posted
As many of you know, February is Black History Month in America. In February, there are many programs and presentations featuring African Americans, their culture, and their achievements. Many African Americans are honored and recognized for various achievements.
Lately, however, some African immigrants to America have been attempting to insinuate themselves into Black History Month events. Whose history does Black History Month celebrate? Is it African History or African American History? As an African immigrant to the US, do you qualify as an African American for the purpose of Black History month?
[ February 10, 2004, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: Dr. B ]
Posts: 253 | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I always thought that Black History Month was an African American celebration until one day the BHM committee in my office imposed a levy on me for the festivities. I told the representative that since I was not an African American, I would only participate in the activities as a guest. She said E-X-C-U-S-E M-E, and left.
Seriously, does anyone have a complete list of the people that have been honored during BHM over the years? I would like to know if there are any genuine Africans on the list. That does not include any African who has worked hard to assimilate into the African American community through marriage, or some gimmicks.
Do you know any African that got an African American reserved scholarship while in college or whose offspring’s are benefiting or benefited in these AA reserved scholarships? Do you know any that is feeling unknowingly to them a position that is reserved for the minority i.e. AA person? Enquiring minds want to know.
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2447 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
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I don't know any of those people. Do you? But, you seem to be confusing too many things.
BHM is a program organized by African Americans. Those other programs and scholarships are not organized by African Americans. Do you know any African who has been awarded a scholarship under the United Negro College Fund?
Posts: 84 | Registered: Mar 2001
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Your friend at FISK must have returned to high school when he came to the US. We all know that the UNCF discriminates against Africans by requiring scholarship recipients to have attended US high schools.
You should also understand the following: If your friend was born in the US, then he is an African American. It doesn't matter that his parents are Africans. That is a misconception that some of you must clear up about all these WHAT'S UP? children you are having in Diaspora?
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posted
I don't think black history has anything to do with Africans or non-American blacks. If African Americans want to include Africans and other blacks from South America and beyond, I will have no problem to participate in the celebration.
The person I speak of never went to High school here. This was in 1977 and the person was one of my older brothers. Things may have been different then if your last post is the current norm.
Odili and Dave, I was responding only to the part of Odester's post that wanted to know if any Africans have ever benefited from an African American sponsored initiative.
___________________ Feel me? Ofu onye ana asi unu abia go. - Ednut Igbo-American . www.airamericaradio.com visit her. Posts: 2447 | From: Mother Earth | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Just like an Africana in South Africa wrote that the palace of the Queen of Sheba could not have been built by black people or Pharoah was a Roman in exile and Alexandre was built by the Greece is just as equal to White America distortion of Black America's achievement in this country. You may want to observe some of the applications for employment in this country, they consider North Africans whites not Arabs, though many of them are just as light/dark as Mullattos. It was just recently, that changes are being made in that section to consider them as Middle Eastern [Terrorists]
Black History month is for a purpose, educate the world the inventions and accomplishments of Blacks.There is no class room text books that portrays a Black man as an inventor of Traffic light. They gave hudge credit to Thomas Edison for electricity.The picture in your church and bedroom is white Jesus with blue eyes and blonde hair. The 12 Apostles remains whites. The only picture of black man in the bible is the one with the three wise men[Ethiopian] Many, including you believe they invented Rock and Roll and Jazz music. The first man to the north pole was actually a black man but credit was given to a white man because he received funds.
There are so many inventions by Black America that white America took credit for. This is one major reason for Black History month. Black History month is not all about the struggle for civil right, slavery but science and tech is a house hold name.
quote:What a white man can do, a Black man can do better-------> Martin Luther King
Black History Month is an aggressive and intellectual response to white America and European whites. Because of their ignorance and stupidity that Black man does not have the brain for science and technology.Come to think of it, Black History month does include Africans in a way. If you don't wana observe it, you should at least respect it. Because it does affect you directly or indirectly, not when you have children growing up in America.
Hail Biafra
[ February 11, 2004, 06:55 PM: Message edited by: Waypoint1Biafra ]
Posts: 1679 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Black History Month is for African Americans. However, there is nothing wrong if Africans join them in celebrating it as long those Africans know their rightful place. NAACP is the umbrella group for African Americans. There are two major ways that the NAACP uses to honor those it considers to be great “Black persons.” Those are 1)the “NAACP Image Awards,” which recognizes achievement in the Motion Picture, Television, Recording, Literary Work, and Special Award; and 2) the Springarn Medal for outstanding achievement by a black American, with awards for 1915 through 2003.
When an African has been honored with any of those awards, then, that is an African whose work benefited African Americans specifically, even though the work named in the recognition may not be the same work for which honor was actually given.
You can see that distinguished African Americans such as MLK and Jesse Jackson have won the Spingarn Medal. But, although African Americans love Nelson Mandela, you can see they have not given him the Spingarn Medal. Mandela is not an African American.
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posted
I think we are past the time of debating who the black history month is for. Rather than remaining on the sidelines and waiting to be included by African Americans, Ndigbo in the U.S and other relevant groups should begin to make their own contributions to the black heritage month because we face the same obstacles in mainstream American society.I don't know that the Anglo saxons who had been in America much longer threw a big party to welcome the Italians who came much later. Even the Irish were quarantined by the English in places like Canada and New England. Today there is a common European heritage in America shared by all white people and we should work towards some form of unity in diversity.
I have always believed that we are here for the long haul, so we might as well begin to get used to the specific problems that confront us as black people. By now we should searching for common grounds with our Afrian American brethren to move ahead. If they don't include you in their awards then create your own organization and give yourselves awards during black history month, whoever said NAACP reserves the sole right to give awards.
Rather than chasing contracts at Abuja maybe those jobless self professed Igbo leaders in the U.S. can begin to think of how to showcase the Igbo relative success in America. If we feel we have done enough to be recognized, then by all means we must create our own body and give ourselves a pat on the back. Let's drop the negativity of separating black people in America, like it or not we will be dealing with African Americans for decades to come.
Posts: 1532 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote: NAACP is the umbrella group for African Americans
NAACP is not an umbrella organization for black people; rather it is an organization for all non-Caucasian and second-class citizens of USA.
This one wrote:
quote: Today there is a common European heritage in America shared by all white people and we should work towards some form of unity in diversity.
I have always believed that we are here for the long haul, so we might as well begin to get used to the specific problems that confront us as black people. By now we should searching for common grounds with our African American brethren to move ahead.
It is my educated guess that based on the so much hatred that you have exemplified on this board against the Oduas and the Usman Dan Fodios, they cannot be reasonably considered to be part of the BLACK PEOPLE you are suggesting in your kind of “unity in diversity”
posted
Needless to say one can't make an educated guess without being in possesion of the attributes of an educated person. Imagine Aremu making an educated guess on the futur of the American economy !!!
Anyway, the thread is about the relationship between Africans who willingly emigrated to the united states and their African/American brethren who they met here on arrival. An educated man will understand the difference between this and the relationship between people who find themselves trapped in an unholy union with "jihadists" and "shofisticated shons of the shoil".
To those who understand the topic, it as about cultural relationships in civilized societies and has nothing to do with the chaotic existence of cursed nations. Yeah "charity begins at home" but the key word is "home".I know my home, it is the land of the rising sun.
[ February 14, 2004, 04:02 AM: Message edited by: chiboy ]
Posts: 1532 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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No one hates anyone on this board. We are only pointing out how Yoruba/Hausa rulers of nigeria since 1967 have worked so hard to keep black people in BiafraNigeria under subservient neocolonial relationship with the West. Apart from the failure to show some black pride during the war, aren't you concerned that in 30 years of ruling nigeria, your tribesmen seem to have made it a point to see no social or economic progress in BiafraNigeria, despite the presence of abundant talents in the land and the blessing of the Igbo, who has the know-how and the technology to engineer a vibrant culture and a growing economy.
Look at what your uncle, olusegun obasanjo, is doing in aso rock today, running around Western countries like a slaveboy he is and dragging the good name of can-do black men in BiafraNigeria to the dogs. Have you written to him or on this board asking him to resign or to start a process to contract out nigeria to Biafra for proper management? If for over 30 years, the Yoruba/Hausa managers of BiafraNigeria have failed miserably to show some results that compare, match or beat similar countries in Asia or even the west, such as Malaysia/south Korea, what conclusions do you expect an analyst of the nigerian case to take away in regard to the ability or intelligence of your people? Of course the only thing to be said is that the Yoruba/Hausa managers cannot compete with nations of the world. Furthermore it will be said that the failure has to do with a deficit in your culture and the lack of competence and high energy required for the proper management of the modern economy. This is not hate my friend, but reality. Sorry!
[ February 14, 2004, 03:24 AM: Message edited by: Amadi O. ]
___________________ achieve Biafra and show the difference Posts: 643 | From: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
Once again this month is dedicated to observe history made by African Americans. Our famous Dr. Phillip Emegwali accomplishment has taken the air wave by storm as the father of the internet. Every morning the Jazz station says his name loud and clear as a distinguished scientist that made it possible for you and I to communicate through the internet sponsored by Toyota. Kudos to the Dr.and observe your Black History month.
Hail Biafra
Posts: 1679 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
This intresting speech is what Emeagwali himself had to say about the Black history month at the Arizona State University in 2003. Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 760 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
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Well, HBO in celebrating Black History Month premieres LACKAWANNA BLUES, the story of an extraordinary woman whose strength and dignity made her the backbone of the community and a source of inspiration for those who knew her.
The film, directed by Tony-winning director George C. Wolf and co-executive produced by Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, Vincent Cirrincione and Shelby Stone features a stellar ensemble cast including S. Epatha Markerson, Marcus Carl Franklin, Mos Def, Carmen Ejeco, Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., Macy Gray, Terrence Dashon Howard, Delroy Lindo, Rosie Perez, Liev Schrieber, Jimmy Smits and Jeffrey Wright.
The music-dance thriller premieres on February 12, 2005 at 8:00 P.M. Easter.
___________________ THE MORE YOU LOOK THE LESS YOU SEE Posts: 539 | From: Sin City, Sin World | Registered: Mar 2001
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We have more Emeagwalis in our villages waiting to be discovered. The black man will make a way if given the chance. Black is beautiful.
Posts: 105 | Registered: Oct 2004
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An African American will soon join the NFL as owners of a NFL team. Mr Fowler is set to buy the Minnasota Vikings. The deal reportedly for $625 million to $635 million will be made official soon. Mr. Foweler will join the former owner of BET now owner of the Carolina BOBCATS as owners of a major franchise sport in the country. How about that for Histrionics?
Hail Biafra
[ February 18, 2005, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: Waypoint1Biafra ]
Posts: 1679 | From: Minnesota USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I'll be blunt here. I've always thought that black history month was a beggarly idea. Why only a month? and why the shortest month of the year. Well I guess the argument is made that black americans themselves are or have been for the most part ignorant of their own history, and that BHM has helped to enlighten them, as well whites who have also been subject to the same ignorance. This benefit is laudatory, but other than great achievements, who wants to remember any aspect of having been enslaved, a remembrance of shame rather than of any glory. I for one do not, and if I could I would wipe the remembrance of it from the face of the earth, as bringing dishonor to myself and my people. The only honor I can find in it is the company we have in misfortune... as in other peoples who have been enslaved, most notably the Israelites, for, forsooth, we have, like them, been scattered upon the face of the whole earth by the hand of God, a fact that cannot be disputed. I often hear people speak of the Diaspora as if it only lately occurred, when it is better that all persons bethink themselves of the Great Diaspora and who the children of it really are, regardless of sentiment or prejudice, for like Israel, we have been and are(as God testified of Israel) "a stiffnecked and rebellious people." Identifying our plight through this association lends some satisfaction and perhaps dubious honor, but otherwise the remembrances of this period are not things I would celebrate much less commemorate.
And yet there are silver linings to this otherwise dark period of African history, now called African-american history. For it is no longer African history, is it? or isn't it? I care not, but I do wish to see more and more African-americans re-educated to their own true origins, and for this to occur, we must of force be taught by our people who remained in Africa and did not lose their heritages or languages. I long ago came to this conclusion as one being keenly interested in that aspect of my own being. But such a quest is often fraught with innumerable uncertainties, immovable obstacles, and bare possibilities, not to mention pride of heart and adversity of cultures. So I doubt if I get my wish to a large degree, but little by little the gap will be bridged and brothers will again understand each other and dwell in unity, for how good that is.
One of my favorite writers here at BNW(and I have a few favorites) is Mazi Chiboy because his posts are so directly intelligible and packed with a wealth of usable wisdom and information. The following post he made sometime ago in this very same thread expresses my sentiments about BHM better than I can do it myself, so if forumites will permit...
quote:Originally posted by chiboy:
... Today there is a common European heritage in America shared by all white people and we should work towards some form of unity in diversity.
I have always believed that we are here for the long haul, so we might as well begin to get used to the specific problems that confront us as black people. By now we should searching for common grounds with our Afrian American brethren to move ahead. If they don't include you in their awards then create your own organization and give yourselves awards during black history month, whoever said NAACP reserves the sole right to give awards.
Rather than chasing contracts at Abuja maybe those jobless self professed Igbo leaders in the U.S. can begin to think of how to showcase the Igbo relative success in America. If we feel we have done enough to be recognized, then by all means we must create our own body and give ourselves a pat on the back. Let's drop the negativity of separating black people in America, like it or not we will be dealing with African Americans for decades to come.
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