Tribute to Great Black Scholars Dr. John Henrik Clarke and Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

Hello All!!

Happy New Year All!!

 

It's January 3, 2022 and I'm looking at all we have before us to make this a year of continued winning - at the polls (you'd better vote and make sure all your cousins, brothers, sisters, friends, enemies vote - we will not allow the repuglycons (republicans) to have any more majorities in the House or Senate, regardless of what the meanstream media is trying to brainwash you into believing - there will be NO REPEAT OF THE TEABAGGER BACKLASH THAT STYMIED PRESIDENT OBAMA - GOT IT???!!! GOOD!

(So sorry, I digress - I have to make the points, though, when they come to mind!)

And what better way than to look back at some of the accomplishments of our ancestors who made it possible for us to be here today, or who contributed to the continued quest for self knowledge, mastery, and independence.  And that's exactly what BEPAA - Black Education for People of African Ancestry - by hosting a day long tribute to two great scholars:  Dr. John Henrik Clarke, born January 1, 1915; and Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan - born December 31, 1918.  These two men were my personal heroes.  

 

 

Dr. John Henrik Clarke and Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan - Great Black Men of Wisdom

 

I had the distinct pleasure and privilege of attending Dr. Clarke's classes "Free Your African Mind" in Harlem - wow what a treasure trove of wisdom and information.  I was also a UN Correspondent at the time they honored Dr. Clarke for his contribution to the wealth of information on African and African American History, Life, and Culture.  By that time, unfortunately, he had lost his eyesight completely - but his mind was as sharp as always.  

 

 

Though I was not able to participate in Dr. Ben Jochannan's Egyptian Excursions, I had the privilege of interviewing him and interacting with him on many occasions.  I used to see him at Sylvia's Queen of Soul Restaurant in Harlem, when musician, Onaje Alan Gumbs would pick him up from the nursing home he was residing in, so that he could continue to interact with his friends.  He was always lucid and prepared to discuss any aspect of African consciousness you dared to embark on.  These two wonderful Black men shaped the standards for research on African life and history - and deserved to be acknowledged, saluted an emulated.  

But even more significant in the minds of many Black Americans was the HAITIAN REVOLUTION OF JANUARY 1, 1804 when Haitians kicked the French, Napoleon, and all other intelopers out of Haiti and declared their own independence - which they have continued to maintain to this very day, despite the efforts on the part of the caucasoids from France and the US to deny and then punish them for it.

How dare these Black men and women kick their caucasoid butts so soundly that France retreated entirely from the area, sold all their lands to the US - better known as the Louisiana Purchase (Included the Territory of Oklahoma, among others), and relinquished all rights and possessions included in those areas.   It showed them to be the racist cowards they really were, and also showed that Black people, when we stick together, can defeat any predatory racist oppressor. 

January 1, 2022,  marks the 218th Anniversary of the HAITIAN REVOLUTION.  Of course, every level of racism and punitive action has been leveled against Haiti Cherie since the day they walked through the fire the french had set to try to burn them out.  However, to this day - despite earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and a few overthrow of governments (including Bush's kidnapping of President Aristede from his palace under the guise of "protecting him") Haiti still stands strong and valiant. 

Long Live the memory of 1804!

Long Live the memory of 1804! Carlito Rovira

NOTE TO ALL BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR:

We must never become so assimilated into a society or a situation that we deny or forget our heritage and those of the ancestors who suffered, struggled, sacrificed and died so that we could live.  We are more than the cell phones and modern technologies we enjoy; we cannot turn our back or a blind eye to the fact that even today, in 2022, there are still racist forces of evil moving against us - hell bent on denying us our rights - voting rights! economic rights! rigts to a decent education! rights to decent health care! rights to decent, affordable homes! rights equal protection under the law! rights to life, liberty, happiness (notice I omitted "pursuit") - we deserve to be happy - we've been pursuing it and at the same time we've been being pursued by those who are jealous, envious, and down right hateful to because because of our very innate resiliency and courage under levels of prejudice, racism, physical and mental abuse and hatred that would have wiped out people of lesser integrity and inner fortitude. 

Yet, here we are - STILL STANDING!  And now under the pressure to suppress our history because it shows up the duplicity and evil of caucasoids who, by contrast, can't even come near the level of evil we've endured and continue to survive!

If we don't tell our children, our family, our neighbors; if we allow them to dumb down, eliminate and edit ougt the truth about who we are and what we've accomplished, and continue to do so - because of and despite of - their evil and oppression, then we might as well go and get the shackles, chains, and other devices of slavery and put them back on.  For indeed, if we don't stand now and fight - legally, as well as morally, physically, spiritually and mentally for our right to be respected for all that we've done - take the dirt nap now - because GOD, THE LIVING SPIRIT ALMIGHTY will have no use for those people who do not love and stand up for themselves. 

Truth crushed to earth will rise again - and is rising now.  They may call it "critical race theory," but I say it's still they same issue it's always been His-Story vs The Truth!   When it comes to discovery and inventions, it's always been the case of "We Did It! They hid it (or tried to claim it as theirs)."

And when it came to the issue of attrocities against us - rape, lynchings, burnings, discrimination, etc., it was and is a case of "They did it, then hid it!" 

Now that modern technology is beginning to unearth the hundreds of years of atrocities committed by some of those who had been labled "heros" in the US's past, and they're not looking so heroic - in fact, they're beginning to look like the depraved, inhumane characters they really were, the caucasoid majority wants to suppress and deny and eliminate the studies and information altogether.  And we, AS BLACK PEOPLE, cannot and must not allow that to happen - even if it means starting our own African America Educational Centers, or Saturday Schools like our Japanese brothers and sisters did; or Yeshivas, like the Jews have done - we have to ensure the ongoing education of our children from this day forward and into the future.

And, believe it or not, there are so many individuals and organizations who are already doing so, individually and collectively - so much so that we really could start our own GLOBAL AFRICAN/AMERICAN EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS - ensuring they/we not only get our history but other educational advances that have been held away from our children. 

That said, we've so much to  be proud of - and it's our responsibility to express that pride and reverence to each other and those who are not so well educated.  Not in a snobbish, arrogant way - but a statement of fact and pride.  Teach our kids teach each other teach the world.

Kudos to Dr. James McIntosh, Sister Betty Dopson, and venerable loving elders Drs. Leonard and Rosalind Jeffries, Regent Adelaide Sanford, Baba Ron McCoy, Dr. Charles Blockson, Prof. James Smalls, The Honorable Jannie L. Blackwell, The Honorable Stanley Straughter, Bro. TaNaHisi Coates and so many others for keeping for their wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and love.

### - GDW (c) 01/03/2022

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL

NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Stay Blessed &

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gloria DULAN-Wilson