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One of the most miscalculated assumptions is that
when a person receives a college degree, whether undergraduate or
graduate, that individual is now educated. It is true that individual is
qualified to apply for various positions or professions where a particular
degree is required. However, if one were to evaluate being educated by the
first requirement passed down from the ancient Nile Valley temples in
northeast Afrika, the educational center for the world during its golden
era, most would not be considered educated. In ancient Kemet (Egypt), on
the portals of several temples was the saying "Know Thyself." The Greeks
attributed this statement to the philosopher Socrates, without ever
mentioning that Socrates was trained in Afrika, in the same temples
previously mentioned.
If the principle of Know Thyself alone was applied to today's college
graduates, most would be considered illiterate, especially those of
Afrikan descent. It is not difficult to find one of the culprits in this
matter. William Bennett, who served as Secretary of Education under
President Ronald Reagan represents one example of many. He tried to lay
the foundation when he attempted to sway higher education towards a
"classical and Jewish-Christian heritage, the facts of American and
European history, the political organization of Western societies, the
great works of Western art and literature and the major achievements of
the scientific disciplines." Under this operative, no non-Western or
non-European history or culture was of any educational value. In other
words, people of color were persona non grata under this educational
dictate.
The unfortunate factor is, education has primarily been conducted this
way, and under the philosophical premise in which Bennett aspired, and
many like him, the greatest falsehoods, distortions and omissions
concerning the history and culture of Afrikan people have been committed.
Students of color who receive degrees under this cloak of academic
ineptitude are bound to eventually reach a stage where they are struggling
to "find themselves," because they basically do not know who they are.
This can cause great internal turmoil, even after reaching financial
comfort. The mental and intellectual void can cause one to be an eternal
slave to a system, culture or values that does not have their interest at
heart and do not even like them as a people. It can cause some people of
Afrikan descent to believe in a Bennett-like premise so thoroughly they
willingly betray their own people and expect to be rewarded for it.
This includes embracing the values, customs, habits and looks of those
holding them down. It is analogous to a Black person in the segregated
South no longer being told to enter the back door, sit on the back of the
bus or see themselves as inferior, for they will do these things
voluntarily. They will consistently label themselves as 'minority,' though
people of color represent 9/10ths of the world's population. When a person
of Afrikan descent is never exposed that his/her ancient ancestors were
the actual creators of civilization, built on the sciences they created,
the advanced mathematics they brought to the world, the systems of
technology they utilized, created the science of medicine for healing, the
art of writing, even the educational system which they obtained their
degrees, is just the beginning of mental deterioration and intellectual
incompetence.
This is further implemented when they are not even exposed to their recent
ancestors who were part of the planning and built the capital in
Washington D.C., allowed everyone to have light by creating the first
light bulb filament, including the first stand alone clock, performed the
first heart surgery, created refrigeration to preserve food, along with
too many other creations to mention here. Even today, in this present
time, such great figures as Dr. Gabriel A. Oyibo, a physicist, of the
University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, who has worked out problems in
the Unified Field Theory, which eluded Dr. Albert Einstein, the so-called
genius, and solved the most difficult turbulence problems in aeronautics,
or the late Dr. Ernest E. Just of Howard University, who introduced
the world to the most intense research conducted in the field of biology,
genetic engineering, and the innovation of DNA, are not being hailed for
the magnificent contributions they have made to the world.
In light of all this, parents of Afrikan descent can prevent this mental
slavery of the next generation by making sure their children are exposed
to the subjects previously mentioned, having literature in the home
addressing their history and culture, including relevant videos and DVDs,
making sure they are aware of Afrikan world scholars and their works,
monitoring television usage, taking their children to events that expose
them to their own culture, being actively involved in their children's
education, insisting the curriculum include their history, but at the same
time not relying on public or private education to provide quality
information related to Afrikan world history and culture. That should be
done in the home, after school or weekend educational programs. The dinner
table is a perfect venue for these discussions. Slavery was the worst and
longest evil system ever perpetuated on any group of people. But today, an
educated slave is as dangerous as the slave masters of old. One must
always be aware that any effort to correct the situation will be
vigorously fought and opposed.
Total liberation has not yet occurred, but with a collective
consciousness, it is obtainable. It starts with the present reader. Kwaku
Person-Lynn is the author of On My Journey Now - The Narrative And Works
Of Dr. John Henrik Clarke, The Knowledge Revolutionary.
E-mail address:
DrKwaku@hotmail.com
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