Embracing My Roots
source: http://youthoutlook.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=74976b70ac287fbcde466c0f9604d792
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Embracing My Roots
This year I decided to take Black History Month seriously. I'm enrolled in a program at the Omega Boys Club in San Francisco where the teacher, Ms. Estell, has made it a point to educate us about Black history since I've know her.
When she asked us, "what is your responsibility for Black History Month?" I answered, "To educate others about my culture." However, due to the fact I knew very little about my culture, I had to listen intently to what she was teaching us.
She began with what I like to call a prep talk. Every history book that I've had at school always started talking about the African culture at the time of Slavery. Every year that was always an arkward time for me. Many students would try to lighten the mood by saying, "Oh I hate white people." Nevertheless, it still hurt me to think my ansters were, "invented" for such horrible treatment. Ms. Estell, who became very passionate at this point said, "YOU WERE NOT INVENTED DURING SLAVERY!" She might not have known, but it really stuck a cord with me. "You were KINGS and QUEENS!"
read more at
www.youthoutlook.org
This year I decided to take Black History Month seriously. I'm enrolled in a program at the Omega Boys Club in San Francisco where the teacher, Ms. Estell, has made it a point to educate us about Black history since I've know her.
When she asked us, "what is your responsibility for Black History Month?" I answered, "To educate others about my culture." However, due to the fact I knew very little about my culture, I had to listen intently to what she was teaching us.
She began with what I like to call a prep talk. Every history book that I've had at school always started talking about the African culture at the time of Slavery. Every year that was always an arkward time for me. Many students would try to lighten the mood by saying, "Oh I hate white people." Nevertheless, it still hurt me to think my ansters were, "invented" for such horrible treatment. Ms. Estell, who became very passionate at this point said, "YOU WERE NOT INVENTED DURING SLAVERY!" She might not have known, but it really stuck a cord with me. "You were KINGS and QUEENS!"
read more at
www.youthoutlook.org
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