And Black History for All
This our history. 401-year odyssey encompasses tragedy, triumph, and the indomitable spirit of a battle-scarred people.
America’s redemption will come when it truly comes to terms with its troubled past
As an African American, there are vast areas of our history that I was not aware of. But do not worry, I knew the significance of Juneteenth, and no, Trump did not enlighten me on the matter.
While in high school during Black History, we learned about the usual suspects, and we skated through the Civil War. And I drew anxious gazes from classmates and teachers alike at the thorny issue of slavery. As we watched a plethora of slave-related movies, some of my fellow African American students crouched in embarrassment.
A handful of Black History classes added to my sliver of knowledge in college. The adage that if we do not learn from past mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them in the future. Today, we are at a critical inflection point as the issues of systemic racism threaten to engulf a divided nation. Slavery, violence, and prejudice against minorities are the virulent dark stains on the American tapestry - a litany of broken promises and deadly intent.
1921 Greenwood, Oklahoma: The site of the worst massacres in US history. Greenwood dubbed the Black Wall Street, was a mecca of black prosperity until jealous whites burned it to the ground and slaughtered town residents by the hundreds. Attacks were even launched from the skies as privately owned planes strafed the terrified community below with incendiary devices. Over 10,000 residents were made homeless, and the black lives and prosperity were decimated.
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Justice was denied to the people of Greenwood, nobody was ever prosecuted, and insurance companies failed to honor their obligations to compensate for devastated property and business owners. Today Greenwood is a hollow shell of its former self. Over the decades, infrastructural and commercial development has bypassed the and unemployment rates for minorities remain high.
“This our history. 401-year odyssey encompasses tragedy, triumph, and the indomitable spirit of a battle-scarred people.”
The multicultural hordes on the streets are demanding an end to systemic racism. America's redemption will come when it truly comes to terms with its troubled past. And strive for that elusive, more perfect union.
The euphoria of Obama’s presidency and the potential of a post-racial society seems to have dimmed in the obsidian shadow of Trump's dark American vision.
We can do better and must do better, the people demand it.
For the wider society, learning about black history and being enlightened by it is crucially important in the quest for empathy and mutual understanding. We live in momentous times with a real chance to reset and end systemic racism.
If the chains of the nation's painful past, are broken, then surely we will all be “Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.”
Related
“Black History Month”
The artist stitches together Black history one portrait at a time.
A former art school teacher, Bisa Butler, used the art of quilt making to stitch together the African American experience and celebrate Black life in America.
#NorahO'Donnell, #CBSnews, #BlackHistoryMonth, #BisaButlerArt, #BisaButler
Video Credited: CBS News
She transformed their stories onto fabric one portrait at a time.
Female Genital Mutilation
What are the causes and consequences of Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting, or FGM/C.?
Growing up in West Africa, it did not seem to be of importance to me when young girls mostly in their teens with distinguished colorings on their faces and other parts of their bodies were paraded bare-breasted if there were any to be bared, in the streets of my village.
By J Reynold Weeks: Credit Source:
FGM: The Hot Button Topic
By J Reynold Weeks: Credit Source:
Acknowledgments: Dr. Nina Smart, the United Nations, recognized Ambassador and Representative, FGM/C. Policymakers and researchers.
Growing up in West Africa, it did not seem to be of importance to me when young girls mostly in their teens with distinguished colorings on their faces and other parts of their bodies were paraded bare-breasted if there were any to be bared, in the streets of my village.
As I grew older, I became curious. Was it to satisfy the social norms that seek to suppress the girls’ sexual desires or expressions? Was it a religious ritual, or was it a cultural practice in my country alone?
Every year, there are about 3 million girls forced to undergo a procedure to remove or modify their genitalia to fulfill social norms which look to suppress women’s sexual desire and expression. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) as: 'all procedures involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female organs.' The practice has no known health benefits. Moreover, it most frequently occurs to girls from infancy to age 15. Adult women are also at risk.
Approximately 200 million girls and women alive today have survived FGM/C, and an estimated 3 million girls are at risk of FGM/C each year according to the group Equality Now.
Although 43 countries globally have banned the practice, it still occurs at a very high rate in at least 30 countries where it is measured. Mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. While now considered to be both child abuse and a violation of girls’ and women’s human rights, FGM/C is a deeply entrenched practice with roots in inequitable gender norms.
Despite my youthful misconceptions to the contrary, FGM/C not rooted in any religious or theological tradition. This practice is not limited to any one country, region, religion, or culture.
Frequently FGM/C is tied to cultural traditions and norms related to perceived purity and family honor around virginity and girls’ sexuality. Since these beliefs are rooted in cultural norms, immediate change is difficult even in countries where strong laws and or policies exist.
Infection, obstetric fistula, excessive bleeding, difficulties related to menstruation, sexual problems, infertility, cysts, scarring, increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth in some cases death, believed to be negative health consequences. Many survivors of FGM/C experience physical trauma, pain, and complications, which can lead to psychological harm such as post-traumatic stress, flashbacks, fear, anxiety, and depression. Research also suggests that in countries or communities where FGM/C is prevalent, individual girls who do not undergo the process are at risk for trauma and isolation as a result of social stigmas stemming from their non-conformity.
As such, it is clear that programs that seek to outlaw FGM/C or change individual behavior without addressing the root causes and social norms may do more harm than good.
"Actions The U.S. Took To address FGMC/C in its Foreign Policy," will be the next publication.