When people think about black history the first thing that comes to mind is African American achievements, but the month of February is a time to reflect on “Black” history. This means we should give homage to those who participated and contributed in the civil rights movement, the Antebellum period, and ancient civilizations within the continent of Africa. During the 28 days recognized as black history month, we are usually informed of the same people year after year. For example, the most common names that come to mind during Black history month are Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and etc. We seldom hear about The Noble Drew Ali, Nat Turner, David Walker, Marcus Garvey and a plethora of other contributors to Black history.
I honestly believe the reason we seldom hear of the people I previously listed is because they were considered to be “revolutionary.” Someone does not want us to know about these individuals, because they fear of riots. Why would a riot occur? Maybe a riot would occur because we, as African Americans, have been lied to over and over. Our history, which is a crucial and critical part of a human being formulating an identity, has been stripped from us. We have been ignored by the government whenever we make demands. We have been abused, misused, and now we are confused, but if we were to find out about our late and great “REVOLUTIONARIES” all hell would break loose.
For example, during J. Edgar Hoovers time as the Director of the FBI, Black Nationalists groups were springing up everywhere across the nation, there were many black nationalist groups such as the Black Panther Party, US, The Nation of Islam, Republic of New Africa, and many other groups that demanded a change. Hoover and the FBI feared that riots would occur throughout the states and they also feared they would lose the fight; therefore, they created COINTELPRO which was a counterintelligence program designed to neutralize leaders of the black movement. (Don’t believe me? Look it up for yourself. )
During that time we were organized. We were fighting for a real revolution, a complete change, but the enemy won because of the massive flooding of drugs in our communities, which has our brothers locked up, strung out, or dead. Which in turn, leads to broken homes and single mothers and the revamped Willie Lynch perpetual cycle continues. It is up to us to stop the “family breaking” cycle by researching the current problems of Black America.
If you can’t find a problem, here are a few:
According to Jawanza Kunjufu, author of Solutions for Black America, 1 out of 3 African American males is involved in the penal institution and it is projected that by 2020 2 of 3 African American males will be incarcerated. Twenty percent of African American Adults and 50 percent of African American children live below the poverty line. Forty percent of the homeless are African Americans. African Americans constitute 12 percent of the population, but African American males account for 43 percent of HIV cases and African American women are 64 percent. All of these problems can be solved if we pick up where our true revolutionaries ceased.
People develop a negative connotation of the term “Revolution” because of the social propaganda of revolutionaries being militant. I believe they were militant but the main element they possessed was LOVE. Fred Hampton LOVED his people. Stokely Carmichael LOVED his people. Geronimo Pratt LOVED his people. Everyone has heard of the gnomic saying, “LOVE CONQUERS ALL”; therefore, I challenge everyone within the Jaguar Nation to reflect deeper during the remainder of Black history month and ask yourselves: Is the current condition of African Americans acceptable? What can I do to make a change? The Revolution can only begin with YOU and LOVE.
