Why Black History is so important

Maria Arpa

Wednesday Whisper

8 November 2018

This week

Why Black History is so important

Plus…

Maria’s Midweek Mindfulness

and

the Wednesday Whisper

Black History ‘Month’. Really?

Recently, I have been blessed with some conversations about equality which have deepened my understanding of white privilege. These conversations happened during Black History Month. While celebrating Black History is an achievement for those who fought hard for the recognition, I am finding it difficult to understand why, in this day and age, black history is not mainstream in history. I’m not saying that Black History shouldn’t be highlighted and celebrated as well in the same way people celebrate other points in history but I do believe that in a multi-cultural society history needs to reflect all the stories equally.

But there is another aspect to Black History which I’m interested in which pre-dates the slave trade and is rarely taught. So while I know it is important to remember the struggles and challenges that African people faced during slavery and it’s equally important to hear about the Civil Rights Movement as a means to understanding how we have ended up where we are today, I believe it would enrich society more to understand the ancient wisdom and spirituality of the African tribes that people were human trafficked from into slavery.

Subonfu Some, a leading voice in African spirituality, said “There is a deep longing among people in the West to connect with something bigger — with community and spirit.”

There, for me lies the real history. The history we overlook. Tribes who continue to live peacefully without dependence and whose traditions, customs and way of life have withstood the test of time and resisted the trappings of our so-called civilisation.

Maria’s Midweek Mindfulness

This week I am giving myself some ‘self care’ time. I realised how a hectic schedule gradually pulls me away from connecting to my core. And in my reflection time I have remembered to listen to my soul. It’s guiding me into 2019 with a song in my heart for 12 candidates for the one year training and for my DRM Family in Dartmoor, Greece and New York.

The Wednesday Whisper

What is your soul guiding you towards?

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2 Comments

Louisa
Posted 6 years ago Reply

I SO agree. And not just in Africa. And not just black. I have a longing for us all to learn to from the wisdom of other cultures and a fear that they are being obliterated by the western desire to take over and force our ideas of “how things should be” on other societies. Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria more recently, as well as Australia, America etc.
But going back to Black History Month – I remember my children’s primary school celebrating this only with reference to recent history – in a way celebrating individuals who had “achieved great things” all measured by our current western, white standards – as you say “so-called civilisation”. Not enough. There is a sad irony in where we find ourselves – it’s like a cultural addiction – we long for that community and spirit, and yet continue to force our beliefs on others, in order to “feel better”, and so create the opposite of what we really long for.
- Maria Arpa
  Posted 6 years ago Reply
  
  Well said, Louisa. And yes, in this blog I concentrate on Black History because because I feel strongly that black people should not have to campaign or fight or struggle to receive recognition and acknowledgement in Western mainstream culture. And we have so much to learn from true black culture.