REFLECTIONS ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Having worked in education for the past seven years, I have come to feel an intense discomfort about the month of February.

Since we have been given the opportunity to celebrate black history for an entire month, can't this time be better spent extolling the virtues and talents of other black luminaries such as the famous scientists, doctors, lawyers, and politicians that deserve the accolades they never received as well as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X?

Don't misunderstand. Not for a moment am I minimizing the contributions they made to our people and history nor am I saying they are not worthy of the recognition they receive during this time.  However in most urban classrooms of color, these seem to be the only personalities that are taught as having made any kind of meaningful impact.

Yes, you might see the occasional poster of Ralph Bunche, Thurgood Marshall or Booker T. Washington. You might here a mention of Maya Angelou or Althea Gibson and lets certainly not forget the inordinate amount of time spent recognizing our black entertainers or sports figures. However not nearly enough time is spent on successful contemporary professionals that could serve to inspire particularly our male youth to become something other than NBA, NFL stars or rappers.

In addition to the usual historical figures, lets teach them about Lewis Howard Latimer who patented an improved method for the production of carbon filaments used in light bulbs without which Thomas Edison's bulb wouldn't have been as successful.

Let's not forget Charles Drew, a doctor and surgeon who researched and specialized in the field of blood transfusions and developed improved techniques for blood storage. Out of his work came the American Red Cross Blood Bank; George Washington Carver, a botanist and inventor that developed and promoted about 100 products made from peanuts such as cosmetics, dyes, paints, plastics, gasoline and nitroglycerin; Daniel Hale Williams, who performed the first successful pericardium surgery to repair a wound.

While we're at it, let's not forget the contributions of some our women that are rarely recognized such as Claudette Colvin who was actually the first person arrested for resisting bus segregation in Montgomery, Alabama before Rosa Parks or Roger Arliner Young who was the first black woman to receive a doctorate in zoology.

And although we may have taught our young girls about Mae Jemison, the first black woman to travel in space, let's not forget Bessie Coleman who probably inspired her because Coleman was the first black female pilot.

Let these be some of the names included in our bountiful history so that our young people are inspired to follow in their footsteps by studying math, science, literature, grammar, social studies as well as American and World History which will help them be successful in a rapidly changing, globally competitive environment.

The reflections on the horrors of slavery and the repetitive reminders of the Underground Railroad need to be told and have been told and beaten to death to the point where it is no longer informative to anyone, especially white America but looked upon with contempt and disdain as a means to only inflict guilt and shame instead of inspire compassion and regret. Our history should be told and incorporated into American history so that it is not only an annual celebration and a regular part of the educational curriculum in mostly black schools but all schools - white and black.

What bothers me is not that we have a Black History Month but that we've used it so pitifully over the years. It has become filled with the same sad ineffective clichés, especially in black academia. However the responsibility should not be exclusively that of educators but should be taught by parents in the home.

The late John Ogbu, Professor of Anthropology at Berkeley says in his book "Black American Students in an Affluent Suburb: A Study of Academic Disengagement" black students in the affluent homes of doctors and lawyers are looking at rappers in ghettos as their role models. Students talk the talk about what it takes to be a good student, but few put forth the effort required to get good grades. Ogbu believes that many black parents are not offering sufficient guidance, do not spend enough time helping with homework and do not pay adequate attention to their children's educational progress or entertainment habits.

Let's use this month to inform our people and particularly our youth about what can be done instead of not only what has been done by our people. Yes, it's an entire month and some may think it too long but since we've been granted this time let's use it more constructively and productively to improve our situations.

WHY I LOVE TO WRITE

Anyone that thinks writing is easy is either extremely naive or in denial. Yes, it is an expression of your thoughts at any given time and Lord knows it's the best form of really inexpensive therapy that I can think of, but it is by no means an easy endeavor especially if done with any integrity, intelligence or style.

I would love to say that I've spent most of my life writing something. That would be an incredible untruth. I've realized that there were many reasons that I was attracted to writing later in life than most. I think one of the biggest reasons is that it allows me to vent without being interrupted by other people's opinions. The older I get, the more things I have to get off my chest.

There are other more noble reasons as well though. I consider it a very personal, almost spiritual experience at times. It can sometimes feel like a pouring out of my very soul or a communication with the divine.

Of course by the time it leaves my mind and travels from my brain, down my arm, into my hand, through my fingers, onto my pen or a computer keyboard, it may have gone from being divine to demonic or at least somewhat defiled.

Depending on the topic, my mindset, the state of my health or my amount of sleep or a pending deadline, my writing experience can be as pleasant as a warm summer evening on a back porch swing nursing a cool cosmopolitan martini or as unpleasant as getting a root canal at the dentist's office.

Sometimes the ideas, feelings and words just flow and sometimes it seems I become mentally constipated.

In any case it's still the best way for me to communicate my true feelings because I'm not constantly interrupted by any other conversation other than what's going on inside my head. Of course sometimes that can become somewhat muddled and schizophrenic if I'm not careful. Either that or I have to fight the urge to get on my soap box and preach or teach or vent. That's when I really get dangerous.

I think what I enjoy the most about writing though is that I get time to review my thoughts and edit them before they are actually exposed to the light of day. I can put them on paper or on a screen and add or delete where I choose as opposed to being under the pressure of engaging in an active conversation where I can encounter differing opinions or possibly suffer from a severe case of "foot in mouth" disease.

What I love the most about writing is that it allows me to engage in conversation with my favorite person - someone that I love spending time with and whose thoughts, opinions and feelings I revere more than anyone else's.

ME.

Happy Holidays to everyone. I hope everyone had a joyous Christmas and are still enjoying the holiday season.

I know with the approaching new year, many of us are pondering ways to improve ourselves by resolving to do things differently.

Instead of casually or carelessly making the traditional "New Year's resolution" and finding we've totally lost interest, failed or forgotten what it was by March, let's try to make one that can carry more power and be more life changing than any we've ever made before.

Let's resolve to become more conscious of the thoughts we entertain and realize the more peaceful and positive they are, the better our chances of achieving our goals.

There is a saying that goes "Watch your thoughts for they become words, watch your words for they become actions, watch your actions for they build your character and watch your character because it becomes your destiny".

Here's hoping all of you have a wonderful, healthy, happy, safe and prosperous new year.

I've just finished re-reading several Elizabeth Peters books. For those of you who are unfamiliar with her work, in my opinion she was one of the best mystery writers of my era.

Although her "Amelia Peabody" series may not be considered "classics", her stories are incredibly entertaining and her characters can stand toe to toe with anything Agatha Christie could create.

Amelia Peabody Emerson is a nineteenth century, well bred, intelligent, attractive and fearless female archaeologist. Her illustrious, impetuous and intellectually brilliant husband, Radcliff Emerson is described as being devastatingly handsome, wildly courageous and hilariously devoted to his wife and son.

Together while exploring the ancient pyramids and tombs of Egypt they discover intrigue, mummies and mayhem - the mayhem usually created by their equally brilliant, precocious and adventurous young son Walter Peabody Emerson, a.k.a. Ramses.

All of this is charmingly and elegantly written with incredible taste, humor and a must read for mystery fans everywhere.

How many of us believe there is a book or short story or even a decent paragraph inside of us that is screaming to be released onto the written page.

I believe we all wish to share our innermost thoughts, desires, dreams, nightmares, fantasies, opinions in some form or fashion but hesitate for fear of harsh criticism or judgment. Let's face it, bearing one's soul is never easy and always quite risky.

But with writing, as with any art form, it is a risk we must be willing to take.

I personally have always felt I had some kind of story to tell. For that matter many types of stories to tell, lessons to teach, poems to be read by others, inspiring thoughts to be shared. I've only just recently realized how important it is to get it out of me into the light of day and not give a damn who does or does not approve of what I have to say and how I choose to say it.

I believe that's what makes an author exceptional. They must be fearless. For that matter, that's what makes any successful artist special.

However, we must be careful that fearlessness doesn't descend into foolishness.  Unfortunately today, too much of what we see attempting to pass itself off as art is just that, plain foolishness. It lacks taste, class, and intelligence. It does not inspire, inform or entertain.

This is that gray area where writers and artists must be careful not to bear too much of themselves and retain some self restraint and self respect. 

But this is the mark of true genius. Where one can meld the unconventional with tradition and make it magical.