Gateways: The Path to Ph.D.

Forever in History

blackhistorygeek — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:31:28 +0000

Hello, old friends. Last time I left you, I was steady on the course of blogging my experience in pursuing to become a history professor. I come to you all today as a proud Sailor in the United States Navy. Many had asked why I made the decision to join the military. I have had gone back and forth about this ever since my undergraduate days. I felt the time was now in order to help me in my quest in getting my masters and Phd.

Recruit training was a real eye opener for me. It taught me the Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Going through each phase of training in Great Lakes helped form me into a Sailor today. However, as months went by and after finishing “A” school (job training for the Navy), I still have that burning passion in my heart to teach history, especially African American history. I guess it comes to show that once you love something that you do, you can’t just give it up.

Throughout my time in the military, I read each text involving military history with more pride because those who had died in our nation’s wars were my brothers in arms. Each victory was won with a heavy heart because loved ones had to die in order for us to win. What really hurts as an African American is that throughout every war that our nation was involved in, we still have a neverending battle back home with racism. I’m still seen as a threat amongst society, especially now since I’m in the uniformed services.

I trained to be an Aviation Electronics Technician (AT), Intermediate Level. I graduated with a 90% average, which I was impressed since I had no prior electrical knowledge. However, due to security clearance issues, I’m not officially an AT. At first I was really upset, because I endured 4 months of rigourous training to get to where I’m at. However, as a Christian, I realized that God was only telling me that this isn’t what He planned for me to do.

Thanks to all who have supported me this far in my quest to become a history professor. I continue to pray that God continues to lead the way and that He gives me the strength to follow. It’s real easy for us as Christians to stray away, because we have too many distractions. It takes real strength to walk the road without knowing your destination. The journey doesn’t end when you reach a certain point, but it ends when it is REVEALED what God had you here for. Until next time, stay blessed, dear friends.

Welcome to Shelbyville: My View

blackhistorygeek — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:12:49 +0000

“Welcome to Shelbyville” is a film coming out that chronicles the race relations in the town of Shelbyville, Tennessee. The producers highlight different point of views from the Lation, White, Black, and Somalian community as Somalian refugees move into town. Differences are noticed from both a racial and religious point of view. It’s especially interesting with the town having a Black mayor, with its history of the Ku Klux Klan having formed within the area years ago. At the end, residents became open minded and opened their ears to welcome the Somalian refugees to the town properly.

In my opinion, this film would be great for schools and universities around the nation. It drives its point across of how easy it is to prejudge a person of a different race or a different religion just from what they heard or seen thru the media. For example, producers had interviewed a newspaper writer who had chronicled the migration of the refugees to the town of Shelbyville. Highlighting what was going on in Somalia and Kenya, the tone of his articles had frightened the residents of Shelbyville about their new neighbors. However, after speaking to some Somalian refugees, his tone had changed and even received an award for his work.

History: The Foundation

blackhistorygeek — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:42:07 +0000

As I continue to pursue my goal of becoming a history professor, I couldn’t help but recollect the lecture that one of my mentors, Dr. Pimienta-Bey, had spoken during my years in Berea. The lecture was related to the whole course of history and how it was the very foundation for African and African American Studies majors around the nation. When I first heard, I was reluctant to accept it. Throughout my life, I kept hearing about the omission of African American moments in history, besides the times of slavery and the forever-researched Civil Rights Movement. Both periods are important in the foundation of African American history, but there are much more to include. History has to be a foundation for African Americans as a people to move forward.

As the saying goes “In order to move forward, you must learn from the past.” History shouldn’t be just an overview of what had happened throughout our times here in this nation, this world. History should be used to (1) help strategize for a better future and (2) be heavily considered in times of conflict to avoid past mistakes to reoccur. African Americans as a people should take special consideration. Some may argue that there is no financial benefit from reading about the intellect of W.E.B. DuBois, the accomplishments of George Washington Carver, or the platform of civil disobedience from Dr. Martin Luther King. However, I truly believe that reading the history of our people will bring a benefit that money simply can’t buy….our self-respect.

For years, we as a people have seen the self-hatred and self-degradation that has occurred numerous times. From the ever gloomy murder rate that still haunts us to the high percentage of AIDS amongst our people, it is clear to say that there is an issue. Our history is a glorious history and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s foolish to think that I would be prejudiced against other people’s contributions to history, because Black history is American history. Let’s treat it as so and continue to strive for excellence.

Civil Rights Institute: My First Day

blackhistorygeek — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 21:17:10 +0000

I was beyond excitement, starting my first day as a volunteer at the ever popular Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Notice that they didn’t call it the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum. Their mission wasn’t for the public to enjoy the exhibits that chronicled the Civil Rights Movement, especially within Birmingham (once noted as the most segregated city in the South). Its mission was to ENLIGHTEN the masses that even though the Movement is celebrated, the fight is still going on.

As I signed in to the log book, I couldn’t help but remember in my younger years, the numerous times visiting the Institute. It always reminded me of how far we’ve come as black people. It tickles me now when I think of the interactions between my black and white classmates after the tour. Black classmates were enraged because they feel, like I did, that we still were being discriminated against, only in subtle ways. However, the white classmates were afraid, I believe, just because they witnessed what heinous crimes their own race had committed. But that’s another blog post in itself.

Being a greeter, you were always expected to smile towards the visitors. I couldn’t smile any harder because I was working in an area that I loved dearly. Educating the masses about the likes of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Richard Arrington (first black mayor of Birmingham), and other champions of the Movement, I felt like the Institute had became my home. Talking with other colleagues about the history of Birmingham, it felt warm and welcoming to me. I laugh now at how Yvonne Williams, our volunteer coordinator, had noticed my passion for Black history at our first encounter when I first applied.

As a spiritual person, I believed God knew in my heart that this was what I wanted all along. He has blessed me so many times, this first day is only the beginning.

Evolution of the black buck in the 21st century

blackhistorygeek — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 02:35:30 +0000

After the 1930s, American cinema had been familiar with the mammies, coons, toms, and tragic mulattos of the past films, used to portray African Americans. However, the public was introduced to a new African American depiction, the black buck, in the early 1970s. Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song, directed by Melvin Van Peebles (1971), laid the foundation of the buck with Sweetback, a black stud who’s super cool. When he sees two white policemen kill a young black man, Sweetback springs to action, killing both with a set of handcuffs. As quickly as he came, he vanishes. With a series of chases and sex adventures that followed, he escapes. Viewers of the film were left with a message at the end: “A BAADASSSSSS N$%&*# IS COMING BACK TO COLLECT SOME DUES.” The film was successful, which led to the creation of mere imitations. Thus, the black buck was born.
Progressing through the years, America witnessed the growth and maturity of the black buck with films such as Shaft (1971), Superfly (1972), etc. Highlighting the sexuality of the black man, which had been suppressed beforehand, the black buck makes his mark, exploring sexual territories, while committing violence throughout his dominion. In the 21st century, we still see the black buck reigning amongst big screens across the nation, with films such as Belly (1998), a story of two drug dealers looking for a way out from the street life. Directed by video director Hype Williams, the film portrayed both characters as super violent, killing those who disrespect them along their path, one drug dealer dies in a battle, while the other leaves with his wife for Africa. This film is an example of how the bucks that were portrayed by the pimps and players have been replaced by the gangsters of today. With hip-hop as a heavy influence, we now see these gangsters that resemble the street life of New York, Los Angeles, and other cities that were so describe by artists such as 50 Cent, Snoop Doggy Dog, and others. Carrying a gun whenever they went, there are only three things on their mind: money, power, and respect. Committing violence against those who “disrespect” them, they still save time to explore sexual adventures in their endeavors.
It is clear to conclude that the black buck has evolved into a complex character in American cinema. Following the growth patterns as its siblings, it’s clear to suggest that there will be more films that will show the black buck as its main attraction. However, in the words of Junus Griffin, head of the Hollywood branch of the NAACP during the 1970s: “We must insist that our children are not constantly exposed to a steady diet of so-called black movies that glorify black males as pimps, dope pushers, gangsters, and super males.”

Bibliography
*Bogle, Donald. Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, & Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films. Continuum International Publishing Group, Inc: New York, 2004.

Gateways

blackhistorygeek — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:09:03 +0000

Looking through the world’s steps back in time
I sometimes wonder what would happen if we were able to rewind
Things like the Sixteenth St. church bombing, or go to Memphis to take the bullet for our King
And let my blood flow as the Ohio River and let it be set as the finish line for freedom
I love flipping pages and have my mind gobble the content
I rather listen to the sounds of the Duke instead of today’s materialistic nonsense
I love to rub my hands through the original documents of the Father of Black History
Taking my eyes, using as a scalpel and perform brain surgery so I can see his thoughts
Write down what my mind speaks, carry myself in a way where my heart beats
A different rhythm and blues, like Louis Armstrong was my aorta, commanding my soul
To walk in a different step on a different path in a different direction
A selection of words coming from the pens of the greats
like Du Bois, Hughes, Woodson, Asante
Float off the papyrus like steam off a mountain spring
Inhaling them like a breath of fresh air
Exhaling out my philosophy at the top of my lungs
Praising, crying tears of joy because I know
I know what it means now
To lead, to blaze my own trail
I must serve to the people
Become a Morpheus of society and free them from the Matrix
Passing out red pills like jellybeans on Easter Sunday
Because freedom without knowledge….is really putting our minds in chains.

The Future of Black Economic Empowerment

blackhistorygeek — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:33:24 +0000

While I was looking through the ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History) website, I noticed that their 2010 conference theme was titled “The History of Black Economic Empowerment.” That had me thinking, because lately, I’ve been noticing more of my friends that have made the decision to become a business owner, thus reaching the goal of economic empowerment. I contacted one of my old high school friends, Lynsey Weatherspoon, to help me determine what it’s like to be a Black business owner in the 21st century, while empowering herself economically. Ms. Weatherspoon owns Lynsey Weatherspoon Photography, LLC., capturing astonishing images whether its commercial, wedding, editorial, or fine art projects. She received her bachelors degree in Mass Communication at the University of Montevallo, then followed with a masters degree in Communication Management at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. While not running her photography business, Ms. Weatherspoon works as a Adjunct Professor at the University of Montevallo.

What was your inspiration behind Lynsey Weatherspoon Photography, LLC?
The inspiration came from my mother, who is also a visual artist. She taught me how to see creatively at an early age. She also taught me how to use a camera. So I started learning the craft of photography on my own by practicing and reading. Needless to say, it’s been an amazing journey thus far.

What is your definition of economic empowerment?
Economic empowerment means freedom of decision in my opinion. With economic empowerment, it’s not limited to economics. It’s about making a name for yourself and your business. Making clear and competent business connections are the ultimate goals of empowerment. Once you meet those who are behind your goals, the economic factor is sure to follow.

Recently you were invited for a shoot with Upgrade Magazine, with Donta Wilson, the Alabama State President of BB&T, as your subject. How did it feel shooting someone of that magnitude?
Having the opportunity to photograph Mr. Wilson was a great opportunity. Mr. Wilson has the determination to improve the economic status of his current and future customers. I enjoyed my time during the shoot for Upgrade Magazine. I appreciate Rashade LeRoy for the opportunity.

Throughout history, we’ve had black doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, etc. that have own their own businesses. Who do you credit for opening the doors to own a photography firm?
There are so many talented black photographers around us. I essentially have to thank them all. We all have a different intenseness about our photography. So we’ve all helped each other in ways that we may not even know.

How does it feel to be a Black business owner at a young age?
Being a young Black business owner is a challenge. This is a new day and time where not only are Blacks supporting each others businesses, but we have the choice to support other nationalities. We’re no longer in the early 50s and 60s when we can only purchase goods and services from Blacks only. With this challenge, it is also an opportunity to branch out to everyone around us. But I thoroughly enjoy being a business owner in this century. More opportunities to advertise, communicate, and connect with so many options available.

With the state of the economy the way it is now, how do you stay ahead?
Taking time to balance my budget helps me stay ahead in my business. There are so many gadgets and gizmos that lure photographers. So I purchase what I need versus what I want. I also have reasonable rates for customers. If I’m going to be conscious of my spending, the same thought should be extended to those who want to use your service.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in owning their own business?
Research, research, and research. Connect with people in your industry before you make the formal decision to start your own business. Ask questions, even the ones you think that are irrelevant. Most of all, make sure you have the support of the right people.

For more information on Ms. Weatherspoon or Lynsey Weatherspoon Photography, LLC., visit her website at www.lynseyweatherspoon.com.

Washington v. Du Bois: From Then to Now

blackhistorygeek — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:05:47 +0000

Booker T. Washington, an American educator and political leader, was born in 1856 to a slave woman and a white man in what is now West Virginia. He pursued his education after the Civil War, while working in salt furnaces and coal mines. He attended Hampton Institute, and would later teach there years later. He founded Tuskegee Institute on similar principles, while raising money and support as it would become one of the leading black institutions in the nation. Washington’s speech at the Atlanta Exposition in 1895 drew mixed responses, as it seemed he was calling for blacks to accommodate at a time where Jim Crow laws denied them political rights. “To those of my race who depend on bettering their condition in a foreign land……cast down your bucket where you are,” he said. Washington wanted blacks to pursue agriculture, mechanics, and other trades to work towards economic equality.

Washington’s main archrival was William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (W.E.B. Du Bois), a Pan-Africanist historian , civil rights activist, and author who was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1895. He was also one of the founders of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Du Bois wrote many books, including the Souls of Black Folk in 1903. One significant chapter in this classic work of literature was titled “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others.” Within it, Du Bois termed Washington’s speech the “Atlanta Compromise,” stating that Washington “represents in Negro thought the old attitude of submission and adjustment.” Du Bois acknowledge that the road to equality was through political power, having the right to vote.

“By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men, clinging unwaveringly to those great words which the sons of the Fathers would fain forget: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal….”

Even though the debate was years ago, the substance of it still applies to the present. As we become more advanced in technology, more jobs are created, which leads to more economic opportunities that Washington spoke of. However, recent years have seen instances surrounding the very political rights that Du Bois spoke about (Voting Rights Act, Civil Rights Act, 13th-15th Amendments). With the election of the President Barack Obama, it would seem that the Black community have the political rights that Du Bois believed would lead us to equality. However, the question still remains…..economical equality or political rights?

Sources: Washington, Booker T. ”Atlanta Exposition Address”, U.S. Traditions: A Reader, 3rd Edition
Du Bois, W.E.B. “Chapter III: Of Mr Booker T. Washington and Others.” Souls of Black Folk. http://www.bartleby.com/114/3.html

Job vs Career

blackhistorygeek — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:35:49 +0000

There’s a saying that has been repeatedly in my brain for years. “If you make a career out of your passion, you won’t work a day in your life.” If that’s true, I’ve been working for 7 years, lol. It’s interesting to me how in all of us we have this battle within us to either make anything that we’re passionate about into a career or just get a job to pay the bills. It’s also interesting in how most of the time, our passions are in things that are not seen as lucrative or a good investment. For example, I researched that the average college professor makes roughly $60,000 a year*, while the avearge CEO makes $70,000* a year. CEOs mainly have masters degrees or MBAs under their belt, while college professor have the distinguished doctorates or PhD. It’s one thing to have the satisfaction of having the bills pay, but it’s another when you’re doing it while enjoying what you do. I’ve worked in business for a couple years and it’s safe to say that I want something more meaningful. African American History isn’t a hobby to me like scrapbooking or drawing, it’s more special than that. Every day I witness a new page written into the books of history. Why not make a career out of it?

*Source: Payscale.com’s Gigzig tool-www.payscale.com/gigzig

All that Glitters Ain’t Gold

blackhistorygeek — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:39:16 +0000

Wow, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I’ve decided to go ahead and make it a goal to become a professor in African American History. When I was in college, I was just happy with being able to graduate, lol. During my freshman year, I was in a play called “All that Glitters Ain’t Gold.” To basically summarize it, the play was about a gospel singer who had pursued “making it” in the secular world of the music business. However, he started to realize that he was losing himself and his soul because he wasn’t doing something that was in God’s plan. How ironic is it that I was a minor character in that play and my life would eventually be that of the gospel singer’s. Everything I did had pointed me to pursue becoming a African American history professor (research internship with my African American History professor, being named an African American History scholar by a college magazine, participating in the 40th anniversary of the Selma Montgomery March (Bloody Sunday), establishing a branch on campus of ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History)). However, I was married at the time and had a newborn baby girl. Last time I checked, graduate school didn’t help much with the diaper fund. So I decided to pursue a business management job with a contractor and ended up moving to Virginia. After a couple months training under a Facility Director, I was promoted to Director of a department at a local college. Everyone thought I was happy and succesful, but I was actually suffering. I separated from my now ex-wife at the time and lived alone. Work was just work to me. A random day at work and an act of kindness would change my life forever. A co-worker of mine was promoting Zora Neale Hurston for Black History Month by having different faculty, staff, and students read some of her works. I volunteered because of two things: the first was my love for Hurston’s novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” and the second was my Central Alabama accent and its similarities to some of Hurston’s characters in her works. While I read in front of a mixed crowd of the campus community, my mind kept thinking about the Harlem Renaissance and the likes of Hurston, Langston Hughes, and Paul Robeson. As I finished, I went back to my office that day and did nothing but research that period and the notable figures during that time. When I looked at the clock, that’s when it hit me like someone slapped me across the head with a copy of From Slavery to Freedom (RIP John Hope Franklin). “Oh my God, what am I doing? This isn’t me. This isn’t what I spent four years in the middle of the mountains for…” I realized that I was losing myself and my soul like the gospel singer’s. I knew then the true saying of “All that glitters ain’t gold.”