Thread: Happy Black History Month.

When I finally learned his name (in an AP history class in HS), I was surprised and a little angry that no one in my previous education had introduced me to W.E.B. DuBois. Such an important name in American history, yet he was never among the great African Americans I'd been taught about, which included names like Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, and Fredrick Douglass. In tribute, then, to one of the people who helped found Black History Week, I offer this poem. Do you know it?

Booker T. and W.E.B.
BY DUDLEY RANDALL
“It seems to me,” said Booker T.,
“It shows a mighty lot of cheek
To study chemistry and Greek
When Mister Charlie needs a hand
To hoe the cotton on his land,
And when Miss Ann looks for a cook,
Why stick your nose inside a book?”

“I don’t agree,” said W.E.B.,
“If I should have the drive to seek
Knowledge of chemistry or Greek,
I’ll do it. Charles and Miss can look
Another place for hand or cook.
Some men rejoice in skill of hand,
And some in cultivating land,
But there are others who maintain
The right to cultivate the brain.”

“It seems to me,” said Booker T.,
“That all you folks have missed the boat
Who shout about the right to vote,
And spend vain days and sleepless nights
In uproar over civil rights.
Just keep your mouths shut, do not grouse,
But work, and save, and buy a house.”

“I don’t agree,” said W.E.B.,
“For what can property avail
If dignity and justice fail.
Unless you help to make the laws,
They’ll steal your house with trumped-up clause.
A rope’s as tight, a fire as hot,
No matter how much cash you’ve got.
Speak soft, and try your little plan,
But as for me, I’ll be a man.”

“It seems to me,” said Booker T.—
“I don’t agree,”
Said W.E.B.

Booker T. and W.E.B. by Dudley Randall : The Poetry Foundation

@the watchman , this is a really good thread, thanks for making it!

Since I came from the city of Paul Lawrence Dunbar (Dayton, OH):

"Love of home, sublimest passion
That the human heart can know!
Changeless still, though fate and fashion
Rise and fall and ebb and flow,
To the glory of our nation,
To the welfare of our state,
Let us all with veneration
Every effort consecrate.

And our city, shall we fail her?
Or desert her gracious cause?
Nay--with loyalty we hail her
And revere her righteous laws.
She shall ever claim our duty,
For she shines--the brightest gem
That has ever decked with beauty
Dear Ohio's diadem."

-Paul Lawrence Dunbar

Source.

Wright State University was the first Uni in the States to have a complete underground tunnel system to get around a very spread-out campus, and I remember reading this poem taped to a wall in the tunnel - and never forgot it.

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There is also a not very well known composer named John Work (John Wesley Work III), who wrote some really incredible stuff. I fell in love with his music a long time ago and found that his stuff and my modern jewish repertoire go very, very well together.

One of his stand-alone vocal works is called "Soliloquy":

"If death be only half as sweet as life, I will not fear, I'll shed no tear.
Nor will I ask my friends to weep, but quietly go, like melting snow upon a mountain's steep grey height...."

When 9-1-1 hit, I sang this "Soliloquy" on German national TV as part of a memorial service for our fallen. It was a very moving moment.

Here is a very, very fine young tenor singing the Soliloquy, and I bet it will move you to tears:

Soliloquy- John W. Work by wayneashleymusic on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

(as soon as I can find my recording of it, will send it to you, but in the meantime, this should tide you over...especially if you like french chansons! )

Just let me know if you need a hanky... when I die, in about a million years, then I want a fine singer to sing Work's "Soliloquy" at my funeral.

Once again, thanks for starting this thread!

greets,

bonncaruso

Originally Posted by the watchman

I hadn't read that particular poem Ras. My reaction was the same as yours once I reached college and realize just how un-educated I had been in grade school. You've hit on exactly why there needs to be a focus on black history. A month is really not enough.

right. the focus needs to be on improving all of our people, all of us, while looking back and recognizing and rejoicing in the many positive contributions of our Union's black citizens.

Originally Posted by the watchman

Exactly. All of us. Moving together on equal footing.

Yepp. The man I build up today is the man who holds me when I stumble later on in life.
We are all Homo Sapiens.

Originally Posted by the watchman

[B][I]

Every year during the month of February, we celebrate Black History Month.

What month is Irish history month?

What month is German history month?

What month is Italian history month?

What month is British history month?

What month is French history month?

What month is Greek history month? (No other culture contributed more the Western Civilization than the Greeks)

What month is Spanish history month? (Not "hispanic", "Spanish")

What month is Iroquois History month? What about Cherokee, Sioux, Apache, etc?

If any of the above months exist, why are they not granted equal coverage in the media and THE SCHOOLS?

Why is one racial group lauded while the others ignored?