Dr.
Carter G. Woodson, Historian
Today,
some thoughts are shared for Black History Month, 2019. As evidenced
by the removal of Civil War statues, and the changing of names for
public office buildings, schools and major thoroughfares, many
forward-looking American communities and institutions are now in a
full transition to acknowledge the War Between the States and its
influence on the expression of public issues to have its greatest
value as heritage and history, rather than, as before, being
necessary as a vital element for mutual acceptance, solidarity, and
survival while rising from the ruin of war. All Americans are being
challenged to correctly grasp the true benefit, nature, and substance
both of heritage, and that of genuine history. Because the minds and
hearts of Christians dwell on lofty sacred themes of eternal spirit
and immortality, many seem to dismiss the importance of simple
earthly elements that describe the human predicament such as kinship,
duty, time, and place. Even so, a physician acting as a chronicler
and historian contributed two books of the Bible (the Gospel of Luke
and the Book of Acts). The holy writings plainly establish that
there are intangibles and unseen things that also must come into view
because they further determine the human condition and ongoing
events. Included are such features as desire, faith, hope,
motivation, and willpower. Even as scholars, where we will
repeatedly focus on such elements as discrimination, injustice,
oppression, prejudice and racism, or upon the multiple difficulties,
failures, and hardships that describe human experience, there is
great danger that we may become caught up within the cycles of
cynicism, despair, disappointment, and skepticism. There must be
tried focus and tested order that will shield the emotional, mental,
and psychological aspects of those who seek to document and preserve
a lasting record to benefit future generations. Just as genuine
faith will be discerned through works of righteousness, quality
research will be distinguished and recognized as excellent on the
basis of its robustness and rigor. There are many presentations and
television documentary films, now, that are being regarded as
“historical” because their intent is to expose the background of
great events, of social movements, and of the sacrifices made by the
great men remembered as leaders and participants. Unfortunately, the
true character and substance for such productions often is that of
celebrating secular knowledge, commercial advertising and
selling, fostering nostalgia and sentiment, the promotion of popular
culture, and the re-affirmation of questionable customs, themes, and
traditions. The true goals, method, and substance of Black History
are those of an academic field, a Liberal Arts curriculum, and an
authentic Social Science. Thus, there are demands for clarity,
exactness, objectivity, precision, and validity that may not be
ignored, and are not to be forgotten. The same way educators and
parents are now encouraging STEM, we also must be careful to
encourage the scientific practice of History.
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of
understanding. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame:
and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he
will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he
will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in
learning. The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is
understanding. (Proverbs 9: 6-11, King James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: A Battleaxe on War (11/13/2018); Arrayed In Sacred
Favor (02/25/2018); Bloody Sunday -- Black History (02/14/2018);
George Washington Owned Slaves (08/17/2017); Tools For Knowing
Divinity (05/12/2017); Fulfillment of His Dream? (04/05/2017); The
Best Starting Point? (09/13/2016); The Accounts of Giants
(05/24/2016); Academic Language? (12/10/2015)
RIGOR
[Black
History Month, 2019]
Because
History is a science
and
its method is not shaped to say
I
love you
or
to lionize a fashion
culture
pop, legend, myth, and lore
precise
expressions
focused
tools
are
taken up
the
measurable dimensions of
mankind
through
artifacts
and
documents
rather
than emotions
issues,
feelings
there
is
the
disciplined search
for
cause
effect
and
regularity
hypothesis
and theory
probe
for law
case
study is not satisfied
with
anecdote
broadcast
news report
and
even oral tradition
must
meet standards
that
will sate the tests of time
a
harvest from this field
requires
seed
finite
with limits
not
always for forecasting and prediction
the
study has its worth because
the
trust is that the truth
will
set you free
the
study has its worth
because
of rigor.
©Michael
Andrew Williams, 2019. All rights reserved.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it
unto you according to your faith.
Washington,
DC
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