By Michael Caldwell
Contributor
Several months ago I was
watching a late night comedy show
featuring comedian Paul Ro
driguez. Describing life as a boy in
Compton, a very poor area in Los
Angeles, he quipped, ‘The only
white people we saw in my neigh
borhood were the police and Jesus
Christ.” At about the same time
last year I attended a fascinating
lecture by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu,
who spent the afternoon shatter
ing myths and showing the inade
quacies and injustices of our edu
cational system, especially in the
education of African-AmCTicans.
One topic he brought up was the
racial identity of Jesus Christ After
establishing the fact that Egypt is
indeed an African country inhab
ited by Africans, (and I hope I
didn’t starde too many of you), he
noted that Joseph and Mary hid
Jesus from Herod in Egypt. In the
words of Dr. Kunjufu, “You can’t
hide a white boy in Egypt.” He
also noted that the Semetic peoples
were direct descendants from the
Hametic peoples, who wctc black.
The Bible states that Moses had
skin the color of bronze and hair
the texture of wool. Basically, he
didn’t look a thing like Charlton
Heston. Furthermore, if you go to
the Middle East today, you won’t
‘7r is time that we learn about and
celebrate the thousands of years of
contributions that African people
have made to human civilization”
see white people, (unless they are
European Jews, and there were no
Europeans in this area 2000 years
ago.) My point is that Jesus was in
all likeUhood a black man.
I love peanut butter. There’s a
big jar beside me as I type this
article. When I was a young boy, I
learned that George Washington
Carver invented peanutbutter. And
I probably learned that during
Black History Month. From that
point on, I would forever know
that black people invented peanut
totally ignorant American society
on the whole is totally ignorant.
For most Americans, these accom
plishments never happened. And
when a race hasn’t accomplished
anything, it’s easy to consider them
inferior.
But then there’s an accomplish
ment of a very different sort. Is it
possible thatJesusChrist,the Lord
and Savior for millions of people,
is black? 1 wonder how all the
racists in this country, most of
whom considerthemselves Chris-
Endsights
butter. And for all I knew, that was
the only significant contribution
that black people had ever made to
human society in thousands of
years. Now, I’ll admit. I’m not
being totally truthful. I knew about
Eli Whitney. I had also heard of
this slave woman named Hamet
Tubman. But I only learned about
these people in February. Only in
February. I knew nothing of the
great African kings and queens. I
thought Cleopatra looked like
Elizabeth Taylor. I didn’t learn of
Dr. King until much later. As for
all the great African-American
scientists, educators, human rights
leaders, musicians, poets, authors
tian, would react to the realization
of the fact that they worship a
black man. So next time you have
the opportunity to talk to, for ex
ample, a Southern Baptist minis
ter, ask him or her about the color
of Jesus’ skin. But please do so in
February.
All sarcasm aside, it is time that
we all learn about and celebrate
the thousands of years of contribu
tions that African people have
made to human civilization.
However, this can only be done if
we incorporate this knowledge into
our education 365 days of the year.
For now, please make the most of
Black History Month. For now,
that’s all we have.
and government leaders, I was
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Think Black Ink!
Black Ink invites all interested students and faculty to an informa
tional meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Rm. 226 of the Student Union
TODAY!!
A Tribute To Little Known
African-Americans
As African-Americans we are all too familiar with the fact
that quite often our contributions to American history have gone
unnoticed. These “oversights,” however, have not been made
solely by the majority community — unfortunately, many of our
people’s accomplishments are also unheard of in our own commu
nities. So, in honor of Black History Month, one of the ways in
which Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will do its part to educate the
campus community about African-Amwican heroes and heroines
will be by showcasing in each February issue of Black Ink indi
viduals who are not so well-known as Malcolm X and Martin
Luther King Jr., but whose accomplishments are unquestionably
significant.
Patricia Roberts Harris (1924-1985)
Lawyer, Educator, United Nations Delegate
Patricia Roberts Harris’ career was distinguished by many
“firsts” for black women, including U.S. ambassador, presidential
cabinet member, law school dean and director of a major U.S.
company.
Bom in Mattxx)n, 111., Harris received her early education in
Chicago, and later studied government and economics at Howard
University in Washington D.C.—one of five schools that offered
her a full scholarship. At Howard, Harris was vice-chairwoman of
an NAACP student chapter. She excelled at a number of prestig
ious graduate schools and received her J.D. degree from George
Washington Law School in 1960.
After a brief stay at the Department of Justice, she began a
teaching career at Howard University’s Law School and became
dean in less than 10 years.
Harris’ career took an international turn when President Lyndon
B. Johnson appointed her to a congressional committee studying
the status of Puerto Rico in 1964, and one year named her U.S. am
bassador to Luxembourg, making her this nation’s first black
woman ambassador. S he later served as an alternate delegate to the
United Nations General Assembly. Harris reached another career
milestone when she was named director of IBM, one of the world’s
largest corporations, in 1971.
While serving President Jimmy Carter in two cabinet posts-
first as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and later as
secretary of Health, Education and Welfare- she was a staunch
supporter of social programs, and increased government funding
for both areas. She also started the successful Urban Development
Action Grant Program, which assisted decaying cities. More than
half of Harris’ departmental £^>pointees were women and minori
ties.
A confident and determined woman, Harris never tired of chal
lenging opportunities. In 1982 she campaigned vigorously, but
unsuccessfully for mayor, before returning to law full-time.
11
Black Ink February 25,1991