Recently, a question was asked during a discussion in one of the English classes I teach. A young Mexican female questioned why the school holds an annual Black History celebration. This young lady’s question pertained to the fact that the school did not do this for other ethnic groups. There were African Americans in the class who looked puzzled or down at their books. I smiled and said, “Maybe because African Americans have put up with so much feces while in the USA.” Everyone smiled and relaxed because I said this with humor. The question made me realize that many of the ethnic groups in the USA have developed a form of senility. Not only would they not be here if it weren’t for African Americans, the USA would not exist.
I see this senility in the eyes of many so-called immigrants who come to the USA. The US government courts these different races and often offers them tax breaks to come here. In some form or fashion, these other races usually wind up doing business in the African American community. In the majority of cases these immigrants soon develop the same viewpoint of African Americans that US society as a whole has. The same people who were probably losers in their country now come to the US and look down on the people whose presence enables them to come here.
Those civil rights and the so-called equality that have become laws and semi-norms in the USA were bought and paid for with black suffering. It’s time to set these other ethnic groups straight. The sacrifices made by African Americans are what enable your ethnic group to come to the USA.
The following question ties in with what I mean by loser. “Why would someone who is doing well in their own country leave there to come to the USA and possibly do worse?” Do you think someone who is doing well in another country is going to give that up to come here and be called ethnic slurs by whites? Listen up, you other races. Don’t think white people embrace you. You are just another layer to separate white people from African Americans; a shiny new toy to be used in the subjugation of African Americans. Whites will pump your head up and tell you how hard working you are as you build their edifices and mow lawns. But, never believe that whites accept any other race as equal to them. The only reason these other races are in the US is because of white paranoia/fear of an African American economic base. African Americans have earned their celebrations in schools, TV, internet, etc. These celebrations were paid for in blood.
These other ethnic groups are at fault, but African Americans are truly to the blame. When the Mexican female asked that question the African American students should have answered. Many African American youth know nothing about African American history except Martin Luther King Jr. This lack of self-knowledge lies directly at the feet of African American people. African American parents need to stress Black History to their children throughout their lives. I understand that many African Americans do not know about the Dogon people and Sirius B. Yet, these same African Americans know about the creation of rock-and-roll. African Americans should know about the Olmecs and their influence on what is now called Mexico. Just knowing about melanin can instill self pride-in African American youth. This pride can check these ‘Johnny-come-lately’ ethnic groups before they develop the anti Black persona the US cultivates.
Every race on the planet needs to celebrate Black History. There is no history without Black History. Black people colonized this small planet. Can you dig it?
Frank James IV © 2023
beingfrankwithfrank@gmail.com
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the writer and not of the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper or HT Group, LLC, its staff or management. “Being Frank” is a bi-weekly column exclusive to the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper.
