Quick Search

Active Bloggers

HBCU CONNECT HBCU CONNECT
Central State University class of 1995
Will Moss Will Moss
Hampton University class of 1995
LaMarr Blackmon LaMarr Blackmon
Cal St Univ, Long Beach class of 1992
How May I Help You NC How May I Help You NC
Bellarmine University class of 2021
P C P C
class of
Reginald Culpepper Reginald Culpepper
Clark Atlanta University class of 1998
Randi Payton Randi Payton
University of the District of Columbia class of 1982
Min Sammy Jackson Min Sammy Jackson
class of 1975
Sherry Snipes Sherry Snipes
Hampton University class of 1989

They didn't know the answers...

They didn
Posted By: Dorthea Taylor on March 01, 2005


Recently I performed programs in five elementary schools in honor of Black History Month. I gave a lecture recital on Spirituals and how they were used during slavery. Well, we sang Wade in the Water as an example of a "coded song." When I asked the children what the song was about, the children at four of the schools answered without any problem, "Escape!" The same was the case when I sang Go Down Moses.



However, I was really disturbed when at one school, it took about 15 minutes before they could form the connection between Pharoah and the slave owner. (This was after I told them that Moses was like Harriet Tubman.) At every other school, this question had been answered by children, black and white, Pre-K thru 3rd grades. After the program the Jazz teacher came up to me and said, "Thank you for coming because they don't know any of this." This was the first time this school had ever had a program honoring Black History Month. By the way, three of the five prinicpals are black, this one was not. We have to educate our own, because if we don't, no one is going to do it for us.
If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email!
Comments
Please Login To Post Comments...
Email:
Password:

 
I really believe that this is true. I teach 10-1th graders and some of them do not realize what some of their culture means. It is like they do not have a care in the world and everyone is going to cater to them and that they do not have to confirm to any standards. I always tell them, that if they do not understand anything when they leave my class is to realize that they are minorities, and they have to work twice as hard to get where they are going. And it will not be a breeze in the wind but will require understanding and intelligence.

Tuesday, March 1st 2005 at 6:58PM
The reason that they don't know is because lots of us (black people) think that we have arrived and there is no need to teach our children about a past that we think can never happen again. The sad part is that if our children don't know their real history...despite the shame or the hateful feelings that can be generated by that past, there is a real possibility that it can happen again. At the rate that we are moving backward, I think that in 2-3 generations we will be fighting the civil rights movement all over again but this time it will be much more violent & oh! so memorable for those who survive it.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2005 at 12:05AM
More From This Author
Latest Blogs
Milwaukee's Own Independent Artist SO GLO Releases New Single

Milwaukee's Own Independent Artist SO GLO Releases New Single "Herski"

@SOGLO #SOGLO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sommeerr2?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_sommeerr2?is_from_webapp=1&sender_devi ...more
LaMarr Blackmon • 83 Views • March 19th, 2026
Legendary Soul Singer EDDIE LEVERT Is Back Bringing More Passion, Romance & Soul With New Single

Legendary Soul Singer EDDIE LEVERT Is Back Bringing More Passion, Romance & Soul With New Single "Let’s Go To My Place"

@EDDIELEVERT #EDDIELEVERT New Single "Let’s Go To My Place" https://youtu.be/GXNrCEOuJkM https://linktr.ee/eddielevertsr?fbclid=PAAaasGYElQcaMrAEYn5bSEVM1DNbxnB2Q2jcTvb3KBrR1MIFBYDHQ8CdSId8 ...more
LaMarr Blackmon • 216 Views • March 18th, 2026
Challenge: Carry Mother 🌎

Challenge: Carry Mother 🌎

Challenge: 🌎Go grab a GLOBE Big small all sizes matter; 🌏🌏Get a basket or soft landing nest to house it in 🌎🌎🌎Grab some string, ribbon, mater ...more
How May I Help You NC • 119 Views • March 18th, 2026
Hiran Abeysekera Will Star in National's New Staging of The Jungle Book

Hiran Abeysekera Will Star in National's New Staging of The Jungle Book

Hiran Abeysekera, who starred in the title role of Life of Pi and will be seen in the London transfer of Hamlet next month at BAM, will head the cast of the National Theatre's new staging of The Jungl ...more
How May I Help You NC • 119 Views • March 18th, 2026
No Angry Birds Here just Born Again Birds

No Angry Birds Here just Born Again Birds

The cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is the state bird of Ohio. It is well known for its rich, distinctive call. The cardinal's song is usually a repetition of short whistled phrases with some notes r ...more
How May I Help You NC • 128 Views • March 17th, 2026
Popular Blogs
Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?

Divorce in America in 2009 – What’s love got to do, got to do with it?

Join Brother Marcus and the cast and the crew of the Brother Marcus Show live this Sunday evening on February 1, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. for another hot topic in our community! “Divorce in America in 2009 ...more
Brother Marcus! • 70,922,111 Views • January 27th, 2009
VISINE ALERT!!!

VISINE ALERT!!!

Seemingly innocent medication such as Visine eyedrops are used by people to concoct a mixture with similar effects as a date-rape drug. When mixed with alcohol and taken orally, the eyedrops can l ...more
Siebra Muhammad • 118,693 Views • May 23rd, 2009

"Chain Hang Low" check out the real meaning of the Lyrics!

Recently there is a new artist out of Saint Louis that goes by the name JIBBS. Jibbs debut single "Chain hang low" has a history that most people are not aware of. The particular nursery rhyme that th ...more
Tyhesha Judge-Fogle • 76,319 Views • November 9th, 2006
HBCU Marketplace Gifts: Divine 9 Premium Fraternity / Sorority Playing Cards

HBCU Marketplace Gifts: Divine 9 Premium Fraternity / Sorority Playing Cards

Vendor: Charles Jones Item Price: $20.00 Price Includes Shipping: Yes - Shipping Included Item Description: Pantheon Series - Divine 9 - Premium Playing Cards (choose Gold Series or Silve ...more
How May I Help You NC • 61,957 Views • December 2nd, 2018
Black College Student Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Kissing a White Girl

Black College Student Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Kissing a White Girl

Albert N. Wilson, a former University of Kansas student, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and a lifetime of probation after being convicted by an all-white jury of raping a white teen girl. Bu ...more
Will Moss • 54,887 Views • June 4th, 2020
Please Give Us a Like on Facebook!