The Importance of Black History
by Empress Ashaki
“Knowledge is the hallmark of civilized human life. That special attribute which distinguishes human life from all other forms of life on this planet is the unique ability to acquire knowledge. Knowledge is the capacity to know oneself and to have the ability to communicate that knowledge to others…”
“This remarkable and significant way of getting knowledge and passing it along permits human beings to master their environments and themselves unlike any other form of life. We are able to redesign much about the environment that we live in because of our knowledge of its patterns and its cycles. We are ultimately able to change ourselves and improve ourselves unlike any other form of life because of the accumulated and transmitted knowledge of who we are and how we function. The real mark of civilization is in the maintenance of certain systematic knowledge that preserves the code of how to overcome obstacles and understand problems that reoccur in the environment. We don't have to grow another layer of hair over the course of several generations, as the other mammals must do in order to survive the elements. Instead, we need only keep a mental record (an external or internal library) of how the cold was avoided when it came before. This mental record permits each generation to rise above those who came before because we are able to build on the knowledge of those who have already mastered a problem.”
This quote is from the forward of Na’im Akbar’s book “Know Thyself,” a book about effectively educating the African American mind. Na’im Akbar is a Clinical Psychologist that is considered one of the world's preeminent Psychologists and a pioneer in the development of an African-centered approach in modern psychology, as well as a prominent lecturer, author and recognized expert on the psychology of Africans.
In his book and his work in general, Dr. Akbar illuminates the importance of Africans to know their history and capabilities not only in order to survive, but to thrive and advance generations. Na’im Akbar’s work gives proof of the necessity of educating African Americans and Africans worldwide on their strengths, obstacles, and abilities as part of their formal education. He challenges the American educational system with his theories that European Americans are given the tools and encouragement to succeed by the emphasis of the successes of their ancestors, while African Americans and all other cultures are excluded or given cursory mentions. Europeans are in effect, “being invited to share in the legacy of their great predecessors,” Akbar says.
Educating to only uplift one group in a country made up of many cultures is a disservice to all, including the culture whose history is taught. We live in a global community and knowledge of self and of others only serves to enhance that global community and bring us closer together. Celebrating Black History and the history of all peoples who inhabit the global community is vital to mastering our environment and ourselves.