The Education of Ones True Historical Identity Is the First Step Toward Freedom
By Therone Shellman Author / Educator
The most influential book I ’ ve read is Dr . Carter G . Woodson ’ s ‘ The Mis-Education of the Negro ’, first published in 1933 . I found it then , and still believe it to be a necessary read for people of African descent globally . As well as for others who would like to understand how people of African descent were freed from physical bondage on plantations in the Americas . Yet , face a culture of mis-education via the structured schooling system in European conquered territories .
Dr . Carter G . Woodson , for forty years participated in the education of the African , Indian , Asian and Caucasian races in the western and eastern hemispheres . It was his thinking that education as established by Caucasian scholars , developed both in Europe and America are inadequate for the intellectual needs , and preparation for one ’ s life purpose , even for Caucasians . Therefore , the same education is certainly unfit to serve people of African descent . A population which by social standards is considered a minority ( underclass .) The education system has been created to benefit the empowered class , over others . His solution , was that people of African descent should develop an education program of their own .
The foundation of European and American education has justified slavery , segregation , lynching , unequal enforcement of laws and policies . Most of all it lessens the brutality of the experience , of a people who were kidnapped , and brought to another territory and stripped of their culture , identity , religious beliefs , and the most basic human rights and dignity . Their future generations would be subjected to this same educational philosophy which tells them that the ways of European society should be their way , and any thinking outside of this education , is of a militant and hostile mind .