28 DAYS

License: CC0 Public Domain 

It is February,  the shortest month,  only 28 days.

It is the month in which we remember and celebrate events and people in African American history.
It is the month in which we steep ourselves in black culture and traditions.
This February we may be intentionally seeking unique ways to learn and grow as individuals,  to increase our knowledge as a people, and to reconcile glaring  misconceptions or  omissions in our history.

There will be programs and public celebrations. There will be read-ins and teach-ins and special art exhibits and cultural expositions.

(There will also be the advertised sales and specials in stores, although I am not sure how buying that refrigerator,  pair of shoes, or  car will advance my knowledge of  African American people, history, or culture.)


It is February.

In classrooms around the country, teachers are putting up bulletin boards, selecting books to share with their students, and designing hands-on experiences to highlight the contributions of African Americans.

Sadly, many children will be reading and talking about the same few familiar folks they learned about last year.. and the year before that and the one before that.

You know the ones--- Martin Luther King  and his dream, George Washington Carver and his peanuts,  Rosa Parks and her bus. Harriet Tubman and her train....  You know the ones.

I am not taking anything away from these important people in our history.  They each made monumental offerings and sacrifices that touch us today in critical ways.  But they are not the only ones....


So it was with a huge smile and a nod of satisfaction that I read 28 Days: Moments in Black History that Changed the World. Charles R.  Smith Jr. and Shane W. Evans have created a  book that offers us a fresh perspective and breathes new life into our black history lessons.  In his author's note  Smith explains:

 I 've always had a love-hate relationship with Black History Month.
 I love that black culture is shared and studied for a whole month, but as a student of color I hated the idea of ignoring it the other eleven months.  On top of that, I kept learning the same things about the same people and after a while, no matter how proud I was of my culture, I got bored and just stopped listening.
As an author I wanted to change that...
I wanted to show the variety of accomplishments black people have achieved, not just in the long ago past, but in recent times and present day, as well. Ultimately I wanted to provide a wealth of information for teachers and students alike all in one book..

Rich illustrations and layers of text, including varied types of verse, eulogies, quotes from historic documents, excerpts from speeches, and bibliographic information, highlight events and people that have impacted our nation, history and the world.

Each day of the 28 is blessed with a specific moment in our history-- beginning in 1776 when our country became an idea to die for, and with the first person to die for that idea, Crispus Attacks, and ending in the White House with Barack Obama.

 In between, we see some familiar faces, but are also treated to moments that we may not have known,  and faces that that we may not have seen before.

Both author and illustrator are Coretta Scott King Award Winners and bring to this new work the excellence we  have come to associate with that award.


See this previous and related post for additional resources
I, Too, Am America

Today's Deeper Writing Possibilities

This month reflect on the contributions of African Americans to our history as a nation.

Who are the people that you remember this month --locally, nationally, and globally?

Write a poem to honor a person who had made a monumental offering to our world.

How do you feel about African American History Month?  

Write an essay exploring the positives and negatives of this annual celebration.

REMEMBERING MY FATHER

My father died on January 29, 2014-- one year ago today.  I am reposting the following tribute 

(originally posted on January 30, 2014).

As I remember him today,  I reread his obituary.
What an extraordinary man he was and what a remarkable amount he accomplished in his life!

The Measure of the Man: Tribute to My Father 

My father died last night.

He went to sleep--peacefully.

My mother and I were with him

He was the only man who has been present in my life and for me -- all of my life.
He was a faithful and loving husband and wonderful father.
My mother is missing him.
My sisters are missing him.
His grandchildren are missing him
His sons-in-law are missing him.
I am missing him.

My father died last night.

Seven years ago for his 80th birthday surprise party I wrote the following piece as a tribute to him.
As I reread it--through both tears and smiles and rememberings-- these words still define the measure of my father.
At my mother's request, I spoke these words  to honor my father at his funeral.

Measurable 

My father can be measured by the words that define him.
As a little girl I remember my father always seemed to have a tape measure handy in his pocket—ready to measure whatever needed measuring.  And it seemed like back then there was a lot to be measured.
                               

Knowledgeable

I also remember he always had a word in his pocket.
He is knowledgeable about just about everything, could give a word or two or a sentence on any topic--- and he could speak volumes in his areas of expertise….engineering, construction, geology, mechanics, aviation and airplanes, finances, mathematics, cars and science, and the list goes on.

Talkative

See Knowledgeable J  

Infallible

This is a word from his measuring stick J In his own estimation, he has never been wrong.

Faithful

He is faithful to God, working tirelessly on various church commitments and efforts.  He is faithful to his wife, family and friends, working overtime to provide for his family with all that he thought we should have, and continuing to be there for both family and friends.

Handsome 

He was and continues to be one of the best looking men I know with a smile that suggests the mischief he has just spoken or performed, or the devilment he is about to do. (When he first met my mother at The Ohio State University, she asked what he was studying-- he replied Devilment!)
  

Handy 

He can fix, build, erect, construct, invent, or create what ever is needed for whatever purpose …and he can do it quickly.   We had hardwood floors and a finished basement in the house in Shepard. In addition, there was a pool always in our yard, and an ice-skating rink, along with a tether ball court. Of course, the obligatory swing set that everybody else had was also present. He made sidewalks for Grandma Whiting…. And made everything in her house work also.  Our cars were never out of service long. Our skates were sharpened, our bikes always fixed and our toy room had plenty of shelves to hold all the toys, games, and dolls.

Heroic

Daddy is the one who killed the bugs and caught the squirrels, birds, raccoons and other creatures that happened by accident into our home. He was the one who carried the “big stick”  in case of bad guys.  We were always safe when he was around.

Fearless

Not only was he not afraid of the bad guys, but several times he demonstrated by both words and actions that he was not afraid of the “uniformed good guys.”  Those guys in blue took second place to getting home to the gash in Rhonda’s head, to get Renee and her broken arm to the hospital in record time, and to helping a petty thief beaten bloody by the security guards at Gold Circle.

Willing

At a time when it would have been easier to go to bed after watching the late night news, or before that hour, he waited up in order to pick us up from weekend parties, dances and other events.  Most of my friends were told by their parents, Yes, you may go if you can get a ride.My dad was always the ride!!

Connoisseur

Daddy enjoys eating good food and cooking good food.  He loves to eat out…Chinese, pizza, any restaurant instead of home… especially his favorite breakfast spots, McDonald’s and Bob Evans.   He cooked most breakfasts that I ate during my childhood and most weekend dinners.  I never understood why at someone else’s house we would have to wait until a “mom” came home to cook .  It did not work like that in my house.

Progressive

In addition to cooking, Daddy, very ably and comfortably, did things that I took for granted but soon discovered were “ women’s” jobs…..He cooked, cleaned, sewed, ironed, combed our hair…whatever needed to be done.  He was the supportive, egalitarian husband…before his time.

Advisor

My father is very wise, worldly and experienced.  He often gives advice on how things should be done....little things and big things.  He enjoys this role.  See Knowledgeable
 

Intelligent

My father is one of the smartest people I know.
For me, the connotation of serious intelligence usually involved numbers and math.  He was a wiz at these…SeeKnowledgeable
 

Curious

I don’t know anyone else except my dad who relishes a good bloody operation on The Discovery Channel or the Learning Channel.  He also enjoys sharing the details.

Humorous

He is a quick wit and bounces with laughter at the funny parts or sometimes when he has said something that tickles himself.

Affectionate

He gets a weekly ration of hugs and kisses from the ladies at church.

Trustworthy

His word is his word.  If he says he will do something, you can believe him.  He will be there doing whatever he promised, whenever he said he would.

Proud

My father is proud of all that he had accomplished during his lifetime…. and rightfully so.

My father is now resting-happy and healed in God's divine light, perfect peace and eternal life.
My father died last night.
I am missing him.

Today's Deeper Writing Possibilities

Think about a person--living or dead-- who is important in your life.

How do you measure that person?

What words define him? What characteristics does she exemplify?

Write about this person using words and characteristics from your list as a starting point.

AM I CHARLIE AND OTHER QUESTIONS?

Charlie-Hebdo-2015-11" by Thierry Caro - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Am I Charlie?


Do I have the right to offend?

Do I have the right to write, draw, say.....  offensive things?

Do I have the right to defend your right to write, draw, say...  offensive things?

When do these rights interfere with the rights of others?

Who determines whether there has been an offending word or picture ...and who had been offended?

When is an insult or ridicule or criticism illegal?

When does satire cross the line and become not just bad taste or silliness, but an offense worthy of deadly retaliation?

According to James Scott in Satire: From Horace to Yesterday's Comic Strips

Making fun of other people comes naturally to most of us...Since human beings could talk, they've been using insults to put each other down or build themselves up or both.  But there is a careful  and complex language of ridicule-- a person who does not know where to stop, may earn powerful enemies or lose valuable friends.

So the purpose of satire is to ridicule.

And for the record, I feel that although many of the Charlie Hedbo cartoons I have seen are funny and make points that I may (or may not agree with), they were always offensive on some level to some person or group.

Also for the record, I support and defend their right to challenge  the establishment and  the traditions, the  practices and values-- of the government- their own and others--  of religions--their own or lack of, and others, and so forth, in this satiric manner.

Did they cross the lines of good taste? Definitely. Is that their right?

Pope Francis weighed on this question indicating that lines were crossed, that there are limits in freedom of expression  in terms of ridiculing the religion or faith  of others, but  he unequivocally  opposed the attack.

Hana Shafi, a Canadian journalist goes a step further, indicating that the cartoons of Charlie Hebdo are not satire at all, just racist, and that neither racism, sexism nor homophobic expression should be protected as freedom of expression.

Did the cartoons in Charlie Hedbo cross the line?
Daily Kos published a sampling from over the years by one of its foremost cartoonists?
Judge for yourself. What do you think?


Charlie Hedbo offices were bombed in Paris, not the United States, yet at the same time it is an international issue, this is a very American issue, .

Our First Amendment gives us the right to express ourselves individually and collectively, in writing and in speech, in our homes and in public assemblies. We are free to believe in our God, your God, their God, or no God.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

 Again,  according to  Scott in Satire: From Horace to Yesterday's Comic Strips

The First Amendment... protects the  satirist's right to freedom of speech in the US as long as  the satire does not deteriorate into punishable crimes of  slander or libel.  Slander is the act of intentionally telling lies that  injure a person's reputation.  Libel is the  writing and publishing of these lies.

Ironically our Second Amendment grants the right to bear arms,  although not to be used in retaliation for or avenging of  perceived First Amendment opportunities or breaches.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

To read the entire US Bill of Rights click here.

A new issue of Charlie Hedbo was on newsstands Wednesday and sold out in record time. More copies were immediately printed.  Click here to read about this issue and see the cover which is, as we would predict, both clever and offensive.

How would this all have been handled in the US?

Would we have marched 3.5 million strong?

When the World Trade Center was bombed, three days later in record numbers we went to church at the National Cathedral.  We, like the people of  Paris, like the publishers of  Charlie Hebdo, did bow down nor hide from "offended" terrorists.

Where would we have met, marched, orated, and protested in the US over cartoons that resulted in deaths?

 Are we all Charlie?


The last French policeman to be killed in the Paris attack was a Muslim named Ahmed Merabet.  He was killed as the gunmen were escaping.

 Am I Ahmed?

The world has ralllied around Paris and the attack on Charlie .

Why are we not seeing the same coverage of the recent attack at Baga in Borno, Nigeria?
And why have we forgotten all about the kidnapped girls in that same country?

.
This thought-provoking  commentary by Charlotte Alter for Time Ideas at Time.com asks that same question.

The people under attack in Nigeria and other recent terrorist attacks are not offending anyone. They have not drawn intentionally offensive material,  but  are simply seeking to exist  in their own country.

Am I Baga?

Just who am  I?

 Today's Deeper Writing Possibilities

Reflect on the recent Paris attack on Charlie Hedbo.

Make a list of your own questions concerning this  event and its related and implied issues.

Make a list of thoughts and beliefs related to this event, to freedom of speech and expression,  and to censorship and terrorism.

Write an essay exploring your ideas.

Examine satirical cartoons.  One source for satiric cartoons that can be used as mentor texts is The Onion.