Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 February 1994 — Page 2

The Muncie Times, Thursday, February 3,1994, Page 2

Editorial

Celebration must lead to including black history

¥ f it’s February, then I it’s time to celebrate A African American History. This annual event gives all of us, regardless of our backgrounds, national origin, ethnicity, color, creed, sex or religion, a time to think once again about black Americans. No other group in this country was brought here in chains, against its will. No other group was so mistreated. The forefathers of today’s blacks survived inhuman treatment, including being packed like sardines in

the slavemasters’ ships. Those who got sick or died were tossed, like garbage, into the ocean as shark feed. But they survived. And they grew stronger. They survived the pain and miseiy of slavery, of being auctioned off to the highest bidder, like cattle. As poet and author Maya Angelou has written, “And yet I rise...” Blacks have been irrepressible. This month, as we celebrate their successes, failures and pain, let us remain cognizant of the fact that discrimina-

tion and racism still exist in the United States. The skinheads, Nazis and their criminal cousins and nephews are once more on the rise, seeking to make life miserable for all those who are different from them. In Muncie schools and in school districts throughout the country, African American children never get to learn about themselves. They read about other people, about their achievements, their successes, their contributions to national and world history. Our youngsters are forced to lower their heads, because they are lied to and told they come from a race that has contributed nothing to world civilization. This blatant lie has been repeated so many times that many youngsters believe it. As a result they lack selfesteem. They lack the motivation to succeed in life. Sometimes this is criminally compounded by teachers and school counselors who perpetuate this miseducation of our young people of all races. It is time to try and change all that. Change is not going to occur overnight. But change is coming. As a people we have to learn to live together, or sink together. We have to learn that this is a diverse country, accept and celebrate that diversity. Those who wish for a homogeneous countiy or a homogeneous culture are whistling in the wind. The strength of this country has been its diversity through its attempts

to be a melting pot. It is a country made up of people from various national and ethnic groups. As such we have to learn to be tolerant of cultures other than our own. We have no choice, because in the year 2000 and beyond the number of people from various countries and backgrounds will be even higher than it is today. Even without immigration, this diversity will increase because of birth rates and natural increase. We do not celebrate African American History Month because we want to be different or we want to exclude others. We have been the victims of exclusion. We see this short month as an opportunity to teach other people and other cultures about our history, our achievements, our culture, our music, our approach to religion and even our culinary delights. We want ours to be a culture of inclusion, not exclusion. We know too well how painful it is to be left outside looking in. Our history is replete with examples like that. Black history and black achievements have been belittled and left out of most history textbooks. Such exclusion was deliberate, part of an attempt to deny us our existence and our heritage. Efforts have

been made to treat us as if our history began with slavery or with our reaching U.S. shores. Yet everybody knows from whence we came. Anybody who does even minimal research will find out that we are a strong, proud and resilient people. We survived slavery. We have survived other deprivations, indignities and mistreatment. We know who we are. No one can take that away from us. Knowing ourselves is the first step to redressing the situation. It will also enable our children to do better in school, because they will no longer be judged by a false standard. They will no longer have to listen to those who seek to dehumanize them and to deny their existence. That’s why it is important, in Muncie and elsewhere, to celebrate this month and to see it as the beginning of an effort that will end in the rewriting of the history of this country so that all its people will receive fair treatment and credit. When that happens, then it may no longer be necessary to set aside one month for the celebration-because that history will be included and celebrated year-round.

Letters to The Editor The Muncie Times accepts and publishes “Letters to the Editor’ ’ under the following conditions: The letter must include the writer's name, address and phone number where the writer can be reached during die day. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. If the writer wants the letter to be published under a pseudonym, that wish will be honored. However, the writer's full particulars must still be included in the letter, along with the suggested pseudonym. Letters must be brief, preferably no more than 300 words long, and should, if possible, be typed and double-spaced. Hand-written letters will also be accepted. The Editor reserves the right to edit all letters for brevity, accuracy, taste, grammar and libel All correspondence should be addressed to: THE EDITOR, The Muncie Times, 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, Ind. 47303. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned UNLESS the writer includes a pre-addressed envelope and the correct postage.

Publisher Bea Moten-Foster Editor John T. Lambkun Consultant Doc Camey Contributors Mervyn Alphonse, Deborah Banks, Tony Brown, Doc Camey, Farrell Downey, Dr. W.J. Duncan, Bea Moten-Foster, Bernice Powell Jackson,T.S. Kumbula, John Lambkun, Judy Mays. Advertising Bea Moten-Foster Typesetting and Production Doc Camey Pasteup/Layout Christi Harrison The Muncie Times published twice monthly, for now, at 1304 N. Broadway, Munde, IN 47304, (317) 741-0037. Itcoversthe communities of Anderson, Marion, Newcastle, Richmond and Munde. All editorial correspondence should be addressed to: The Managing Editor, The Munde Times, 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, IN 47304.

Black History Quiz (Match)

1. Andrew J. Beard

A. Authenticity

2. Granville T. Woods ____

B. Gas Mask

3. Percy L. Julian

C. The Jamaica Train

4. Elijah McCoy

D. Jenny Coupler

5. Norbert Rillieux

E. Soybean Chemist

6. Garrett A. Morgan

F. The Black Edison

7. Frederick M. Jones

G. Toggle Iron

(Answers on Page 4)

H. Refrigeration Unit