This is Black history month and looking back over history, we have definitely come a long way. Our babies don't have to be escorted into school by federal marshals in order to get a public education. I have to admit that Ruby Bridges' parents were far more brave than I am. Never would I be willing to put my daughter in the line of fire. A line that contained angry mobs standing outside of the school. Racist teachers that refused to teach a black student and having both her parents and grand parents lose their jobs over it all. Some people were destined to be civil rights trail blazers. Maybe that's not me.
I can't even imagine personally experiencing such hatred. Sure, I experience subtle racism like most but nothing this extreme. My experience was one of attending predominantly white, private schools in Georgia my entire life up until high school graduation in the early 90's. I didn't even attend school with black males until I was in college but even after that I can't ever remember not being treated fairly at school. Sure there were occasional incidents where a black student argued with a white student over cultural differences but that can happen anywhere. My friends who went to black public schools actually found themselves in far more confrontations than I ever had.
I know that I was blessed. There are many stories of students from ethnic back grounds with much different experiences then and now in 2008. We just can't forget how far we have come. Although we still have a ways to go, we have so much to be thankful for. Our ancestors before us made so many sacrifices. I thank God for my opportunities daily.
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Let's Celebrate Making Black History Every Day – 365 Days a Year
UniTee Design, Inc (UDI), an ethnic empowerment enterprise with offices in Detroit, Atlanta and New York plans to celebrate Black history every day, 365 days a year, as a way to promote the education of Black youth to their rich heritage and the many achievements of African-Americans.
The “Make Black History Every Day – 365” initiative will be featured daily on www.uniteedesign.com, where daily motivational quotes, photos and stories will be featured honoring Black history to educate and inspire children (and adults) every day of the year.
UDI Founder R. Lee Gordon funds, develops and delivers educational programs that motivate children to want to learn and succeed by leveraging their common interests in video games, music, sports, fashion, etc. Current programs include a self-defense and safety awareness workshop for grade school students, a summer camp that teaches creative arts and merchandising to inner-city youth, and a high school fashion career development program.
Gordon generates revenue for these and other programs by selling designer T-shirts that bear the red, black and green colors of African-American culture. Several of the stylish shirts also incorporate positive principles that Black culture represents: a “pride” in heritage and history; the “power to overcome negative circumstances and / or environments; and, a “purpose” he believes every child needs to inspire love of self, and to flourish to his or her fullest potential. Gordon also encourages youth (and adults) to serve one another and their communities as “Purpose Providers, advocates who further instill pride of Black culture.
“We need to uplift our young generation through knowledge of their culture and develop opportunities to better their academic and professional successes,” says Gordon. “Our clothing helps them, and all of us, to appreciate and be proud of our culture and history.”
Gordon has designed a new tee-shirt incorporating the “365” theme which he plans to promote at live events throughout the country.
In addition to developing a student outreach program with Eastern Michigan University that will forge partnerships between colleges and not-for-profit community agencies, UDI is establishing a national peer mentor initiative to match college students with high school students, and high school students with grade school students, and empower Black youth to strive for and achieve higher education goals that will result in improved academic and professional outcomes.
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