembles those
years and Black History Month rolled around I feltsame 20 passengers that arrived some 300
as if I was being put to the test. Of course heyears ago.
would start to learn about the first of BlackTo conclude there is a great importance in
History Month's Fav 5 "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr". Istudying African American History which includes
felt that there could not have been a better timeinstilling self worth/self value in African Americans,
than this to teach him more. Therefore, weit showcases African Americans as we truly are,
packed our bags and headed to Atlanta for theas a tenacious and hopeful people and it paints a
weekend.beautiful picture of Americas Maturity!