[Music] right hi guys thank you so much for a
right hi guys thank you so much for a
right hi guys thank you so much for a very warm welcome well my name is Don
very warm welcome well my name is Don
very warm welcome well my name is Don John and I have little tolerance for
John and I have little tolerance for
John and I have little tolerance for racism I’ve spent much of my working
racism I’ve spent much of my working
racism I’ve spent much of my working life
life
life identifying it addressing it and
identifying it addressing it and
identifying it addressing it and confronting it you could say it’s been
confronting it you could say it’s been
confronting it you could say it’s been my life’s work I intend to share with
my life’s work I intend to share with
my life’s work I intend to share with you why I think black history matters
you why I think black history matters
you why I think black history matters not just to me but also to you yes I
not just to me but also to you yes I
not just to me but also to you yes I know that black lives matter was
know that black lives matter was
know that black lives matter was occupied the sense of ground in race
occupied the sense of ground in race
occupied the sense of ground in race politics in recent times and it
politics in recent times and it
politics in recent times and it certainly has got everyone’s attention
certainly has got everyone’s attention
certainly has got everyone’s attention but it is an appreciation of our history
but it is an appreciation of our history
but it is an appreciation of our history that helps us to understand its
that helps us to understand its
that helps us to understand its relevance I’m going to break this
relevance I’m going to break this
relevance I’m going to break this presentation up into three parts firstly
presentation up into three parts firstly
presentation up into three parts firstly awareness then discovery and then
awareness then discovery and then
awareness then discovery and then delivery okay
delivery okay
delivery okay black black black black and even more
black black black black and even more
black black black black and even more black how does that word make you feel
black how does that word make you feel
black how does that word make you feel does it already invoke emotion so you’re
does it already invoke emotion so you’re
does it already invoke emotion so you’re little unsure love some say the trouble
little unsure love some say the trouble
little unsure love some say the trouble really started when colored people
really started when colored people
really started when colored people turned into black people so what does
turned into black people so what does
turned into black people so what does that tell us I think was water Benjamin
that tell us I think was water Benjamin
that tell us I think was water Benjamin who said their history is written by the
who said their history is written by the
who said their history is written by the victors so what does that mean to a
victors so what does that mean to a
victors so what does that mean to a black boy who was raised in a culture
black boy who was raised in a culture
black boy who was raised in a culture dominated by the myth of the
dominated by the myth of the
dominated by the myth of the Commonwealth I went to grammar school
Commonwealth I went to grammar school
Commonwealth I went to grammar school didn’t do me any harm and studied Latin
didn’t do me any harm and studied Latin
didn’t do me any harm and studied Latin Greek ancient history and the victories
Greek ancient history and the victories
Greek ancient history and the victories of the Empire so where was my black
of the Empire so where was my black
of the Empire so where was my black history okay picture this
history okay picture this
history okay picture this a world where black people up to 37
a world where black people up to 37
a world where black people up to 37 times more likely to be stopped and
times more likely to be stopped and
times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people
searched than white people
searched than white people a world where black people are three
a world where black people are three
a world where black people are three times more likely to be arrested than
times more likely to be arrested than
times more likely to be arrested than white people
white people
white people a world where black people are
a world where black people are
a world where black people are forty-four percent more likely to be
forty-four percent more likely to be
forty-four percent more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act
detained under the Mental Health Act
detained under the Mental Health Act than white people
than white people
than white people a world where black people are three
a world where black people are three
a world where black people are three times more likely to be unemployed than
times more likely to be unemployed than
times more likely to be unemployed than white people we seem to be somewhere
white people we seem to be somewhere
white people we seem to be somewhere between the mad and the bad or perhaps
between the mad and the bad or perhaps
between the mad and the bad or perhaps both now my father was one of those
both now my father was one of those
both now my father was one of those proud Africans where status and position
proud Africans where status and position
proud Africans where status and position was everything and he believed who
was everything and he believed who
was everything and he believed who religiously yes religiously in education
religiously yes religiously in education
religiously yes religiously in education education and education can’t believe on
education and education can’t believe on
education and education can’t believe on quoting Tony Blair but what was I
quoting Tony Blair but what was I
quoting Tony Blair but what was I thinking of school gave us a world where
thinking of school gave us a world where
thinking of school gave us a world where the pink bits on the map on the world
the pink bits on the map on the world
the pink bits on the map on the world map was the context that underpinned our
map was the context that underpinned our
map was the context that underpinned our understanding of that world Africa was
understanding of that world Africa was
understanding of that world Africa was the dark continent where they all lived
the dark continent where they all lived
the dark continent where they all lived in mud huts and they traveled by
in mud huts and they traveled by
in mud huts and they traveled by swinging from tree to tree and white
swinging from tree to tree and white
swinging from tree to tree and white Tarzan was the king of the jungle in
Tarzan was the king of the jungle in
Tarzan was the king of the jungle in black Africa and Christianity was a step
black Africa and Christianity was a step
black Africa and Christianity was a step towards our salvation always remember
towards our salvation always remember
towards our salvation always remember that iconic image of Stanley meeting
that iconic image of Stanley meeting
that iconic image of Stanley meeting Livingstone remember that picture like
Livingstone remember that picture like
Livingstone remember that picture like two great God’s a civilizing influence
two great God’s a civilizing influence
two great God’s a civilizing influence in this dark dark world
in this dark dark world
in this dark dark world I guess the context of my Sierra Leonean
I guess the context of my Sierra Leonean
I guess the context of my Sierra Leonean background should have given me a
background should have given me a
background should have given me a greater understanding but the heroes we
greater understanding but the heroes we
greater understanding but the heroes we were reminded of were people like Sir
were reminded of were people like Sir
were reminded of were people like Sir Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake
Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake
Walter Raleigh and Francis Drake remember those guys the English hero who
remember those guys the English hero who
remember those guys the English hero who coolly played bowls when the Spanish
coolly played bowls when the Spanish
coolly played bowls when the Spanish Armada
Armada
Armada a potion but casually said yet to finish
a potion but casually said yet to finish
a potion but casually said yet to finish the game how very English and it was
the game how very English and it was
the game how very English and it was only later that I learned that he was a
only later that I learned that he was a
only later that I learned that he was a pilot and a slave and well invested in
pilot and a slave and well invested in
pilot and a slave and well invested in the slave industry I was shocked and he
the slave industry I was shocked and he
the slave industry I was shocked and he certainly was not my kind of hero
certainly was not my kind of hero
certainly was not my kind of hero furthermore the history we learned was
furthermore the history we learned was
furthermore the history we learned was the shame of slavery and we were
the shame of slavery and we were
the shame of slavery and we were constantly reminded that our own black
constantly reminded that our own black
constantly reminded that our own black people assisted in the process of our
people assisted in the process of our
people assisted in the process of our historical enslavement and subjugation
historical enslavement and subjugation
historical enslavement and subjugation so was this my black history well this
so was this my black history well this
so was this my black history well this was the family plan my older sister was
was the family plan my older sister was
was the family plan my older sister was to become a solicitor and she did my
to become a solicitor and she did my
to become a solicitor and she did my younger brother was to go to Oxford and
younger brother was to go to Oxford and
younger brother was to go to Oxford and he did and I was to become a doctor we
he did and I was to become a doctor we
he did and I was to become a doctor we know what happened to that plan
know what happened to that plan
know what happened to that plan however hallelujah I was saved and I
however hallelujah I was saved and I
however hallelujah I was saved and I joined the place called Her Majesty’s
joined the place called Her Majesty’s
joined the place called Her Majesty’s Treasury and ended up working in the
Treasury and ended up working in the
Treasury and ended up working in the chancellor’s office and the charts at
chancellor’s office and the charts at
chancellor’s office and the charts at that time was a guy called Dennis Healy
that time was a guy called Dennis Healy
that time was a guy called Dennis Healy what an experience for a young black man
what an experience for a young black man
what an experience for a young black man the only young black man in ER in a sea
the only young black man in ER in a sea
the only young black man in ER in a sea of pinstripes and moral certitude a
of pinstripes and moral certitude a
of pinstripes and moral certitude a world where those pink bits on the map
world where those pink bits on the map
world where those pink bits on the map were ever so important and when I left
were ever so important and when I left
were ever so important and when I left the Treasury I took that damn that with
the Treasury I took that damn that with
the Treasury I took that damn that with me I still got in my room actually at
me I still got in my room actually at
me I still got in my room actually at home one thing about the map was Great
home one thing about the map was Great
home one thing about the map was Great Britain was disproportionately larger
Britain was disproportionately larger
Britain was disproportionately larger than it really was strangely seen and it
than it really was strangely seen and it
than it really was strangely seen and it actually was in the center of the world
actually was in the center of the world
actually was in the center of the world and that line from the glorious hymn
and that line from the glorious hymn
and that line from the glorious hymn Rule Britannia echoed in my head
Rule Britannia echoed in my head
Rule Britannia echoed in my head remember that one Britons never never
remember that one Britons never never
remember that one Britons never never never shall be slaves who’s wondered
never shall be slaves who’s wondered
never shall be slaves who’s wondered what would that was all about and
what would that was all about and
what would that was all about and started to suspect something was afoot
started to suspect something was afoot
started to suspect something was afoot strange times however it was the civil
strange times however it was the civil
strange times however it was the civil rights movement of the 60s and the 70s
rights movement of the 60s and the 70s
rights movement of the 60s and the 70s that woke me from my slumber where I
that woke me from my slumber where I
that woke me from my slumber where I fallaciously
fallaciously
fallaciously consumed rich
consumed rich
consumed rich children people like Alex Haley LG’s
children people like Alex Haley LG’s
children people like Alex Haley LG’s cleaver
cleaver
cleaver Bobby Seale Frantz Fanon Angela Davis
Bobby Seale Frantz Fanon Angela Davis
Bobby Seale Frantz Fanon Angela Davis and as a young man I absolutely loved it
and as a young man I absolutely loved it
and as a young man I absolutely loved it I was awake or so I thought however it
I was awake or so I thought however it
I was awake or so I thought however it was the arrival of a remarkable young
was the arrival of a remarkable young
was the arrival of a remarkable young man who doubled our numbers in the
man who doubled our numbers in the
man who doubled our numbers in the church there were turfers in there now
church there were turfers in there now
church there were turfers in there now it’s almost like a riot isn’t it and
it’s almost like a riot isn’t it and
it’s almost like a riot isn’t it and focused that new state of awareness
focused that new state of awareness
focused that new state of awareness his name was Linton quasi Johnson and
his name was Linton quasi Johnson and
his name was Linton quasi Johnson and the history of his footprint is a matter
the history of his footprint is a matter
the history of his footprint is a matter of public record at that time the quasi
of public record at that time the quasi
of public record at that time the quasi they had not been born so what did we do
they had not been born so what did we do
they had not been born so what did we do we go poetry we went to book shops that
we go poetry we went to book shops that
we go poetry we went to book shops that more than anything else we supported
more than anything else we supported
more than anything else we supported each other in that see what I call blind
each other in that see what I call blind
each other in that see what I call blind in whiteness Linton left and went to
in whiteness Linton left and went to
in whiteness Linton left and went to Goldsmith and I asked myself what on
Goldsmith and I asked myself what on
Goldsmith and I asked myself what on earth was I doing there my life had been
earth was I doing there my life had been
earth was I doing there my life had been enriched by this greater knowledge and
enriched by this greater knowledge and
enriched by this greater knowledge and awareness and I also lived and decided
awareness and I also lived and decided
awareness and I also lived and decided to go to the Caribbean for six months or
to go to the Caribbean for six months or
to go to the Caribbean for six months or so and discovered a world where black
so and discovered a world where black
so and discovered a world where black people had some say in their own destiny
people had some say in their own destiny
people had some say in their own destiny and was seemingly more connected to
and was seemingly more connected to
and was seemingly more connected to their black history mostly but as they
their black history mostly but as they
their black history mostly but as they say the first step towards change is
say the first step towards change is
say the first step towards change is awareness and the knowledge of our black
awareness and the knowledge of our black
awareness and the knowledge of our black history was starting to make some kind
history was starting to make some kind
history was starting to make some kind of sense ok discovery we’re getting
of sense ok discovery we’re getting
of sense ok discovery we’re getting close to what black history means to me
close to what black history means to me
close to what black history means to me my work in race relations in South
my work in race relations in South
my work in race relations in South Hampton was a logical next step in my
Hampton was a logical next step in my
Hampton was a logical next step in my desire to immerse myself in matters
desire to immerse myself in matters
desire to immerse myself in matters relating to my black culture and this
relating to my black culture and this
relating to my black culture and this city of South Hampton gave me the means
city of South Hampton gave me the means
city of South Hampton gave me the means to explore that heritage and history at
to explore that heritage and history at
to explore that heritage and history at a grassroots level and in an environment
a grassroots level and in an environment
a grassroots level and in an environment where I felt that I could make a
where I felt that I could make a
where I felt that I could make a difference fertile ground South anson at
difference fertile ground South anson at
difference fertile ground South anson at that time was still confused about who
that time was still confused about who
that time was still confused about who these black people were why they all
these black people were why they all
these black people were why they all lived in Darby Road
lived in Darby Road
lived in Darby Road and those who know Southampton know
and those who know Southampton know
and those who know Southampton know exactly what I mean and why the area
exactly what I mean and why the area
exactly what I mean and why the area they lived in was called the jungle I do
they lived in was called the jungle I do
they lived in was called the jungle I do recall when I was making the film about
recall when I was making the film about
recall when I was making the film about black unemployment in the early 80s with
black unemployment in the early 80s with
black unemployment in the early 80s with a local ITV company the editing room was
a local ITV company the editing room was
a local ITV company the editing room was labeled Coons cabin and that was the way
labeled Coons cabin and that was the way
labeled Coons cabin and that was the way things were at that time this was a time
things were at that time this was a time
things were at that time this was a time when there was a heightened level of
when there was a heightened level of
when there was a heightened level of consciousness and black youth of flexing
consciousness and black youth of flexing
consciousness and black youth of flexing their newfound pride and were more
their newfound pride and were more
their newfound pride and were more sensitized to the experiences that their
sensitized to the experiences that their
sensitized to the experiences that their parents had endured stoically however
parents had endured stoically however
parents had endured stoically however these young people had no time for the
these young people had no time for the
these young people had no time for the stiff upper lip and just wanted to kick
stiff upper lip and just wanted to kick
stiff upper lip and just wanted to kick some ass and they did and I helped them
some ass and they did and I helped them
some ass and they did and I helped them bad bad person black pride and a sense
bad bad person black pride and a sense
bad bad person black pride and a sense of black history were the tools we
of black history were the tools we
of black history were the tools we deployed and a deep desire to recognize
deployed and a deep desire to recognize
deployed and a deep desire to recognize and confront the injustice is the world
and confront the injustice is the world
and confront the injustice is the world way of life for black communities this
way of life for black communities this
way of life for black communities this was becoming a crucial part of my black
was becoming a crucial part of my black
was becoming a crucial part of my black history so why do these black people
history so why do these black people
history so why do these black people keep going on about black this and black
keep going on about black this and black
keep going on about black this and black that and why was this assertion of who
that and why was this assertion of who
that and why was this assertion of who they were so disturbing for many the
they were so disturbing for many the
they were so disturbing for many the assertion of that consciousness was
assertion of that consciousness was
assertion of that consciousness was certainly a threat and black people
certainly a threat and black people
certainly a threat and black people became more organized partly through the
became more organized partly through the
became more organized partly through the supports of wage equality organizations
supports of wage equality organizations
supports of wage equality organizations and empathetic local people and started
and empathetic local people and started
and empathetic local people and started to challenge the accepted norms in the
to challenge the accepted norms in the
to challenge the accepted norms in the major institutions likely the local
major institutions likely the local
major institutions likely the local authorities the police services Health
authorities the police services Health
authorities the police services Health and Social Services and others the
and Social Services and others the
and Social Services and others the political climates at that time
political climates at that time
political climates at that time nationally played its part in disavowing
nationally played its part in disavowing
nationally played its part in disavowing racist opinion unlike the political
racist opinion unlike the political
racist opinion unlike the political situation we have in the here and now
situation we have in the here and now
situation we have in the here and now there was a time indeed when Black
there was a time indeed when Black
there was a time indeed when Black Studies was an essential part of our
Studies was an essential part of our
Studies was an essential part of our cultural education in the black
cultural education in the black
cultural education in the black communities and we clenched our fists
communities and we clenched our fists
communities and we clenched our fists and we world and protested and marched
and we world and protested and marched
and we world and protested and marched and many of you white people marched
and many of you white people marched
and many of you white people marched with us and this did make a difference
with us and this did make a difference
with us and this did make a difference perhaps the assertion of our real black
perhaps the assertion of our real black
perhaps the assertion of our real black black history is our new form of protest
delivery the black history movement was
delivery the black history movement was formally celebrated in Southampton from
formally celebrated in Southampton from
formally celebrated in Southampton from 2005 even though there were random
2005 even though there were random
2005 even though there were random acknowledgments prior to that however
acknowledgments prior to that however
acknowledgments prior to that however the real confusion the real confusion
the real confusion the real confusion
the real confusion the real confusion again was who was it for
again was who was it for
again was who was it for and who was allowed to celebrate it some
and who was allowed to celebrate it some
and who was allowed to celebrate it some white people felt that they should not
white people felt that they should not
white people felt that they should not intrude in this private grief some
intrude in this private grief some
intrude in this private grief some people of mixed race were unsure whether
people of mixed race were unsure whether
people of mixed race were unsure whether they should get involved and would they
they should get involved and would they
they should get involved and would they be betraying the white side of their
be betraying the white side of their
be betraying the white side of their family and some black people were
family and some black people were
family and some black people were embarrassed about us going on about this
embarrassed about us going on about this
embarrassed about us going on about this black stuff all the time it just made
black stuff all the time it just made
black stuff all the time it just made things bad for black people who’d
things bad for black people who’d
things bad for black people who’d quietly found a place for themselves by
quietly found a place for themselves by
quietly found a place for themselves by not making too much noise nonetheless
not making too much noise nonetheless
not making too much noise nonetheless there were many black and white who
there were many black and white who
there were many black and white who welcomed this and have contributed to
welcomed this and have contributed to
welcomed this and have contributed to what we have now in the first couple of
what we have now in the first couple of
what we have now in the first couple of years Black History Month kicked off
years Black History Month kicked off
years Black History Month kicked off with yes is still banned with white
with yes is still banned with white
with yes is still banned with white people and of course the slavery
people and of course the slavery
people and of course the slavery exhibition it seems more embarrassing
exhibition it seems more embarrassing
exhibition it seems more embarrassing now than it did at the time however it
now than it did at the time however it
now than it did at the time however it gradually coaxed white South white South
gradually coaxed white South white South
gradually coaxed white South white South Hampton citizens into accepting the idea
Hampton citizens into accepting the idea
Hampton citizens into accepting the idea of loads of black people coming together
of loads of black people coming together
of loads of black people coming together in a large group without being policed
in a large group without being policed
in a large group without being policed and not singing and dancing the main
and not singing and dancing the main
and not singing and dancing the main objective Black History Month words
objective Black History Month words
objective Black History Month words there are to promote the knowledge of
there are to promote the knowledge of
there are to promote the knowledge of black history you’d be surprised at what
black history you’d be surprised at what
black history you’d be surprised at what people don’t know in fact many people
people don’t know in fact many people
people don’t know in fact many people still believe that Egypt is not in
still believe that Egypt is not in
still believe that Egypt is not in Africa they really don’t believe that
Africa they really don’t believe that
Africa they really don’t believe that second thing to disseminate information
second thing to disseminate information
second thing to disseminate information on positive black contributions because
on positive black contributions because
on positive black contributions because you see the knowledge of what black
you see the knowledge of what black
you see the knowledge of what black people have done must influence people’s
people have done must influence people’s
people have done must influence people’s perceptions of what black people are
perceptions of what black people are
perceptions of what black people are capable of and thirdly to heighten the
capable of and thirdly to heighten the
capable of and thirdly to heighten the confidence and awareness of black people
confidence and awareness of black people
confidence and awareness of black people in their cultural heritage an inevitable
in their cultural heritage an inevitable
in their cultural heritage an inevitable consequence now the key thing that many
consequence now the key thing that many
consequence now the key thing that many failed to guard initially was this was
failed to guard initially was this was
failed to guard initially was this was just not our history but a history that
just not our history but a history that
just not our history but a history that belonged to all of us and we in the
belonged to all of us and we in the
belonged to all of us and we in the South played a crucial part and such
South played a crucial part and such
South played a crucial part and such information is available if you choose
information is available if you choose
information is available if you choose to look for it so let us just look at
to look for it so let us just look at
to look for it so let us just look at relatively basic information that does
relatively basic information that does
relatively basic information that does not fall so easily into our laps black
not fall so easily into our laps black
not fall so easily into our laps black inventors for starters the freeway
inventors for starters the freeway
inventors for starters the freeway traffic light and the gas masks invented
traffic light and the gas masks invented
traffic light and the gas masks invented by Garrett Morgan a black man the three
by Garrett Morgan a black man the three
by Garrett Morgan a black man the three musketeers a book a film a play
musketeers a book a film a play
musketeers a book a film a play Alexander Dumas a black man the blood
Alexander Dumas a black man the blood
Alexander Dumas a black man the blood bank that we depend on so much for our
bank that we depend on so much for our
bank that we depend on so much for our health Charles drew a black man the
health Charles drew a black man the
health Charles drew a black man the guitar Robert Fleming jr. a black man
guitar Robert Fleming jr. a black man
guitar Robert Fleming jr. a black man the lawn mower J Tabor a black man and
the lawn mower J Tabor a black man and
the lawn mower J Tabor a black man and many many more can go on and on about
many many more can go on and on about
many many more can go on and on about black inventors Invensys that people
black inventors Invensys that people
black inventors Invensys that people don’t know anything about of course
don’t know anything about of course
don’t know anything about of course there will be many who will seek to
there will be many who will seek to
there will be many who will seek to debunk all of these much in the same way
debunk all of these much in the same way
debunk all of these much in the same way Napoleon soldiers thought that if they
Napoleon soldiers thought that if they
Napoleon soldiers thought that if they smashed the noses from the Sphinx and
smashed the noses from the Sphinx and
smashed the noses from the Sphinx and early Egyptian statues and we didn’t
early Egyptian statues and we didn’t
early Egyptian statues and we didn’t notice they coulda raised the African
notice they coulda raised the African
notice they coulda raised the African history of the Egyptian civilization and
history of the Egyptian civilization and
history of the Egyptian civilization and dwell academically on the possibility of
dwell academically on the possibility of
dwell academically on the possibility of alien intervention because of course
alien intervention because of course
alien intervention because of course black people could never the technical
black people could never the technical
black people could never the technical expertise to construct the Pyramids of
expertise to construct the Pyramids of
expertise to construct the Pyramids of Giza always reminds me of them Muhammad
Giza always reminds me of them Muhammad
Giza always reminds me of them Muhammad Ali’s classic answer to why as a child
Ali’s classic answer to why as a child
Ali’s classic answer to why as a child your ways saw images of white angels and
your ways saw images of white angels and
your ways saw images of white angels and never black angels and he suggests that
never black angels and he suggests that
never black angels and he suggests that they were obviously in the kitchen
they were obviously in the kitchen
they were obviously in the kitchen making the milk and honey as they do
making the milk and honey as they do
making the milk and honey as they do nonetheless black as she does more than
nonetheless black as she does more than
nonetheless black as she does more than ticking the boxes of accomplishments it
ticking the boxes of accomplishments it
ticking the boxes of accomplishments it provides us with a sense of who we are
provides us with a sense of who we are
provides us with a sense of who we are and therefore who we can be
and therefore who we can be
and therefore who we can be unfortunately we still have an issue
unfortunately we still have an issue
unfortunately we still have an issue about our identity and back in the day
about our identity and back in the day
about our identity and back in the day if we were not white we were black and
if we were not white we were black and
if we were not white we were black and it was much simpler complexion was the
it was much simpler complexion was the
it was much simpler complexion was the less irrelevant Malcolm X being a
less irrelevant Malcolm X being a
less irrelevant Malcolm X being a classic example light-skinned but at
classic example light-skinned but at
classic example light-skinned but at that time one of the blackest men on the
that time one of the blackest men on the
that time one of the blackest men on the planet yes I concede that it is now
planet yes I concede that it is now
planet yes I concede that it is now fashionable to have several cultural
fashionable to have several cultural
fashionable to have several cultural identities and people are quite rightly
identities and people are quite rightly
identities and people are quite rightly proud of all aspects of these identities
proud of all aspects of these identities
proud of all aspects of these identities however sometimes I wonder how far the
however sometimes I wonder how far the
however sometimes I wonder how far the black aspects of these many identities
black aspects of these many identities
black aspects of these many identities are relegated to the periphery of our
are relegated to the periphery of our
are relegated to the periphery of our consciousness so where does that leave
consciousness so where does that leave
consciousness so where does that leave us when our forebears came here they
us when our forebears came here they
us when our forebears came here they came with a history a history that some
came with a history a history that some
came with a history a history that some of them were not even aware of many also
of them were not even aware of many also
of them were not even aware of many also brought with them a perception of
brought with them a perception of
brought with them a perception of themselves and sometimes a twisted
themselves and sometimes a twisted
themselves and sometimes a twisted perception of was a consequence of the
perception of was a consequence of the
perception of was a consequence of the Western history that was fed to local
Western history that was fed to local
Western history that was fed to local black people in the colonies which
black people in the colonies which
black people in the colonies which systematically and purposefully
systematically and purposefully
systematically and purposefully denied their true heritage and identity
sadly some of this legacy has continued
sadly some of this legacy has continued in my view to infect some black people’s
in my view to infect some black people’s
in my view to infect some black people’s perceptions of themselves and so it gets
perceptions of themselves and so it gets
perceptions of themselves and so it gets handed down further and further down the
handed down further and further down the
handed down further and further down the line but what compounded this even
line but what compounded this even
line but what compounded this even further was Western societies capacity
further was Western societies capacity
further was Western societies capacity to weave in the narrative of sort of
to weave in the narrative of sort of
to weave in the narrative of sort of racial superiority and to convert that
racial superiority and to convert that
racial superiority and to convert that into many aspects of the encounters
into many aspects of the encounters
into many aspects of the encounters between black and white peoples
the knowledge of black history were not
the knowledge of black history were not completely eradicate the falsehood still
completely eradicate the falsehood still
completely eradicate the falsehood still in play but it may be one small step in
in play but it may be one small step in
in play but it may be one small step in helping all of us in more fully
helping all of us in more fully
helping all of us in more fully appreciating the part the black people
appreciating the part the black people
appreciating the part the black people have played and are still playing in the
have played and are still playing in the
have played and are still playing in the development of the world as we know it
development of the world as we know it
development of the world as we know it yes black history matters to you and to
yes black history matters to you and to
yes black history matters to you and to me thank you very much for listening
you
you [Applause]
”
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