(ThyBlackMan.com)
Do not allow to slip away from you freedoms the people who came before you won with such hard knocks. ~David Herbert Lawrence
It has been said that American slaves were not ready for freedom. Hum? With a hint of sarcasm, I can’t help but wonder why people forced and kept in captivity would be ready for advancement. With sincerity I wonder if those that made such a comment were correct.
After growing mentally, emotionally, acquiring knowledge on many subjects, and becoming aware of the importance of ethnicity, as a woman of color I see slavery as a sad life changing event for African-American descendants in a wonderful way. Don’t get me wrong I feel slavery was horrible. It was brutal. It made captive men and women feel helpless and hopeless. It kept their descendants in continual fear. And most of all it made humans feel non-human. But it changed the course of life for many African slave freed descendants.
The process of slave choice was methodical. Before deporting African’s to their destination and to fulfill their future owners purposes as slaves each captive would be inspected. Their chins were licked for body salt content; they were also examined for tropical diseases, and, as a result, only the best African captives were kept and shipped. If an African did not pass the tests performed they would be set free. Other words with out question
the cream of the crop Africans made it to America. Thus, meaning the American Black woman came from strong African genetic lineages.
Think on this: The only reason slavery was permitted to run rampant is because God had greater purposes for the descendants of African captives. But in order for God’s plan to come about he allowed the puppeteers (slave traders/slave owners) to control new captives and enslave workers with fear; hence, giving slave traders and slave owners the illusion of having total power. For at any time during any part of the slave trade process God could have removed all fears. Allowed each captive to speak the same language. And take control of the situation because of the simple fact the newly captive and slaves outnumbered their oppressors. Instead God remained silent for a greater purpose and allowed slavery to stay as an economical institution for over four centuries. As a descendant of slaves, I feel God’s purpose was and is allowing America to become the new frontier for African American female slave descendants.
Remember this: It is up to the American Black women as people and a gender group to welcome the opportunities. Opportunities that were literally paid for with the blood of those that came before us. Only a defeated person will lay and wallow in self-pity and allow opportunities to pass them by. As I have told my grand-daughter when she wanted to join drama and choir and felt the doors were closed . . . keep going back until someone recognize you are serious about joining those activities. I also made known that eventually someone will get tired of seeing her face and give her a chance to prove she is worthy for an audition. She was frustrated! She was feed up with my “go back’s.” And reluctantly she took my advice. Today she is in drama and loving it! It took her half the school year to get into drama but she made it! In addition to joining drama she was recently selected to sing in the school talent show. She is so excited! Life is grand for her and again she loves it!
As Black women we have to work harder to meet our goals. Most often the struggles are daunting and make our goals seem less important, but don’t give up and don’t give in. Keep going! If you can’t get in the front door hell try a side door. If the side door won’t open check the back door. If the back door is locked go through a window and if the window is locked cut a hole in the roof throw down a rope and make your dream happen! Successes only come to those and for those people that are hungry for their desires to materialize! So again I quote David Herbert Lawrence, “Do not allow to slip away from you freedoms the people who came before you won with such hard knocks.”
Staff Writer; Annette Harrison
Official website; http://blackwomenhaveitgoingon.wordpress.com/
Also connect with this talented sister via Facebook; BlackWomenHaveItGoingOn and Twitter; AHarrsion2.
