Should African-Americans Celebrate The Sesquicentennial?
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Posted By: Rudolph Hickman on January 04, 2011 In many local communities around the country, civic groups, historical societies, museums and local governmental agencies are gearing up to 'celebrate' the sesquicentennial. That's right pilgrims, our country is celebrating one of the most divisive and darkest periods in our nations history. On the one hand, I am celebrating the triumph of freedom for all over slavery. But in Virginia, the local powers that be have elected to somehow revise history to read that the action of the secessionist states as noble and somehow worthy of special recognition and celebration. With this, I have a problem. It is one thing to recognize that certain actions took place on the way to nationalism. It's quite another to glorify, qualify or objectify the actions of those who chose and died for the proposition of slavery over nationalism. For example, there was a rather extensive article in The Richmond Times Dispatch (January 3, 2011) which sought to explain why we should celebrate the civil war era by indicating that Virginia was one of the last states to vote for secession. It went to great lengths to outline the difficulty our state fathers had in deciding whether to secede or not. For me, the article was devoid of real substance, and failed to decry Virginia's decision to engage in a war against freedom. It showed me one thing though - that there are still elements out there who are convinced that the action of the southern states was just and actionable. Here we are in the first year of the second decade of the 21st century and we still can't discern the meaning of the most defining and seminal event in our nation's history. Dr. Benjamin E. Mays once said that the question of race is the greatest social issue that our country will ever face. He further opined that the manner in which America chooses to address this challenge will ultimately determine its destiny. I agree with Dr. Mays assessment and am saddened that we have not engaged in the acknowledgment and reconciliation process that is required for real harmony to prevail. What's your opinion? If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Rudolph Hickman
Owner, Rudolph Hickman Photography Virginia Union University class of 1974 Member Since August 2005 |
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