Touching. Truly Touching it was when Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News reminded me that this week marked the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. As expected, the people of South Africa celebrated and honored a frail man who is one of the bravest men to walk the face of this earth.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#35357401
http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php
Brian E. Payne sharing.
Brian adds:
ReplyDeleteI asked My Judah (5the grader) to read the Mandela post. He did. I then asked him, "Have you studied him in school?" You guessed right: he said "No". Thus the reason why we have 'Black History Study Time' twice a month in my place. I later asked him to stand in front of Nelson Mandela's picture (on my wall in a hallway) and repeat the important facts about Mandela. I later later asked My Judah, "What is the significance of President's Day?" He gave the correct answer. He also mentioned the man who reluctantly emancipated African slaves ."I do this for the union. Not for the slave." (something to that affect) -Abe Lincoln - the same man our President has a hard-on for...
The cycle of ignor-fying and patriot-ing children continues. My Judah will not be included!!!! He may just ask his teacher, 'Would you please share some information about Assata Shakur?'
-Brian
Reader Responds:
ReplyDeleteBp. How old is Judah? Typically you don't learn African history until High school and the history. Of Africa is soooo intense that Im sure there is no way to do it Justice. To be fair and frank I don't think that is something that is the schools responsibility. You learn your state history and the history of the US and that's enough. Take into account that the history of black people in America is vast enough that it would be very hard to really teach more history than they do now. If you live in America you should know who Abe is. Reluctant or not he lost his life because he made a decision thAt changed the course of history. Our current guy is waaaaaay smarter and charismatic but could learn a few things about resolve and leadership from dummy Abe.
Bp, why always attack the establishment? It's our responsibility to teach our kids the history of our people not some HS teacher who has to prepare them for a standardized test. It's a bad sysystem no matter if they taught Judah about Abe or Mandella.
-LS
Brian responds to LS:
ReplyDeleteMan please. It is freaking Mandela! I am not asking the establishment for crap. Your establishment is what it is: racist. Attack? I tell the truth! You sound like those white men who change the issue by using words like "attack" when speaking of black men. I teach my son about black history in my home. I don't expect anything from your government. You sound like I am some whining behind parent who wants the school to do what I should do. Please. Don't insult me. Again, it is Nelson Mandela. And, Abe Lincoln and all the other slave owners can kiss my behind. And, damn president's day!!! I refuse to honor a bunch of white men who hated your ancestors guts...but had forced sex with black women. Rapist, thieves, liars, racist, murderers, is what they were: tell the kids da truth. Praise God My Judah knows who Angela Davis is . He also knows that George Washington was a RAPIST.
-Brian
Reader responds to Brian:
ReplyDeleteKeep teaching your son. True...you can not leave it up to the establishment. The agenda is already set. Accept it. It is what it is! You have the freedom to not believe in celebrating President's Day. I am off from school, and going to take my car to the shop and the doctor so I appreciate the day off. That is how I look at it. I am a teacher and I must conform to do what is expected or have not money or a job. That is the SAD as well as GOOD truth to living. Calm down, ok. We understand what you are tyring to say.
-SP
Brian responds to SP:
ReplyDeleteI am fine, SP. Just adamant about with my son intellectually ingest. He will know thy truth. He is well balanced. By the way, MY Judah scored a perfect score on the reading portion of the CRCT and his score overall score was one of the highest in GA (as a 5th grader). So, he 'systemized'. Again, damn these historical white men who defied God's concept of humanism. They behaved as what we classify as evil. We all know who bears that characterization: Lucifer. Off to church now. LOL.
-Brian
Reader LS responds to Brian:
ReplyDeleteStop whining! I was just pointing out that you shouldn't hav these high expectations. Instead of being pissed that he didn't know Nelson Mandela be proud that you can teach him yourself because as you know not all of Nelson's history is great. He had alot of great accomplishments but he was no MLK. He was a true revolutionary that was not afraid to spill blood and sometimes that meant his own people. Would you be happy if the people at school taught him about Mandela? No way in hell would I want my son learning about this at school. Stop crying about being insulted and trying to make me seeem like I'm some pro establishment dude. The American education system sucks and that's a fact.
Mandela: That history is way too complex for an 11 year old anyway.
-LS