James Scott

Professor Miller

History 128

12 May 2023

Black History as USD

African American history is a history of people, places, and things. Taking the class of African American history is a stepping stone to realizing and understanding the day-to-day life and life and the history of an African American cannot fully be comprehended without experiencing it personally. Although the black experience cannot ever be summarized, in Roy L. Brooks’ distinguished lecture series Dr. Derrick Brooms touches base on topics such as the aspects of African American history he experienced in his life. He explained how black people and based on his personal experience black men and boys have a box they are put into on where they should be, what they should be and how they should be it, without the opportunity to start with a clean slate. He touches on topics such as youth as a black boy, the black college experience, and being subject to racial stereotypes ultimately showing why the theme of this subject is significant to the understanding of African American history.

The first topic Dr. Brooks touched on was the College experience as a black man or as he called it “the black college experience”. As a young man, he grew up in the south side of Chicago in a racially segregated neighborhood and was supposed to end up in many places, but college was not one of those places. He took pride in being able to be relatable, in his presentation he said “Many young black children hear stories of success from the mouths of those who were born into it”, he is not one of those people. Just like many other black youth, Dr. Brooks grew up playing sports what he emphasized was that he played football and ran track, with that being said he wasn’t a football player nor was he a track runner he was Derick Brooks saying “Sports are what I, not who I was”. This is one of many boxes that the black male population is put into by society, as the image of a well-paid black professional comes with the assumption that their success was obtained by running a ball or performing on a stage.  Despite his knowledge of self when he stepped foot on a college campus the question, he received from his white counterparts were of the origin such as what sport do you play and was instantly put into a category or a box. If he was not judged based on the assumption that he had to be an athlete he was judged about where he was from. He then used this to go into another point of the black college experience, he honed in on the comparison of black students and their white counterparts when it came to success in education. For example, according to College Dropout Rates 2023, 52% of black students drop out of a 4-year institution per year while only 42% of white students drop out of the 4-year institutions they attend. When this information is presented what isn’t presented is that of those 52% of black students 65% of those African American students are independent meaning, they are trying to maintain a full-time job and family responsibilities while pursuing a degree. Due to situations like these are the root of Dr. Brooms’ hypothesis that black educational success cannot be based on a comparison between black and white students. The reason for this is the uniqueness of the black educational journey as he called it. He faced problems as a black man his white comparable did not for example, people were more worried about how he dressed, how his hair looked and how he talked than they were with is intellectual ability.

The next key topic Dr. Brooks touched upon was the perception of black people. With confidence, he said, “I am at this point in my life because of the people before me, I’m here because I stand on their shoulders of them”. This very quote is significant when acknowledging how African Americans are perceived in America because the negative assumptions, views, and stereotypes date back to earlier than the 1930s. During this time black people were presented to the public eye through entertainment that painted them in a negative light. One example of this according to Freedom on My Mind is from the 1930s where Stepin Fetchit was the most popular black actor on page 741 the text says “The most popular black actor of the 1930s was Stepin Fetchit (Lincoln Perry), known as “the Laziest Man in the World.” Playing the slow-talking, dim-witted, shiftless sidekick to white costars”. This character showed black people as uneducated and inferior to white Americans thus creating a negative stereotype that would spiral for generations to come. Preconceived notions about African Americans come with assumptions backed up by no factual evidence. Dr. Brooks says assumptions get made off of circumstances such as you live in the hood then a hood rat is all you’ll ever be. His personal experience with this subject is how when he lived in a single-parent black household and was labeled as “at risk”, no one asked him about his life or they would’ve known his father lived down the street and his grandmother lived in the home with him and his mother. As he might’ve lived in what was labeled a single-parent household he was also subject to a multi-generational household.

The learning of African American history at the University of San Diego and the program presented by Dr. Brooks come full circle to make a deep connection. That connection is that the black experience is one that is different from any other. On one side you have the educational part of history being taught, explaining how America was built off the back of the enslaved and the progression black people made despite the obstacles and barriers that were placed on their road to success. Dr. Brook’s program for the most part dives into the explanation of the black experience through a general sense based on similar personal experiences felt by African Americans across the country. In class the material begins with where black people first come from, then how a system was built to decelerate their progression, and next what they did to get over those systems set in place. In comparison Dr. Brooks does the same, speaking about his upbringing as a black kid from a segregated neighborhood in the southside of Chicago, then how a system of stereotypes and preconceived notions prevented him to be on an equal playing field when going to college. Next how he had to go above and beyond the normal expectation of a black youth because according to him “as black men we allow ourselves to set low standards, because of the things we have to go through success for us is just making it out”.

Dr. Derrick Brooks through personal experience shows why and how black people are put into a box of what they can and can’t accomplish. Preconceived notions prevent unbiased opportunities and systematic stereotypes create assumptions about the black life that are null and void. Thus, being the root of the black college experience and ultimately the black experience which is widely based on the image created by those who have never been a part of the black experience. In addition, forming the categories set aside to group African Americans such as lazy, hood rats, at risk, etc. which takes a toll on the life of a black American. Despite what is assumed the educational success of black people cannot be in comparison to any other simply based on its uniqueness due to what they have and still do go through in order t make it in not only school but life itself. The theme of this program is significant to the understanding of African American history because the box created to hold African Americans is a piece of the puzzle in the story of the black life.

Works Cited

College Dropout Rates [2023] – US Statistics and Data. 5 Mar. 2021, www.thinkimpact.com/college-dropout-rates/#:~:text=For%20full%2Dtime%20four%2Dyear.

Deborah Gray White, et al. Freedom on My Mind : A History of African Americans, with Documents, Boston New York Bedford/St. Martins, 2017.

On February 27th, my fellow peers and I gathered into our very own Copley Library to hear Candice Marie Benbow discuss her latest book. Her novel,“Red Lip Theology”, discusses the blurring boundary of irreverent and righteous, and her experience in Christian faith as a Black woman. The book dives deep into the cross-section between Theology, feminism, sexuality, and activism. She gracefully discussed her experience and beliefs regarding her Faith, as well as what steps we can all take to help benefit minorities, especially Black women. She dives into her background of how being a Black millennial woman who is of Faith has shaped her understanding of the world. She also discusses the power of religious institutes, and the importance of decolonizing Faith in order to create a more understanding and accepting space. 

Benbow starts off her talk explaining her experience as a Black woman trying to navigate the Christian faith. Her speech takes place between the cusp of February and March, which she explains is an interesting time for her community. February is Black History Month where Black women are not represented, and figures like Malcom X and Dr. Martin Luther King are at the forefront of the movement. Then, in March, Women’s History Month is celebrated which fails to highlight the hardwork and dedication of Black women in the Women’s Rights Movement. In her talk, the author also highlights how Black women are never heralded as the forerunner of religious history, even though they are extremely influential. For example, Prathia Hall created the famous “I have a Dream” phrase that Dr. King showcased in 1963, and is still taught and commended around the globe. If it were not for Reverend Prathia Hall’s work, the speech’s central message would have never made it to the public and affected the Civil Rights Movement. Benbow also mentions a few other influential women that are forgotten in our History, such as Jarena Lee and Julia A. J. Foote. Both of these women, and many more, do not get the recognition they deserve for their trailblazing work over their lifetimes. This is a prime example of how Black women are left out of African American history and do not receive the recognition they deserve. Before listening to Benbow’s talk, I also did not recognize these powerful women’s names and did not understand their impact on our world. This also illustrates how Black women are also not as recognized for their accomplishments, and therefore is significant to our understanding of African American History in seeing a more equal and inclusive narrative of the influential scholars who fought to create a better world for future generations. 

Another aspect that Benbow highlights in her talk is the complexity of modern day religious institutions. The operation of Church spaces are important to understand African American History because religion is a huge component in the past and present of uniting and establishing Black communities. Our textbook, Freedom on My Mind,  states in Chapter Nine that, “Next to the family, the black church provided the most important institutional support in the transition from slavery to freedom. Joining a church was an act of physical and spiritual emancipation and.. also empowered blacks because they operated outside white control. In addition, black churches anchored collective black identification — a sense of peoplehood, of nationhood” (White, 2020). This quote highlights the importance of religious institutions in Black history, and how closely tied they are to culture and community. However, Benbow suggests that some modern religious establishments are not as inviting and empowering as they are promised to be. The author explains how faith spaces have the power to build you up, as well as tear you down with shame and guilt. This evaluates how religious institutes are operating today, and how they can sometimes feel isolating and distressing. 

Benbow posed a provocative question during her talk regarding whether or not we owe it to sacred spaces to push them to be better for future generations, or if we should choose to all together disconnect from the establishment. Her question illustrates the importance of religion in African American culture, and how it should evolve with modern times, rather than not accepting new courses of actions. For example, the author mentions in her talk an experience her Mother had with the Church that changed the trajectory of both her and her daughter’s life. Benbow describes that her Mother was unmarried when she was conceived, and the Church obligated her Mother to stand in front of the congregation and apologize for her sins. Benbow’s Father was also involved in the Church, and did not have to ask for forgiveness for his part of the sin.

Her Mother then refused to beg for forgiveness because she didn’t want her daughter to grow up in a church that was shameful and unfair towards women. Benbow reminds the audience that although her Mother did not apologize for her sin, many other women before and after her have to take on the opposition. This personal experience from the author helps highlight the relationship between Black women and the Church, and how it has not always had their best interest in mind. It is important to evaluate the mandates enforced by religious institutions over African American history in order to see the progress of accepting and recognizing Black women. 

Benbow also discusses her view on deconstructing Faith in order to create the space for herself and many other Black women to be acknowledged for their devotion within their denomination. The author explains how Black women are the most religious demographic, yet they are the least significant group rendered in most religious establishments. She aims to embody a Faith that loves and accepts Black women. Religion is essential in understanding African American history because its roots run deep into Black culture. For example, “the sense that devotion and faith in God more strongly connect black men and women to their slave ancestors, who leaned on religious faith to help maintain their dignity in the face of discrimination and harsh and unjust treatment” (Labbé-DeBose, 2012). This quote demonstrates the importance of Faith within the daily lives of African American individuals throughout the generations, and how it intertwines their experience and livelihood. The author emphasizes the need for a more inclusive Faith in order to keep her community united and satisfied. 

For hundreds of years, Black women have strongly influenced religion and culture in and outside of their community, with little to no recognition of their hard work. Candice Marie Benbow’s talk at our University enlightened myself, and many other students on her journey of modern Black womanhood, and the challenges she and her community experience within their daily lives as well as their Faith. The author shared with the audience that she got inspired to write her book to further examine the question of what is owed to Black women for their devoted religiosity, and how her community can shine. She also explains how deconstructing Faith and identifying the issues within her religion can help her community thrive.Her novel emphasizes the current relationship between Black womanhood and Christianity, and looks ahead to a turning point where her community is recognized and appreciated for their generations of dedication and diligence. 

Sources Cited

Labbé-DeBose, Theola. “Black Women Are among Country’s Most Religious Groups.” The Washington Post, 6 July 2012, www.washingtonpost.com/local/black-women-are-among-countrys-most-religious-groups/2012/07/06/gJQA0BksSW_story.html. 

White, Deborah Gray, Mia Bay, and Waldo E. Martin Jr. Freedom on My Mind: A History of African Americans with Documents, Third Edition. Bedford/St. Martin’s, (2020).

The “Black Present & Presence” program illustrated how Black culture permeates all aspects of everyday life in America. The films, speakers, and audience members brought to light the diverse cultural customs and standards that have their roots in the Black community and have impacted American culture as a whole. The program’s goals were to increase understanding of the contributions Black culture has made to American culture and to offer a forum for discussion on topics pertaining to Black identity, history, and representation. During the event, eminent professors and authorities in Black studies discussed their personal stories, assessments, and research discoveries. A variety of authors and titles were cited by the speakers, including Deborah Gray White’s Freedom on My Mind, Mia Bay’s To Tell the Truth Freely, and Waldo E. Martin Jr. ‘s The Mind of Fredrick Douglass, among others. To further explain the numerous subjects covered during the seminar, they also used multimedia resources like movies, music, and visual arts. The panelists and audience members had a place to talk, ask questions, and share their thoughts during the presentation. The films, lecturers, and attendees urged the audience to acknowledge and cherish the contributions of Black culture while showcasing its width and complexity. The event emphasized the significance of creating spaces and recognizing Black cultural practices and knowledge while also raising significant issues regarding how Black people are treated in America.

One of the films shown during the program was Man, LaQuan McDonald, Sixteen Shots, a documentary that explores the police shooting of LaQuan McDonald in Chicago and the subsequent cover-up by the police department. The film highlights the systemic racism and brutality that Black people face in the United States and raises questions about the value of Black lives in American society. During the program, one of the speakers, Chauncey, shared his personal experiences and reflections on the impact of police violence on the Black community. He expressed his frustration and anger at the lack of justice for victims like LaQuan McDonald, Mike Brown, and Trayvon Martin. Chauncey’s comments resonated with the audience, many of whom had also experienced the trauma and pain of racism and police brutality.

The main question posed by the program was, “How do we recognize and value Black culture in America?” The speakers and participants explored this question by examining the different ways that Black culture has shaped American culture, such as the use of Black English in popular expressions and the influence of the “Ring Shout” in various musical genres. The program also highlighted the importance of community-building practices among enslaved Africans and their descendants, such as organized group activities within institutions like the military. Through the program, the speakers and participants emphasized the need to develop spaces and recognition for Black cultural practices and knowledge. They stressed that Black culture should not be viewed as a separate or marginalized entity but should be recognized as an integral part of American culture. The program challenged the audience to confront their biases and assumptions about Black people and their culture and to engage in a more nuanced and respectful dialogue about these issues. The events described in Chapter 7 of Freedom on My Mind by Deborah Gray White, “Confrontations in Bleeding Kansas and the Courts” bear similarities to the themes addressed in the book “Freedom on My Mind” in terms of systemic denial of resources of Black individuals. In both cases, the lack of access to necessary resources such as education and political power resulted in significant disparities and injustices. 

Another key concept addressed in the program was the idea of community building and its importance in Black culture and history. This was highlighted through discussions of the various ways in which enslaved Africans organized themselves and created community despite the oppressive conditions they were subjected to. One example was the development of secret societies, such as the Free African Society in Philadelphia, which served as a source of support, protection, and empowerment for Black people. Additionally, we explored the significance of group activities such as the “Ring Shout,” a religious dance performed by enslaved Africans in which participants formed a circle and moved in a counterclockwise direction while clapping and singing spirituals. The Ring Shout not only served as a form of worship but also as a means of community-building and resistance, allowing enslaved Africans to maintain their cultural traditions and connect with one another despite the obstacles they faced. 

Moreover, the program emphasized the importance of recognizing and preserving Black cultural practices and knowledge. This was particularly evident in the discussions of Black English, a linguistic practice that has been marginalized and stigmatized but is nevertheless a fundamental aspect of Black culture and identity. Panelists discussed the ways in which Black English has been appropriated by mainstream culture, with phrases like “woke” and “on fleek” becoming ubiquitous in popular discourse despite their origins in Black English. However, this appropriation often involves the erasure of the language’s Black roots, which can contribute to the erasure of Black culture more broadly. Thus, the program emphasized the importance of recognizing and valuing Black English as a legitimate linguistic practice and cultural artifact. Throughout the program, participants were encouraged to engage in dialogue and reflection on the issues discussed, and the panelists were responsive to audience questions and comments. One particularly poignant moment came during the screening of the film “Man, LaQuan McDonald, sixteen shots,” which explores the fatal shooting of LaQuan McDonald by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. The film features interviews with McDonald’s family and friends, as well as community activists and organizers, and highlights the systemic racism and police violence that disproportionately affect Black communities. Following the screening, audience members were invited to share their thoughts and feelings about the film, and many expressed sadness, anger, and frustration at the injustices depicted. The film sparked a powerful conversation about the need for systemic change and the ways in which Black communities have been targeted and mistreated by law enforcement.

Overall, the “Black Present & Presence” program was a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of Black culture and history. By highlighting the ubiquity of Black culture in everyday American life and the resilience and creativity of Black people in the face of oppression, the program challenged attendees to rethink their assumptions about race and identity. Through engaging with a diverse range of speakers, films, and discussions, participants were able to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of Black history and culture and to reflect on their own roles in promoting justice and equality. As the program emphasized, recognition and celebration of Black culture and history is not only important for the preservation of these practices and knowledge, but also for the building of a more just and equitable society.

References

In class source: White, Deborah G., et al Freedom On My Mind

External Source: “Physiological and Psychological Impact of Racism and Discrimination for African-Americans” American Psychological Association

https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/racism-stress