History: Whose Story? Black Lives Matter! by Rev. William R. Freeman (M.Div.01)
This country, has never gotten over “The Negro Problem!”
In many instances, Black people have been relegated to second and even third-class citizenry. Other ethnic minority groups have integrated into, and have become part of, the dominant majority! Why? Because their skins are not Black or Brown! Even today Union Seminary alumni have asked why the Black Alumni Association exists. Why? The elections of 2008 and 2020 provide all you need to know!
History offers many insights here:
Carter G. Woodson started Negro History Week on February 7, 1926 because the white news media did not report on Black news nor was the accomplishments of Black theologians, educators, scholars, journalists, inventors, scientists, writers, etc., taught in American schools. Negro History Week led to Black History Month which has further led to the study and scholarship on African American History, all year long.
- In 1956-1957 I and several of my high school classmates were in advanced math classes, but never heard of Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson until the movie Hidden Figures. Why not? Both would have been role models to young Black teenage mathematicians. John Glenn’s first flight was on February 20, 1962. Although the flight data were calculated on a mainframe computer, Glenn insisted on Katherine Johnson’s computations before he was willing to take off. The publicity on Johnson was an 8 ½” x 11” 8-10 page booklet. Little additional information was publicized until Margot Lee Shetterly wrote the book.
- In August, 1955, the Black community would not have gotten timely news about the lynching/murder of Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi had it not been for the newspapers like The Amsterdam News in the village of Harlem, New York and other Black-owned newspapers around the country.
- In August, 1964, the Black community would not have gotten timely news on the lynching/murder of the Mississippi civil rights workers’ Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner in Philadelphia, Mississippi, had it not been for those same Black-owned newspapers.
- It is highly probable that this country would not have integrated schools, colleges, universities, mass transportation, and businesses like Woolworth and Thalhimer’s without the Civil Rights Movement led by The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Even with civil rights laws a small sampling of a list of Black persons killed by white police is revealing of “The Negro Problem” in America: George Perry Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Dreasjon “Sean” Reed, David McAtee, Michael Brent, Charles Ramos, and we all remember Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner. Unfortunately, even in 2021 some still see no need to study history nor to read about the accomplishments of the many Black theologians, educators, scholars, journalists, inventors, scientists, writers, preachers, etc.
The UPSem Black Alumni Association welcomes all!
The Black Alumni Association, in our Constitution and By-Laws, welcome all who stand with us in fighting racism wherever it exists.
The Alumni Corner tells some of our stories, one at a time. If you would like us to highlight an innovative or exciting ministry in your church or agency, or if you have a fellow alum you would recommend us contacting, please email Rev. Dr. Clay Macaulay, Alumni Development Director, cmacaulay@upsem.edu
