FEBRUARY 9, 2024 BLACK HISTORY MONTH An old white man considers Black History Month JIM HUGHES Groundcover contributor Black History Month is an opportunity to discover more of the actual history of how people of color have been treated in the United States. The stories of enslaved people, indigenous Americans, indentured servants and immigrants are only recently getting told widely. The facts have always been there; the difference is that the facts are now being told in detail more and more by those descended from people of color. My own view is that more and more people have researched original documents, family stories and oral history so that 21st century Americans can (if we choose to) discover the whole story of our nation's history. For many years, school history books focused on the aspirational nature of the American experience as expressed in the founding documents. This gave an overview without the detail needed to listen and learn about the lived experience of people on the margins of society. Thankfully, this practice is changing from the platitudes I learned in high school. A closer look at how the United States carried out the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights reveals a series of hopes and dreams — both achieved and deferred. Perspective and context explains the arc of history for people in this country. The sad stories and hard lives of " STUDYING BLACK HISTORY? START AT GROUNDCOVERNEWS.ORG/ "Long and winding road toward Dr. King’s dream of ending hunger and poverty in America continues" by Will Shakespeare, January 2021 "The Black family in transition" by Will Shakespeare, February 2021 "Crossroads in STEM diversity, equity and inclusion: empowering underrepresented racial minorities" by Will Shakespeare, April 2021 "Juneteenth — a celebration of freedom" by Jaz Brennan, June 2021 "Don't take away my humanity! Remembering Anne Frank and George Floyd" by Will Shakespeare, July 2021 "Community town hall: Poverty, racism and trauma" by Ben Girodias, November 2021 "The tragedy of Aura Rosser: Police brutality, domestic violence and community policing reform" by Will Shakespeare, November 2021 "Black health and wellness before and after COVID-19" by Will Shakespeare, February 15, 2022 "Celebrating Black leadership in health equity and race disparities research" by Will Shakespeare, March 1, 2022 "The story of Ida B. Wells: Anti-lynching crusader, women's rights activitst" by Will Shapespeare, August 1, 2022 "Emmett Till's story — the horrific lynching of a 14-year-old boy in Mississippi" by Will Shakespeare, August 15, 2022 "Gentrification of Ann Arbor, my hometown, through the eyes of Shanty Wobagege" by Mike Jones, November 1, 2022 Celebrate Black History Month by competing in an online trivia contest for various prizes. marginalized folks have been obscured, causing widespread misunderstanding. What’s especially been missing from the common understanding of history has been any serious review of the myriad intentional policies, laws, cultural discrimination and economic policies that shut many Americans out of full participation in the benefits of society, politically and economically. The resulting ignorance of most Americans has infected public policy for years. As a result, we have experienced huge disparities in opportunity, wealth, home ownership, health outcomes, longevity and social capital across generations. The unfettered truth can be interesting and enlightening to those of us seeking to understand the deep divisions in our culture and society. Facing the pain and suffering of those who were once enslaved can be a liberating exercise. One important action we can take is to educate ourselves about history, to take a deeper look at the stories, culture and systems of people on the margins in America. This can be done by searching out and reading books and articles by Black authors and journalists, by visiting historic places and museums chronicling the Black experience in America, and by taking time to listen to those voices speaking out today in journalism, literature and the arts. Facts matter. Ignoring the facts and details about our history has caused repeated failure to address the disparities endemic to the American political and economic system. Despite these serious difficulties, I'm hopeful that the "Beloved Community" that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned can be realized. It will take constant effort. My own readings and explorations in recent years have caused me to believe that we white Americans should take the time to learn about and confront the sad realities of systematic, deliberate efforts to divide people since Europeans first arrived to colonize this land over 400 years ago. Sugarcoating this history has only served to maintain division, bigotry, hatred and white supremacy. I cannot change that history; however, I can learn about it and I can work to undo the disparities it has caused up to the present day in February, 2024. Honest reckoning with our past can lead to reconciliation, healing, justice and the dream Dr. King had for this nation. Jim Hughes is a Christian, influenced by the social gospel, the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Father John Kavanaugh and Dan Berrigan. Active in the Peace movement at St. Louis University, Hughes achieved conscientious objector status in 1970. He was drafted and worked with farmworkers and extended health care for his alternative service. Mr. Hughes has lived, worked and volunteered in Michigan nonprofits, churches, local and state government for many years, until retiring in 2015. GET TO KNOW YDL! WHERE TO FIND US: Online at ypsilibrary.org Call us at 734-482-4110. TO GET YOUR LIBRARY CARD: 1) Fill out the easy online form at ypsilibrary.org/library-cards. 2) Call 734-482-4110 3) Or stop by any YDL location! DON’T HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE? We can work with a variety of IDs to get you your card. TOOLS TO HELP Preschool and Kindergarten Resource Fair February 17 12-2pm YDL-Whittaker Chat with representatives of local schools and service organizations, enjoy school readiness hands-on activities, and take home a free book and tote bag. FEATURED EVENT Trivia Contests February 1-29 Virtual GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5 Predict the winners for the 2024 Academy and Razzie Awards and win a movie prize pack. Details at ypsilibrary.org/events.
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