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Mayor’s Commission on African= and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs Philadelphia, PA
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Vol= ume 1 Issue 2 |
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Members = of our team-Dana, Ken, Greg with delegate from Luanda (2nd from left) |
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FIB Univ= ersity students who helped with translation |
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Suzana, = Ruybela, Nancy, and Jean at lunch served by FIB University students<= /p> |
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Our frie= nd, Gina Souza– teacher and researcher in African history |
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H<=
span
lang=3Den-US style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;language:en-US'>istory encompasses=
all the disciplines– the arts, the sciences, sports, media Over the centuries= the contributions of the black man have been carefully set aside and conve= niently overlooked in favor of a European focus in history. His exclu= sion has given our children an incomplete picture of American history. The = black man came to these shores from Africa where oral traditions were emplo= yed to tell the story of the past and to= pass on the cultural legacy from generation to generation. The spoken, ver= bal language intensified by the talking drums and other musical instruments= were favored over written communication. After the Atlantic crossing when = the black man reached these shores, he was not allowed to speak his native = tongue, and therefore most of the oral histories were lost. Africa’s = artistic treasures were looted and carted off to European shores. The history books = have failed to validate the black m= an’s vital role in building this great country. Apart from the obligatory chapte= rs on slavery and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, little else i= s mentioned. Fortunately, histo= ry is being made every day. We can now look back with pride upon the Buffal= o Soldiers and the Tuskegee Airmen not only during the month of February bu= t throughout the year. As more honest and sincere historians and editors ta= ke up the challenge of telling the true story of the American past, thereby= giving a more balanced account of the deeds and exploits of black Americans and native Americ= ans, our school children will be exposed to a very rich and remarkable cultural heritage,= which they will <= /span>share with future = generation<= span lang=3Den-US style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;language:en-US'>s. |
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BAHIA |
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Message to Conference Delegates on the I= mportance of African History by Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell |
