2008 Woodie Awards
URI alumnus urges others to remember roots
Issue date: 3/11/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
03/11/08 - To the Cigar,
Before devouring the thoughts of this letter, which stems from the ideas of many, ask five of your closest buddies to trace their family lineage. One, two, maybe three can complete this task. How far can you trace your roots?
In honor of last month's Black History Month celebration, let us focus on African-American roots.
What is or are the psychological affects of root abridgement on African-Americans, specifically the youth? What permanent solutions can be put into motion by academic institutions and families in order to cure and not simply remedy this situation?
Slowly and unconsciously an individual root is diluted to a state of suppression in order to assimilate a melting pot ideology. This melting pot rhetoric is an idea of trailblazers who dare to confront the status quo and/or the wealthy.
Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, said Sen. Barack Obama's words offered "no more than a holiday from history," (Sydney Morning Herald).
Slowly and diligently the purpose of African-American history month has simply become no more than a holiday from history. African-Americans were exploited for the economic progress of a developing country.
In a short time, the exploited exonerated themselves through good, bad, sad and happy to become a people of bounteous roots.
Nevertheless, African-American history of self and unity is being diluted.
Where is history? Where is the individual source of root in darkness?
Martin Luther King Jr. is an important figure not only as an African-American, but first and foremost as an American.
In order to have had a King Jr., there had to have been a senior. Before there was Malcolm X, there was Marcus Garvey, and before there was Garvey there was Benjamin Banneker. And before Banneker there were many who periled at sea, before those who periled there were a people of a nation.
The tactic of divide-and-conquer amputated African-Americans.
Before devouring the thoughts of this letter, which stems from the ideas of many, ask five of your closest buddies to trace their family lineage. One, two, maybe three can complete this task. How far can you trace your roots?
In honor of last month's Black History Month celebration, let us focus on African-American roots.
What is or are the psychological affects of root abridgement on African-Americans, specifically the youth? What permanent solutions can be put into motion by academic institutions and families in order to cure and not simply remedy this situation?
Slowly and unconsciously an individual root is diluted to a state of suppression in order to assimilate a melting pot ideology. This melting pot rhetoric is an idea of trailblazers who dare to confront the status quo and/or the wealthy.
Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, said Sen. Barack Obama's words offered "no more than a holiday from history," (Sydney Morning Herald).
Slowly and diligently the purpose of African-American history month has simply become no more than a holiday from history. African-Americans were exploited for the economic progress of a developing country.
In a short time, the exploited exonerated themselves through good, bad, sad and happy to become a people of bounteous roots.
Nevertheless, African-American history of self and unity is being diluted.
Where is history? Where is the individual source of root in darkness?
Martin Luther King Jr. is an important figure not only as an African-American, but first and foremost as an American.
In order to have had a King Jr., there had to have been a senior. Before there was Malcolm X, there was Marcus Garvey, and before there was Garvey there was Benjamin Banneker. And before Banneker there were many who periled at sea, before those who periled there were a people of a nation.
The tactic of divide-and-conquer amputated African-Americans.