|
The book "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou is truly a great literary work concerning her life experiences. Since when has there been such a moral high ground in the country? The atrocities of the past and present seem to prove this to be factual indeed! Remember a few months ago in Jasper, Texas where two white males tied a black man to the back of a truck and proceeded to drag his body until dead and mutilated? If fact he had no head. Unfortunately, in America there exists a darker side to her beauty. The situations described in the book are of a sensitive nature and in many cases extremely graphic. The situations are factual and speak volumes concerning many aspects of American life that have existed since the nation's theft and inception. Imagine the horror and pain that Maya Angelou felt as the subject of the rape so graphically described in the book. All things being unequal still, there are many cases today where the lessons taught in many of the educational systems in this country, be they public or private, are not factually accurate. In fact the school system when it was established was brought into existence by people who saw themselves as supreme over other members of the human family. So the system created often left out important details in virtually every aspect of academic discipline. For instance! Why do we teach our children that Greece and Rome are the authors of not only western civilization, but civilization period? This is interesting since all the archeological data to date has in fact stated that the continent we now call Africa is where the oldest known civilizations existed. In fact, it contained civilizations that were far in advance of any European contribution. In fact, many of the Greeks and Romans received their educations from the "black scholars" in Timbuktu. The Nubians and Egyptians of that period were "black," but they didn't see themselves in that way. They only saw themselves as members of the human family. In fact, there was almost mutual admiration between the Romans, Greeks, and the Nubians. That's why you find in the middle of "Saint Peter's Square " an African artifact that looks very much like the one in Washington, DC. People, many lies and misrepresentations have been given life over the course of our human existence and nobody seems to want to deal with the truth. The raw facts! Learning is the tool that is capable of building the kind of world we all claim is our desire, meaning a world where the love of GOD finally brings us back into harmony with creation. And all people become keepers of one another. And the innocence of childhood remains even in adulthood, while seeing an end to all other manner of sickness that generations past and present have made of things. The book allows us to face some of those truths, that understanding would come from so much pain! If we looked at many subjects detailing minority experiences in this country, and wanted to teach about them with the hope that understanding will breed action, we would not be able to teach any of it! All of it contained violence against men, women, and children with graphic horrifying sexual aspects to the atrocities. Children today are involved in every aspect of human endeavor and it's time we face that reality; after all, we created it all, didn't we? They didn't! The way to assist them finding the path which leads to right decision can only be through EDUCATION! This and this alone will offer resolution. Our children would certainly at this point be better off than many of us! They may rewrite history and the pain! It will, however, require UNDERSTANDING!!! :) |