black history

growing up in a predominately white area -i was the only black kid in my class until the 8th grade- the subject of slavery really didn't come up. basically when teachers talk about slavery they say something along the lines of this

"African Americans (even though they weren't Americans... but white people still say African Americans when referring to black people just to cover their bases) were brought to this country *muffled* mostly against their will *muffled* they were kept as *whisper* slaves *whisper* and then Abe Lincoln came and about 250 years later and the African Americans were no longer slaves... and now African Americans are equals... the end"
okay, so that wasn't the actual talk, but that was the gist. the teachers touched on the regions that black people came from, the horrid conditions of how they traveled, the spirituals, the underground railroad, north vs. south. etc. but usually when you bring up the idea of slavery, white America (most of them) becomes embarrassed. as if in the 1800's it was they themselves who oppressed other people. i've always found this comical, probably because people tend to want to apologize to me... I'm Haitian... your people, your great-great-great-great-great granddaddy did nothing to me... his french cousin on the other hand... well we got issues.

but as i type this out i realized i really don't know that much about black history, most of what i have retained has been acquired from television, plays, or fictitious novels- that i read with a grain of salt. when i was younger history didn't interest me, and black history just made me sad. and today i still cannot even begin to fathom that type of hatred. I've been called the "N" word - usually never to my face-, been scoffed at, been followed around stores so many times . and it took a while to understand why i let myself feel hurt every time that happened. and it occurred to me once... it's not my problem... it's theirs. These people who believe it was okay to treat other people in this manner means that they did not have even slightly educated parents, even worse their parents were raised by somehow even less educated parents. and all the way back through history. and it's okay to feel sorry for them.

I want to learn more about my history the older i get. i want to learn about my Haitian past, and my American past. i want to properly understand the struggle, so i can properly appreciate the efforts put forth. it's weird the older I get.. the more i want to learn. who would of thought that?

Sorry if this was scattered thoughts and such...

Happy Black History Month!!!

below i've posted links about slavery... don't judge me for using Wikipedia.
when the full video hits youtube i'll post it here to... it's an excellent interview on Craig Ferguson

Wiki's Slavery in the United States page
this is a preview of Dr. Cornell West on Craig Ferguson >