1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:19,360 E 3 00:00:25,250 --> 00:00:27,520 greetings and welcome to Team 4 00:00:27,530 --> 00:00:29,740 Redstone's 2021 Black History Month 5 00:00:29,740 --> 00:00:32,750 program . Our host for today's program 6 00:00:32,750 --> 00:00:34,861 is Colonel Martin Griffin , commander 7 00:00:34,861 --> 00:00:37,028 of the U . S . Army Corps of Engineers 8 00:00:37,028 --> 00:00:38,861 Engineering and Support Center . 9 00:00:38,861 --> 00:00:41,083 Huntsman . My name is Barbara Whitney , 10 00:00:41,083 --> 00:00:43,420 and I serve as co chair many Special 11 00:00:43,430 --> 00:00:45,470 Emphasis Committee Black Employment 12 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:48,750 program under the leadership of Miss 13 00:00:48,750 --> 00:00:50,840 Angela Morton . She is the chief of 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,990 Center Huntsville Centers . Equal 15 00:00:52,990 --> 00:00:56,010 Opportunity Office Black History . 16 00:00:56,010 --> 00:00:59,840 Observance began in 1915 . It was half 17 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:01,800 a century after 13th Amendment 18 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,560 abolished slavery , United States three 19 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,690 Historian Carter G . Woodson and the 20 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:08,760 prominent minister Jesse Moreland 21 00:01:08,770 --> 00:01:11,530 founded an organization dedicated to 22 00:01:11,540 --> 00:01:13,770 researching and promoting achievements 23 00:01:13,770 --> 00:01:15,937 of black Americans and other people of 24 00:01:15,937 --> 00:01:18,470 African descent . By the late 19 25 00:01:18,470 --> 00:01:20,980 sixties , thanks in part to the store 26 00:01:20,980 --> 00:01:23,660 rights movement and a growing awareness 27 00:01:23,670 --> 00:01:26,200 of black identity , the week long black 28 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,960 history event and locked into evolved 29 00:01:28,970 --> 00:01:32,580 into Black History Month . President 30 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:34,802 Gerald Ford officially recognized Black 31 00:01:34,802 --> 00:01:38,010 History Month in 1976 calling the 32 00:01:38,020 --> 00:01:40,760 public to seize the opportunity to 33 00:01:40,770 --> 00:01:43,760 honor the too often neglected a Polish 34 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,470 mints off black Americans in every area 35 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,313 of endeavor . What our history ? 36 00:01:49,300 --> 00:01:52,700 1976 Every American president has 37 00:01:52,710 --> 00:01:55,460 designated February is black history 38 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,860 and endorse specific thing . The 2021 39 00:01:59,860 --> 00:02:02,430 Black History Thing . Black Family 40 00:02:02,700 --> 00:02:06,110 Representation , Identity and Diversity 41 00:02:06,460 --> 00:02:09,210 explores the African Diocese and the 42 00:02:09,210 --> 00:02:11,680 spread of black families across the 43 00:02:11,910 --> 00:02:14,680 United States . We will not have a 44 00:02:14,690 --> 00:02:17,370 prerecorded presentation to highlight 45 00:02:17,370 --> 00:02:19,500 some of the accomplishments of black 46 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:21,880 Americans and other people of African 47 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,110 descent that have paved the way through 48 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:26,320 the years . I will be followed by this 49 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,080 constant . Tell her my co chair on the 50 00:02:29,090 --> 00:02:30,360 black employment and 51 00:02:33,940 --> 00:02:36,550 who was a place were almost find child . 52 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,440 It's not just a place where you eat 53 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,950 asleep Home is knowing , 54 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,850 knowing your knowing , your heart , 55 00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:51,600 knowing your courage . If we know 56 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,450 ourselves , we're always home 57 00:02:55,050 --> 00:02:55,860 anyway . 58 00:03:00,950 --> 00:03:02,660 If you be 59 00:03:02,670 --> 00:03:06,410 lieve within 60 00:03:06,410 --> 00:03:08,650 your heart , you 61 00:03:08,660 --> 00:03:12,380 know that 62 00:03:12,390 --> 00:03:13,940 no one can 63 00:03:13,950 --> 00:03:17,470 change a 64 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,860 path that you must go 65 00:03:21,340 --> 00:03:24,920 way 66 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:28,720 feel . I 67 00:03:28,730 --> 00:03:30,430 know you're right , 68 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,330 because a 69 00:03:34,340 --> 00:03:36,200 time will come 70 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,130 around 71 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,650 when you'll say it's 72 00:03:42,650 --> 00:03:45,920 your 73 00:03:46,740 --> 00:03:49,200 Believe me 74 00:03:49,200 --> 00:04:17,850 Oh , 75 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,670 wait e 76 00:04:21,670 --> 00:04:25,530 o magic . Like there in your 77 00:04:25,540 --> 00:04:26,280 heart . E 78 00:04:26,280 --> 00:04:42,450 o 79 00:04:42,940 --> 00:04:56,560 E . 80 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:57,640 Do 81 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:03,040 you 82 00:05:03,050 --> 00:05:08,160 think 83 00:05:11,540 --> 00:05:13,960 today as we celebrate African American 84 00:05:13,970 --> 00:05:16,590 history , we would be remiss if we did 85 00:05:16,590 --> 00:05:18,990 not recognize the significance off 86 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,540 gospel music and the contribution it 87 00:05:21,540 --> 00:05:24,860 has made to our ancestors our fortitude 88 00:05:24,870 --> 00:05:27,950 and our sheer determination to survive . 89 00:05:28,740 --> 00:05:30,720 For gospel singers , the biblical 90 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:34,210 suggestion make a joyful noise is less 91 00:05:34,220 --> 00:05:37,070 of ammunition than an invitation to 92 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,170 renew through song . The Faith of Our 93 00:05:40,170 --> 00:05:43,120 Forebearers , rooted deep in African 94 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,400 American culture . Blessed with talent 95 00:05:45,410 --> 00:05:48,410 honed in belief , they and their music 96 00:05:48,420 --> 00:05:50,910 comforted the afflicted console . The 97 00:05:50,910 --> 00:05:53,100 bereaved strengthened the week , 98 00:05:53,110 --> 00:05:55,770 reassured the discourage and brought to 99 00:05:55,780 --> 00:05:58,610 all within the sound of their voices 100 00:05:58,620 --> 00:06:02,600 soulful joy . The slave singers , 101 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,430 by interweaving melody and lyrics in 102 00:06:05,430 --> 00:06:07,910 songs of faith defined as the 103 00:06:07,910 --> 00:06:11,410 spiritually , were able to transcend 104 00:06:11,420 --> 00:06:14,080 the awful oppression that defined their 105 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,710 lives . Embracing religion that was 106 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,020 undergirded by this music helped the 107 00:06:20,020 --> 00:06:23,060 slaves to be free in their own minds . 108 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:25,990 The music , encompassing all of this 109 00:06:25,990 --> 00:06:28,660 despair , empowered the singers with 110 00:06:28,660 --> 00:06:31,330 the faith and determination that 111 00:06:31,340 --> 00:06:34,760 thrills the heart and nurtures the soul . 112 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,460 As time moved forward , and especially 113 00:06:38,470 --> 00:06:40,414 after black people began the great 114 00:06:40,414 --> 00:06:43,320 black migration to the north , those we 115 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,260 now call gospel singers updated the 116 00:06:46,260 --> 00:06:49,260 music of black religion . Church 117 00:06:49,260 --> 00:06:52,170 connected composers revised the slave 118 00:06:52,170 --> 00:06:54,620 singers messages to embrace an 119 00:06:54,630 --> 00:06:57,360 optimistic outlook about the president 120 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,690 lifting their voices and complex 121 00:07:00,690 --> 00:07:03,960 harmonies . Marvelous cadences and with 122 00:07:03,970 --> 00:07:06,940 rhythms beyond anything , despair could 123 00:07:06,940 --> 00:07:09,920 silence the imbued meaning beyond the 124 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,130 words to the pledge . I'm going to live 125 00:07:13,140 --> 00:07:17,060 the life I sing about in my soul 126 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,950 today . It is no accident that African 127 00:07:20,950 --> 00:07:23,550 American students , including those 128 00:07:23,550 --> 00:07:25,760 enrolled in the nation's most 129 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,360 prestigious colleges and universities , 130 00:07:28,370 --> 00:07:32,370 form gospel choirs . Even 131 00:07:32,370 --> 00:07:34,720 these most fortunate descendents of the 132 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,780 enslaved recognize and reach out for 133 00:07:37,780 --> 00:07:40,080 the spiritual nourishment that is the 134 00:07:40,090 --> 00:07:43,590 essence of this music's appeal . The 135 00:07:43,590 --> 00:07:46,100 next presentation offering will be the 136 00:07:46,110 --> 00:07:49,260 Gospel Choir from the renowned Oakwood 137 00:07:49,270 --> 00:07:52,150 University , located here in Huntsville , 138 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,660 Alabama . The choir will highlight and 139 00:07:54,660 --> 00:07:57,530 display the extraordinary talents and 140 00:07:57,530 --> 00:08:01,030 their rich heritage . Please enjoy the 141 00:08:01,030 --> 00:08:01,960 gospel choir . 142 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:32,030 E 143 00:08:32,030 --> 00:08:37,000 o 144 00:08:37,010 --> 00:08:39,950 E 145 00:08:39,950 --> 00:09:06,060 o 146 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:14,190 Oh , 147 00:09:20,270 --> 00:09:24,210 for here it's 148 00:09:24,210 --> 00:09:25,710 Harding 149 00:09:25,710 --> 00:09:28,760 Thio . 150 00:09:34,150 --> 00:09:35,340 Okay , 151 00:09:38,340 --> 00:09:38,810 E 152 00:09:38,810 --> 00:10:35,660 o 153 00:10:35,740 --> 00:10:37,120 e 154 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:58,060 o 155 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:01,520 me 156 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:13,530 e 157 00:11:13,530 --> 00:11:38,650 o 158 00:11:38,740 --> 00:11:41,670 mhm . I 159 00:11:45,990 --> 00:11:47,910 just can't be , 160 00:11:47,910 --> 00:11:57,450 oh , 161 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:58,370 to be 162 00:11:58,370 --> 00:12:17,350 oh 163 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:20,900 to 164 00:12:21,410 --> 00:12:26,030 to 165 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:39,807 Good Morning and welcome to our team . 166 00:12:39,807 --> 00:12:42,029 Redstone in 2021 virtual celebration of 167 00:12:42,029 --> 00:12:44,100 Black History Month each year is we 168 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:46,044 explore the history and culture of 169 00:12:46,044 --> 00:12:48,490 African Americans . We discover a new a 170 00:12:48,490 --> 00:12:50,601 treasure of stories about the triumph 171 00:12:50,601 --> 00:12:52,379 of the human spirit , inspiring 172 00:12:52,379 --> 00:12:54,400 accounts of everyday people rising 173 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,233 above the indignities imposed by 174 00:12:56,233 --> 00:12:58,560 prejudice , thes stories air not only 175 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:00,671 an important part of African American 176 00:13:00,671 --> 00:13:02,720 history , but an essential part of 177 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,300 American history . The 2021 theme for 178 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:08,310 this year is the black family 179 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,350 Representation , Identity and Diversity . 180 00:13:11,740 --> 00:13:13,573 For centuries , African American 181 00:13:13,573 --> 00:13:15,740 families have been a topic of study in 182 00:13:15,740 --> 00:13:18,120 many disciplines . History , literature , 183 00:13:18,130 --> 00:13:20,074 the visual arts and film studies , 184 00:13:20,340 --> 00:13:22,900 sociology , anthropology and social 185 00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:25,580 policy . In 1915 , few could have 186 00:13:25,580 --> 00:13:27,580 imagined that African Americans and 187 00:13:27,580 --> 00:13:29,802 music , art and literature would become 188 00:13:29,802 --> 00:13:31,913 appreciated by the global community . 189 00:13:32,340 --> 00:13:34,420 Fewer still could have predicted the 190 00:13:34,430 --> 00:13:36,540 prominence achieved by African 191 00:13:36,540 --> 00:13:39,630 Americans as well as other people of 192 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,584 African descent , in shaping world 193 00:13:41,584 --> 00:13:44,680 politics or in diplomacy during the 194 00:13:44,680 --> 00:13:46,791 dawning decades of the 20th century . 195 00:13:46,791 --> 00:13:48,820 It was commonly presumed that black 196 00:13:48,820 --> 00:13:50,931 people had little history besides the 197 00:13:50,931 --> 00:13:53,620 subject . Gatien of slavery . A century 198 00:13:53,620 --> 00:13:55,842 later , if you can deny it the integral 199 00:13:55,842 --> 00:13:57,953 part African Americans have played in 200 00:13:57,953 --> 00:14:00,200 the making of American history Today , 201 00:14:00,210 --> 00:14:02,432 it is clear that African Americans have 202 00:14:02,432 --> 00:14:04,670 significantly impacted the development 203 00:14:04,670 --> 00:14:06,837 of the social , political and economic 204 00:14:06,837 --> 00:14:09,059 structures of the United States and the 205 00:14:09,059 --> 00:14:11,210 world . Credit for the evolving 206 00:14:11,210 --> 00:14:13,377 awareness of the true place of African 207 00:14:13,377 --> 00:14:15,980 Americans in history can in large part 208 00:14:15,990 --> 00:14:18,750 be bestowed on one man . Dr Carter G . 209 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,100 Woodson , His brainchild , the 210 00:14:21,100 --> 00:14:23,211 Association for the Study of American 211 00:14:23,211 --> 00:14:25,620 Life and History , is continuing Doctor 212 00:14:25,620 --> 00:14:27,676 Woodson's tradition of disseminating 213 00:14:27,676 --> 00:14:30,910 information about African American life , 214 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,500 history and culture to the global 215 00:14:33,510 --> 00:14:36,090 community . Black history will continue 216 00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:38,322 to be an important part of American and 217 00:14:38,322 --> 00:14:40,270 world history . However , we must 218 00:14:40,270 --> 00:14:42,530 continue to tell the stories . Thank 219 00:14:42,530 --> 00:14:44,752 you for joining us today . To celebrate 220 00:14:44,752 --> 00:14:46,641 this rich and diverse culture . I 221 00:14:46,641 --> 00:14:48,808 encourage you to take this opportunity 222 00:14:48,808 --> 00:14:50,641 to recognize the role of African 223 00:14:50,641 --> 00:14:52,697 Americans in building and sustaining 224 00:14:52,697 --> 00:14:55,770 this great nation . It is a great honor 225 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,151 for me to introduce our distinguished 226 00:14:58,151 --> 00:15:00,760 guest speaker , Dr Carlton P . Bird , 227 00:15:01,140 --> 00:15:03,450 senior pastor of the Oakwood University 228 00:15:03,450 --> 00:15:05,690 Church on the campus of Oakwood 229 00:15:05,690 --> 00:15:08,280 University in Huntsville , Alabama . He 230 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,280 is a graduate of Oakland University 231 00:15:10,830 --> 00:15:12,719 with a bachelor of arts degree in 232 00:15:12,719 --> 00:15:14,608 theology in a bachelor of science 233 00:15:14,608 --> 00:15:17,530 degree in business management . Dr . 234 00:15:17,530 --> 00:15:19,641 Birds leadership and influence is far 235 00:15:19,641 --> 00:15:22,110 reaching . He has 26 years of pastoral 236 00:15:22,110 --> 00:15:24,550 leadership in five states , and he has 237 00:15:24,550 --> 00:15:26,772 served on numerous church and community 238 00:15:26,772 --> 00:15:28,939 boards , along with serving as a guest 239 00:15:28,939 --> 00:15:30,610 minister on several religious 240 00:15:30,620 --> 00:15:34,270 television networks . Dr Birds impact 241 00:15:34,270 --> 00:15:36,214 on communities can also be seen in 242 00:15:36,214 --> 00:15:38,381 Atlanta , where he founded an outreach 243 00:15:38,381 --> 00:15:40,437 ministry center and where his church 244 00:15:40,437 --> 00:15:42,600 constructed a 50 apartment senior 245 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,590 citizens housing facility . Dr . Bird 246 00:15:46,590 --> 00:15:48,757 is recipient of numerous distinguished 247 00:15:48,757 --> 00:15:51,140 honors and achievements . He was the 248 00:15:51,140 --> 00:15:53,307 Oakwood University alumnus of the year 249 00:15:53,307 --> 00:15:55,307 for 2000 and eight and in that same 250 00:15:55,307 --> 00:15:57,473 year , inducted into the Martin Luther 251 00:15:57,473 --> 00:15:59,529 King Board of Preachers at Morehouse 252 00:15:59,529 --> 00:16:01,751 College in Atlanta . He was selected as 253 00:16:01,751 --> 00:16:03,807 a 2016 passenger of the year for the 254 00:16:03,807 --> 00:16:06,029 local chapter of the Alabama and Double 255 00:16:06,029 --> 00:16:08,029 ACP . And he's received the coveted 256 00:16:08,029 --> 00:16:09,751 Lifetime Achievement Award for 257 00:16:09,751 --> 00:16:11,973 evangelism in North America in 2000 and 258 00:16:11,973 --> 00:16:14,810 19 . And finally he was named one of 259 00:16:14,810 --> 00:16:17,360 the Marquis who's Who in America for 260 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,870 2020 and many , many other 261 00:16:19,870 --> 00:16:22,037 accomplishments . Dr . Bird is happily 262 00:16:22,037 --> 00:16:24,340 married to his wife of 22 years , the 263 00:16:24,340 --> 00:16:26,507 former Danielle Mountain , and they're 264 00:16:26,507 --> 00:16:29,090 the proud parents of $3 Kristen Caylee 265 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:30,100 and Karissa . 266 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:36,984 There's a joy for me to be able to 267 00:16:36,984 --> 00:16:39,910 share this black history Month . 14 268 00:16:39,910 --> 00:16:42,690 Redstone , the Army Corps of Engineers 269 00:16:42,690 --> 00:16:45,930 who serves our hosts and hostesses . I 270 00:16:45,930 --> 00:16:48,097 want to take this opportunity to thank 271 00:16:48,097 --> 00:16:50,930 our general General , Ed Daley and our 272 00:16:50,940 --> 00:16:54,650 Colonel Marvin Griffin , and the entire 273 00:16:54,660 --> 00:16:56,438 team here in Red Stone for this 274 00:16:56,438 --> 00:16:58,620 privilege for me to share . Especially 275 00:16:58,620 --> 00:17:01,060 when a fake Miss Angela Morton and her 276 00:17:01,060 --> 00:17:03,320 team have been great in their 277 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,860 hospitality . And I thank God for them . 278 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,351 We're gonna begin our address today , 279 00:17:09,351 --> 00:17:11,407 But before I begin , I would like to 280 00:17:11,407 --> 00:17:13,740 talk to our God before I speak with you . 281 00:17:13,940 --> 00:17:17,040 God , thank you for this day . We thank 282 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,880 you for this privilege . Bless all who 283 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:21,960 hear . Hey , man , 284 00:17:23,740 --> 00:17:26,460 the story is told of Ah , little girl , 285 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,220 a little girl white girl who was going 286 00:17:30,220 --> 00:17:32,760 to first grade on her first day of 287 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,040 school . She was going to her school in 288 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,440 the newly integrated school at the 289 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,280 height of the segregation era , anxious 290 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,180 and nervous all day long over how her 291 00:17:45,180 --> 00:17:47,970 daughter would be the little girl's 292 00:17:47,980 --> 00:17:50,091 daughter , the little girl's mother . 293 00:17:50,091 --> 00:17:52,640 Rather read her daughter at the front 294 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,150 door and she met her at the front door 295 00:17:55,150 --> 00:17:57,460 and little girl came home from school . 296 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:00,350 The little girl's mother asked her 297 00:18:00,350 --> 00:18:03,510 daughter , Honey , how did everything 298 00:18:03,510 --> 00:18:06,050 go today ? How did school go today ? 299 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:08,696 Little girl responded . Old mother , 300 00:18:08,696 --> 00:18:10,696 you know what her mother looked and 301 00:18:10,696 --> 00:18:13,100 said Yes , she said , a little black 302 00:18:13,110 --> 00:18:16,940 girl sat next to me today expecting the 303 00:18:16,940 --> 00:18:19,810 worst . The mother then asked and what 304 00:18:19,810 --> 00:18:22,280 happened ? The little white girl then 305 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,490 said , We were both so scared that we 306 00:18:25,490 --> 00:18:29,130 held hands all day long when I share 307 00:18:29,130 --> 00:18:32,120 this story acknowledged that we come a 308 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:35,440 mighty long way , while we might not be 309 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,990 where we should be in terms of race 310 00:18:37,990 --> 00:18:40,640 relations . I'm grateful today that 311 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,490 we're not where we used to be . But 312 00:18:43,490 --> 00:18:46,490 even as far as we've come , we still 313 00:18:46,490 --> 00:18:50,310 have a long way to go because 314 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,550 we're in 2021 . Many thought that the 315 00:18:53,550 --> 00:18:56,480 racial tensions of the 19 sixties were 316 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,990 behind us , and then we have entered a 317 00:18:58,990 --> 00:19:02,550 post racial age . With the election of 318 00:19:02,550 --> 00:19:04,730 President Barack Obama as the first 319 00:19:04,730 --> 00:19:06,786 black president of the United States 320 00:19:06,786 --> 00:19:09,590 over 12 years ago , we thought that Jim 321 00:19:09,590 --> 00:19:12,320 Grow was over , that the segregated 322 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,860 South was done . But 323 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:18,329 if you thought that way , I would 324 00:19:18,329 --> 00:19:20,384 encourage you today to think again . 325 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,373 Racism , unfortunately , is still alive . 326 00:19:23,373 --> 00:19:26,160 Well still runs rapid in many of 327 00:19:26,170 --> 00:19:28,960 America's schools , communities in 328 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:31,600 society at large . Segregation 329 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,230 continues In many of our schools , 330 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,340 urban schools are still under funded 331 00:19:37,350 --> 00:19:39,840 and understand blacks are often 332 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:41,840 underemployed and underpaid and the 333 00:19:41,850 --> 00:19:43,960 penal system , judicial system , 334 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:47,360 educational system , economic system , 335 00:19:47,740 --> 00:19:50,840 police system at all other types of 336 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:54,310 systems are overtly and covertly still , 337 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:56,550 unfortunately contributing to the 338 00:19:56,550 --> 00:19:59,090 racial injustices in our society . 339 00:19:59,090 --> 00:20:02,870 Today , just this past year in 2020 we 340 00:20:02,870 --> 00:20:04,870 witnessed examples of this with the 341 00:20:04,870 --> 00:20:07,020 unmerited are unwarranted and 342 00:20:07,020 --> 00:20:09,840 unjustified . Deaths of Ahmad are very 343 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,000 while jogging Briana Taylor while 344 00:20:13,010 --> 00:20:16,880 sleeping and George Floyd had a need 345 00:20:16,890 --> 00:20:19,480 to his neck . And as a result of these 346 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:23,450 deaths , demonstrations , marches and 347 00:20:23,450 --> 00:20:26,770 protests extended all across the United 348 00:20:26,770 --> 00:20:30,150 States this summer . Chance off . No 349 00:20:30,150 --> 00:20:33,350 justice , no peace . Hands up , 350 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:37,380 don't shoot and I can't breathe . 351 00:20:37,390 --> 00:20:40,970 These chants were heard . Babe , for 352 00:20:40,970 --> 00:20:43,790 the good book says that there's nothing 353 00:20:43,790 --> 00:20:47,490 new under the sun . It appears 354 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:51,090 that the 20 twenties are just a replay 355 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:53,460 of the 19 sixties . In many regards , 356 00:20:53,940 --> 00:20:56,162 it was Dr Martin Luther King , who said 357 00:20:56,540 --> 00:20:59,960 a riot is the language of the unheard , 358 00:21:00,340 --> 00:21:03,090 he said , And what has America failed ? 359 00:21:03,090 --> 00:21:05,360 Thio here has failed to hear that the 360 00:21:05,370 --> 00:21:07,740 promises of freedom and justice not 361 00:21:07,740 --> 00:21:09,796 been met , and it has failed to hear 362 00:21:09,796 --> 00:21:12,280 that large segments of society arm or 363 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,360 concerned about tranquility and the 364 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:17,250 status quo than about justice and 365 00:21:17,250 --> 00:21:20,740 humanity . You see prayers . We still 366 00:21:20,740 --> 00:21:23,080 unfortunately live in a society where 367 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:26,110 racial , social and economic 368 00:21:26,120 --> 00:21:29,430 injustice are still commonplace . And 369 00:21:29,430 --> 00:21:32,000 as long as the chief concern of some is 370 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,060 for the rich to get Richard and the 371 00:21:34,070 --> 00:21:36,220 poor to get poorer , Um , and for the 372 00:21:36,220 --> 00:21:38,442 rich not to share their bounty with the 373 00:21:38,442 --> 00:21:40,609 least of these , our country will stay 374 00:21:40,609 --> 00:21:43,120 divided with turmoil and strength as 375 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:45,231 long as those with power are obsessed 376 00:21:45,231 --> 00:21:47,380 with staying in power rather than 377 00:21:47,380 --> 00:21:50,020 sharing their power and influence with 378 00:21:50,030 --> 00:21:52,280 and for the good of other people , our 379 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,120 country , his head toward a time of 380 00:21:55,120 --> 00:21:58,300 disaster as long as the informed are 381 00:21:58,310 --> 00:22:00,330 purposeful in keeping many of the 382 00:22:00,330 --> 00:22:02,800 marginalized , uninformed and this 383 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,340 informed , this country is headed for 384 00:22:05,340 --> 00:22:08,330 implosion . To me , social ills of our 385 00:22:08,330 --> 00:22:10,910 society have gone unattended for too 386 00:22:10,910 --> 00:22:14,270 long . France is only a matter of time 387 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:16,860 between that before the have nots 388 00:22:16,870 --> 00:22:20,240 confront the haves in a manner that 389 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,320 will produce casualties of a serious 390 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,810 kind . For over 400 years , black 391 00:22:25,810 --> 00:22:28,170 people have been denigrated , degraded , 392 00:22:28,540 --> 00:22:31,050 demoralize simply because of the color 393 00:22:31,050 --> 00:22:33,990 of their skin . For over 400 years , 394 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,889 black people had to listen to the 395 00:22:35,889 --> 00:22:37,944 erroneous notion that the black race 396 00:22:37,944 --> 00:22:40,420 was cursed through the lineage of 397 00:22:40,430 --> 00:22:42,920 Noah's son , Ham , and as a result for 398 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:44,642 something , they believe white 399 00:22:44,642 --> 00:22:46,780 supremacy is justified . But that's a 400 00:22:46,780 --> 00:22:49,320 lot . I wanna be very clear that I have 401 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,810 not been cursed and neither have you 402 00:22:51,820 --> 00:22:55,490 been cursed . Yes , I'm a black man and 403 00:22:55,490 --> 00:22:58,790 I'm proud of . I'm proud of my heritage . 404 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,100 I'm proud of who God made me to be . 405 00:23:02,110 --> 00:23:04,350 I'm not the same friends of my brown 406 00:23:04,350 --> 00:23:06,517 skin . I don't have to go to a tanning 407 00:23:06,517 --> 00:23:08,794 salon to get brown . I'm already brown . 408 00:23:08,794 --> 00:23:10,850 I'm not the same time my what I call 409 00:23:10,850 --> 00:23:13,060 motionless , obedient hair . When I 410 00:23:13,070 --> 00:23:15,237 rest my hair in the morning , it stays 411 00:23:15,237 --> 00:23:17,850 in place all day long and rather stay 412 00:23:17,850 --> 00:23:20,130 in place and not flying . My , I'm not 413 00:23:20,130 --> 00:23:22,850 ashamed of my big nose . It enables me 414 00:23:22,850 --> 00:23:25,072 to read all of God's good air , and I'm 415 00:23:25,072 --> 00:23:27,300 not ashamed of my big , thick lips , 416 00:23:27,300 --> 00:23:29,522 because when I kiss my wife , she likes 417 00:23:29,522 --> 00:23:31,689 it because , she says , I can feel the 418 00:23:31,689 --> 00:23:34,220 fullness of your lips . I'm not ashamed 419 00:23:34,220 --> 00:23:36,290 of the way God made me , and neither 420 00:23:36,290 --> 00:23:38,920 should you , because we're all God's 421 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:41,200 Children . Red and yellow , black and 422 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,960 white all the pressures in his sight . 423 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,760 So with that in mind , I'm somebody 424 00:23:48,340 --> 00:23:51,640 God made me in God's image after God's 425 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,350 likeness and to combat the societal 426 00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:56,940 ills facing the black community , I 427 00:23:56,940 --> 00:23:59,430 think that it is important today to 428 00:23:59,430 --> 00:24:02,560 affirm and build the black family 429 00:24:03,340 --> 00:24:05,850 are the the black family . 430 00:24:06,540 --> 00:24:10,000 Representation , identity and 431 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:13,160 diversity is so very , very important . 432 00:24:13,170 --> 00:24:15,003 And I believe this is especially 433 00:24:15,003 --> 00:24:17,226 important when it comes to our Children 434 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,807 the success and stability of the black 435 00:24:19,807 --> 00:24:22,080 family . It's important for our 436 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,510 Children to know our black history . 437 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,520 It's important for them to know the 438 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,742 accomplishments and successes that have 439 00:24:28,742 --> 00:24:31,530 been made by black people . Science 440 00:24:31,530 --> 00:24:34,140 just wants to rattle all the statistics 441 00:24:34,150 --> 00:24:36,610 that are destroying our families that 442 00:24:36,610 --> 00:24:39,910 27% of all African Americans live below 443 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,890 the poverty line . The 72% of all 444 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:45,110 African American babies are born to 445 00:24:45,120 --> 00:24:48,310 unwed mothers that nearly 50% of first 446 00:24:48,310 --> 00:24:51,690 time black marriages end in divorce . 447 00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:53,867 That one in every three black males is 448 00:24:53,867 --> 00:24:56,089 in jail under some other form of police 449 00:24:56,089 --> 00:24:59,610 schooling . The blast comprise 13% of 450 00:24:59,610 --> 00:25:01,832 the United States population , but they 451 00:25:01,832 --> 00:25:05,580 make up 35% of drug arrests for 55% of 452 00:25:05,580 --> 00:25:08,680 drug convictions , 74% of drug 453 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,800 prisoners , and commit 55% of all 454 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,890 robberies . Police don't be the scene 455 00:25:14,890 --> 00:25:17,850 today . It's not just black people . 456 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,573 White people are also facing challenges , 457 00:25:20,573 --> 00:25:23,160 too . So it's not either or in 458 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,710 reference to blacks and whites . But 459 00:25:25,710 --> 00:25:28,970 today it's both . And what am I talking 460 00:25:28,970 --> 00:25:31,850 about ? There are fewer white men in 461 00:25:31,850 --> 00:25:33,739 college and graduate programs per 462 00:25:33,739 --> 00:25:35,850 capital than there were in the United 463 00:25:35,850 --> 00:25:38,072 States 10 years ago , especially in the 464 00:25:38,072 --> 00:25:40,460 fields of math , science and technology 465 00:25:40,470 --> 00:25:42,637 and engineering . Which is why we hear 466 00:25:42,637 --> 00:25:44,914 so much talk today about stem programs , 467 00:25:44,914 --> 00:25:47,190 science , technology , engineering and 468 00:25:47,190 --> 00:25:49,510 math . America's unreadiness to deal 469 00:25:49,510 --> 00:25:51,460 with the oil shortage and global 470 00:25:51,460 --> 00:25:54,560 warming . Then the coronavirus pandemic . 471 00:25:54,570 --> 00:25:57,090 The deterioration of the United States 472 00:25:57,100 --> 00:25:59,530 in industrial competence , the loss of 473 00:25:59,530 --> 00:26:01,697 market share in the automobile , steel 474 00:26:01,697 --> 00:26:04,200 and textile industry , the lack of non 475 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:06,450 belligerent imagination when it comes 476 00:26:06,450 --> 00:26:08,680 to solving world crisis , and the 477 00:26:08,690 --> 00:26:11,030 painful lack of initiative in dealing 478 00:26:11,030 --> 00:26:13,390 with the budget crisis , the job crisis 479 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:15,344 and the drug crisis are just a few 480 00:26:15,344 --> 00:26:17,030 indications off the moral and 481 00:26:17,030 --> 00:26:19,560 intellectual decline of white America . 482 00:26:19,940 --> 00:26:23,520 So , as Dr King said , mess , either we 483 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,460 will learn toe love and hang together 484 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:30,120 like brothers and sisters , husbands 485 00:26:30,130 --> 00:26:33,220 and wives , boyfriends and girlfriends . 486 00:26:33,230 --> 00:26:36,630 Or we will surely hang separately and 487 00:26:36,630 --> 00:26:40,060 died tragically as fools . Understand 488 00:26:40,060 --> 00:26:42,220 that there's a conspiracy led by the 489 00:26:42,220 --> 00:26:45,020 devil led by the enemy to destroy the 490 00:26:45,020 --> 00:26:48,760 black man , the white man , the red 491 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,840 man , the yellow man , the black woman , 492 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:53,951 the white woman , the red woman . The 493 00:26:53,951 --> 00:26:55,880 Yellow Woman Society is trying to 494 00:26:55,890 --> 00:26:58,360 eliminate each other , but the devil is 495 00:26:58,360 --> 00:27:00,820 trying to eliminate us all . So , 496 00:27:00,820 --> 00:27:04,340 friends , this is not a revolution of 497 00:27:04,340 --> 00:27:07,770 black versus white . This is a 498 00:27:07,770 --> 00:27:11,360 revolution of rights versus wrong . 499 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,300 And so we must teach our Children what 500 00:27:14,300 --> 00:27:17,420 is right . We must teach them our 501 00:27:17,420 --> 00:27:20,060 history . We need to get back to the 502 00:27:20,060 --> 00:27:22,227 tradition of passing down our family's 503 00:27:22,227 --> 00:27:24,310 history to our Children . We need to 504 00:27:24,310 --> 00:27:26,366 get back to the tradition of passing 505 00:27:26,366 --> 00:27:28,421 down our insight in our faith to our 506 00:27:28,421 --> 00:27:30,460 Children . We need to get back to 507 00:27:30,460 --> 00:27:33,470 passing down the wisdom of our seniors 508 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,730 to our Children . It's not simply 509 00:27:35,730 --> 00:27:37,897 enough for our Children to read a book 510 00:27:37,897 --> 00:27:40,063 or sit down in front of the television 511 00:27:40,063 --> 00:27:41,897 or let them serve the Internet , 512 00:27:41,897 --> 00:27:43,619 Internet or let them stay on a 513 00:27:43,619 --> 00:27:46,460 smartphone all day long . We must get 514 00:27:46,460 --> 00:27:48,770 back sitting down our Children , 515 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,090 talking to them about God , talking to 516 00:27:52,090 --> 00:27:54,460 them , about our values , talking to 517 00:27:54,460 --> 00:27:57,940 them about our history . Were people 518 00:27:57,940 --> 00:28:00,280 naturally oven Orel tradition . And , 519 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:02,860 yes , we need to pass down our history 520 00:28:02,870 --> 00:28:05,092 through the spoken word . But friends , 521 00:28:05,092 --> 00:28:07,170 we also need to pass in our history 522 00:28:07,180 --> 00:28:10,250 through the written word Why and when 523 00:28:10,250 --> 00:28:12,472 you study history . You were discovered 524 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,160 that it was the African culture who 525 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,840 produced the Egyptian hieroglyphics . 526 00:28:17,850 --> 00:28:20,160 The African culture produced the 527 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,110 Mesopotamian uniforms . When you study 528 00:28:23,110 --> 00:28:25,332 the history of the Israel Lights in the 529 00:28:25,332 --> 00:28:27,332 Bible , the good book says that the 530 00:28:27,332 --> 00:28:29,499 commandments that God given Moses were 531 00:28:29,499 --> 00:28:31,499 so important that they had to write 532 00:28:31,499 --> 00:28:33,554 them down and put them on their door 533 00:28:33,554 --> 00:28:35,721 post , put them on their gates . There 534 00:28:35,721 --> 00:28:37,721 should be publicly displayed so all 535 00:28:37,721 --> 00:28:39,888 could see all could read . All could . 536 00:28:39,888 --> 00:28:42,400 No , nothing was to be it . Black 537 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,260 History Month serves to make sure that 538 00:28:45,260 --> 00:28:47,340 the contributions of people of color 539 00:28:47,350 --> 00:28:50,000 are not hit . Thes contributions should 540 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,167 be shared , just like the achievements 541 00:28:52,167 --> 00:28:54,111 from other people of other races . 542 00:28:54,340 --> 00:28:56,229 Don't let people tell you that we 543 00:28:56,229 --> 00:28:58,284 shouldn't have Black History Month . 544 00:28:58,284 --> 00:29:00,284 It's for good reason that we should 545 00:29:00,284 --> 00:29:01,840 reflect upon the historical 546 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:03,951 contributions that blacks have made , 547 00:29:03,951 --> 00:29:07,110 not only in America but around the 548 00:29:07,110 --> 00:29:10,520 world . You see , It was not into the 549 00:29:10,530 --> 00:29:13,010 beginning of Black History Month , but 550 00:29:13,010 --> 00:29:15,232 the only information received about men 551 00:29:15,232 --> 00:29:17,232 and women of color by most Children 552 00:29:17,232 --> 00:29:19,288 living in the Shelter communities of 553 00:29:19,288 --> 00:29:21,343 America were snippets of truth about 554 00:29:21,343 --> 00:29:23,566 slavery and the civil rights movement . 555 00:29:23,566 --> 00:29:27,220 Black history waas and is necessary so 556 00:29:27,220 --> 00:29:30,790 that all Children and all people 557 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:33,200 can know about the contributions of 558 00:29:33,210 --> 00:29:36,560 black people not just limited to Martin , 559 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,810 Malcolm and Mandela . Neither is black 560 00:29:40,810 --> 00:29:43,960 history a time to take potshots at 561 00:29:43,970 --> 00:29:47,370 white people . Black history is a time 562 00:29:47,380 --> 00:29:49,270 to celebrate the achievements , 563 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,300 successes , successes and contributions 564 00:29:52,310 --> 00:29:55,020 of black people in history . It's a 565 00:29:55,020 --> 00:29:58,220 time to educate black people , white 566 00:29:58,230 --> 00:30:02,040 people where people yellow people 567 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:04,950 and old people , or what God has done 568 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:07,040 through his people . Through Martin 569 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:10,700 Luther King through Malcolm X , through 570 00:30:10,700 --> 00:30:14,060 Nelson Mandela through Medgar Evers 571 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,740 through Frederick Douglass through John 572 00:30:17,750 --> 00:30:21,120 Lewis through Mary McLeod Bethune 573 00:30:21,130 --> 00:30:24,600 through Search on Truth through Harriet 574 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:28,050 Tubman through Rosa Parks through 575 00:30:28,050 --> 00:30:30,730 President Barack Obama through vice 576 00:30:30,730 --> 00:30:33,690 president Kamala Harris through Stacey 577 00:30:33,700 --> 00:30:36,590 Abrams through Senator Raphael Warner . 578 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,810 But we don't stop there . People need 579 00:30:39,810 --> 00:30:42,860 to know that Henry Ford bought the 580 00:30:42,860 --> 00:30:45,160 concept plans for the first automobile 581 00:30:45,170 --> 00:30:47,700 from a black man . People need to know 582 00:30:47,710 --> 00:30:49,932 that blacks are credited with inventing 583 00:30:49,932 --> 00:30:52,180 the clock , the traffic signal , the 584 00:30:52,180 --> 00:30:54,880 umbrella , the clothes dryer , the 585 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,160 outdoors sprinkler , the modern 586 00:30:57,170 --> 00:30:59,620 elevator and the ironing board . People 587 00:30:59,620 --> 00:31:01,860 need to know that a black man , Dr 588 00:31:01,860 --> 00:31:04,120 David Hell Wheels , performed the first 589 00:31:04,130 --> 00:31:06,220 open heart surgery . People need to 590 00:31:06,220 --> 00:31:08,120 know that a black man , George 591 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:11,060 Washington gardener , invented over 300 592 00:31:11,060 --> 00:31:13,400 products with the peanut . People need 593 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,090 to know that a black man , Dr Charles 594 00:31:16,100 --> 00:31:18,670 Drew , invented the Black Bank . People 595 00:31:18,670 --> 00:31:20,940 need to know that a black woman , Dr 596 00:31:20,940 --> 00:31:23,410 Shirley Ann Jackson , invented the 597 00:31:23,410 --> 00:31:25,920 touch tone , phone , caller ID and 598 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:28,850 fiber optic cable . People need to know 599 00:31:28,860 --> 00:31:30,749 that a black woman doctor , kissy 600 00:31:30,749 --> 00:31:33,240 Corvette , was the principal researcher 601 00:31:33,250 --> 00:31:35,800 who developed the Corvette 19 vaccine . 602 00:31:35,810 --> 00:31:38,290 People need to know that the Tuskegee 603 00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:40,610 airman who fought in World War Two for 604 00:31:40,610 --> 00:31:42,388 the United States despite being 605 00:31:42,388 --> 00:31:44,443 racially discriminate against within 606 00:31:44,443 --> 00:31:46,554 and outside the army , once shut down 607 00:31:46,554 --> 00:31:49,450 three German jets in one single day . 608 00:31:49,460 --> 00:31:52,180 Let's not stop there . Have you also 609 00:31:52,180 --> 00:31:55,470 heard of William More Bruce 610 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:58,550 Klunder Andrew Goodman , 611 00:31:59,140 --> 00:32:03,060 Michael Sworn Change read 612 00:32:03,540 --> 00:32:06,790 Viola Liuzzo , Jonathan 613 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:10,770 Daniels and Juliet Morgan Each 614 00:32:10,780 --> 00:32:13,130 of these individuals that I just man 615 00:32:13,140 --> 00:32:16,230 participated in and died during the 616 00:32:16,230 --> 00:32:18,570 civil rights movement . But what makes 617 00:32:18,570 --> 00:32:21,310 these individuals stand out is that 618 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,520 each of them they were each was white 619 00:32:24,530 --> 00:32:27,210 and had given their lives fighting for 620 00:32:27,210 --> 00:32:30,170 racial equality . So when you study our 621 00:32:30,180 --> 00:32:32,770 history , you will discover that there 622 00:32:32,770 --> 00:32:34,720 was some white individuals who 623 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:37,310 supported and believed that all men 624 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,520 were created equal and that they were 625 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:42,050 willing to take a stand for that belief . 626 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:44,910 There were some whites who walked the 627 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:46,910 front lines and died because they 628 00:32:46,910 --> 00:32:49,480 supported equal rights . They did this 629 00:32:49,490 --> 00:32:51,601 in place of some blacks who felt that 630 00:32:51,601 --> 00:32:53,823 fighting for equal rights was not worth 631 00:32:53,823 --> 00:32:55,934 their own lives . There were some who 632 00:32:55,934 --> 00:32:58,190 stood up for us when we didn't stand up 633 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:01,320 for our own Selves . Teach 634 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:05,220 your Children . Remember that . I'll 635 00:33:05,220 --> 00:33:07,387 say that Black History Month is a time 636 00:33:07,387 --> 00:33:09,553 to educate not only non black people , 637 00:33:09,740 --> 00:33:12,160 but it's also time to educate black 638 00:33:12,170 --> 00:33:15,800 people to too many of us are saying are 639 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:18,620 scared of who we are . I was reading a 640 00:33:18,620 --> 00:33:20,620 book , and Caroline and Night , the 641 00:33:20,620 --> 00:33:22,787 author said . Many of us struggle with 642 00:33:22,787 --> 00:33:25,580 so low self esteem because we're more 643 00:33:25,580 --> 00:33:27,747 familiar with the American side of who 644 00:33:27,747 --> 00:33:30,350 we are than the African side . But we 645 00:33:30,350 --> 00:33:32,461 need to get in touch with the African 646 00:33:32,461 --> 00:33:35,630 side of our identity . Then we will 647 00:33:35,630 --> 00:33:38,260 know that we come from a great family 648 00:33:38,260 --> 00:33:41,560 structure where men are kings , 649 00:33:41,570 --> 00:33:45,020 women are queens and Children 650 00:33:45,030 --> 00:33:47,860 affirmed every aspect of their identity . 651 00:33:48,340 --> 00:33:50,570 We need to remember the great ancient 652 00:33:50,570 --> 00:33:53,250 cities that were built for many 653 00:33:53,250 --> 00:33:55,472 contributions that were made to science 654 00:33:55,472 --> 00:33:58,630 and medicine , literature and the arts , 655 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:01,550 religion and business . We need to get 656 00:34:01,550 --> 00:34:04,110 in touch with the African side to know 657 00:34:04,110 --> 00:34:06,390 that we are in great people , a great 658 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:08,740 people with a great history . We must 659 00:34:08,740 --> 00:34:11,030 stop reciting the failure studies that 660 00:34:11,030 --> 00:34:13,800 have been done in our communities . We 661 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:16,470 must never forget that God has always 662 00:34:16,470 --> 00:34:19,260 done great things through Africans . 663 00:34:19,740 --> 00:34:22,110 They gave us strong . We gave them 664 00:34:22,110 --> 00:34:25,800 bricks . They gave us seeds . We gave 665 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:29,030 them cotton . They gave a sorrow . We 666 00:34:29,030 --> 00:34:32,060 gave them songs . They gave us pain . 667 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:35,970 We gave poems , they gave us trouble . 668 00:34:36,340 --> 00:34:38,990 We turned it into testimony . They gave 669 00:34:38,990 --> 00:34:41,750 a segregation . We gave them spell . 670 00:34:42,240 --> 00:34:44,600 They gave us misery . We gave them 671 00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:47,450 Moorhouse . They gave us terror . We 672 00:34:47,450 --> 00:34:49,650 gave them Tuskegee . They gave us 673 00:34:49,650 --> 00:34:52,410 horror . We gave them Howard . They 674 00:34:52,410 --> 00:34:55,350 gave us failure . We gave them Fisk . 675 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:57,830 They gave us animosity . We gave them A 676 00:34:57,830 --> 00:35:00,810 and M . They gave us opposition and we 677 00:35:00,810 --> 00:35:03,960 gave them Oakwood . And when we realize 678 00:35:03,970 --> 00:35:07,600 who we are and we realize whose we are , 679 00:35:07,610 --> 00:35:09,666 we will then seek deliverance from a 680 00:35:09,666 --> 00:35:11,650 mindset that tries to keep us from 681 00:35:11,650 --> 00:35:15,170 experiencing what God has for our lives . 682 00:35:15,540 --> 00:35:18,060 We must sell our Children our history . 683 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:22,020 Tell them our stories . Tell them our 684 00:35:22,020 --> 00:35:25,570 struggles and how we made it through . 685 00:35:25,580 --> 00:35:27,960 We must instill within our Children a 686 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:30,350 sense of self that is not based on how 687 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:32,900 others define them , but on how they 688 00:35:32,900 --> 00:35:35,170 define themselves on what they can do , 689 00:35:35,740 --> 00:35:38,440 that their ice is as cold as anybody's , 690 00:35:38,450 --> 00:35:41,130 that their sugar is as sweet as 691 00:35:41,130 --> 00:35:43,710 anybody's . You show me that George 692 00:35:43,710 --> 00:35:45,877 Washington , I'll show you a Christmas 693 00:35:45,877 --> 00:35:48,720 status . Show me a Benjamin Franklin 694 00:35:48,730 --> 00:35:50,952 and I'll show you a Benjamin Banneker . 695 00:35:50,952 --> 00:35:53,150 Show me the Abraham Lincoln and I'll 696 00:35:53,150 --> 00:35:55,580 show you a Frederick Douglass . Show me 697 00:35:55,580 --> 00:35:58,050 a Teddy Roosevelt and I'll show you a 698 00:35:58,050 --> 00:35:59,970 Booker T . Washington Show me an 699 00:35:59,980 --> 00:36:02,370 Eleanor Roosevelt and I'll show you a 700 00:36:02,370 --> 00:36:04,930 Mary McLeod Bethune . Show me a Dwight 701 00:36:04,940 --> 00:36:07,290 David Eisenhower and I'll show you on 702 00:36:07,300 --> 00:36:10,520 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Show Me a John F . 703 00:36:10,530 --> 00:36:12,590 Kennedy and I'll show you a Martin 704 00:36:12,590 --> 00:36:15,080 Luther King . Show me a Lyndon Baines 705 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:17,530 Johnson and I'll show you a Thurgood 706 00:36:17,530 --> 00:36:20,770 Marshall Show me a Ronald Reagan and 707 00:36:20,770 --> 00:36:23,370 I'll show you a Colin Powell Show me a 708 00:36:23,370 --> 00:36:26,380 George W . Bush and I'll show you a 709 00:36:26,380 --> 00:36:29,860 Barack Obama Show me a Hillary Clinton 710 00:36:29,870 --> 00:36:32,650 and I'll show you a Kamala Harris Show 711 00:36:32,650 --> 00:36:35,800 me a Steven Spielberg and I'll show you 712 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:39,230 a Tyler Perry . Show me a Meryl Street 713 00:36:39,240 --> 00:36:41,520 and I'll show you and Angela Bassett 714 00:36:41,530 --> 00:36:44,660 Show me a Bill Gates and I'll show you 715 00:36:44,660 --> 00:36:47,340 a Robert Smith . Show me a Jack 716 00:36:47,340 --> 00:36:49,680 Nicholas and I'll show you a Tiger 717 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:52,890 Woods . Show me a Larry Bird and I'll 718 00:36:52,890 --> 00:36:55,810 show you Imagine Johnson , We must 719 00:36:55,820 --> 00:36:58,900 teach our Children . We must speak it . 720 00:36:58,910 --> 00:37:01,600 We must write it down . You see , 721 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:04,750 friends . Something went very wrong for 722 00:37:04,750 --> 00:37:06,980 us . After the civil rights struggle of 723 00:37:06,980 --> 00:37:10,380 the 19 fifties and sixties , many of us 724 00:37:10,390 --> 00:37:12,830 believed that we were fighting for 725 00:37:12,830 --> 00:37:15,760 integration . Yes , after we achieve 726 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:18,290 the passing of the voting Rights Act . 727 00:37:18,300 --> 00:37:20,580 And after we achieve insurance and 728 00:37:20,590 --> 00:37:23,210 access to public facilities and public 729 00:37:23,210 --> 00:37:25,360 schools , and after we won the use of 730 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:27,730 public transportation , we thought that 731 00:37:27,740 --> 00:37:30,310 we have achieved the lofty goal of 732 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:33,450 integration . But we were tricked 733 00:37:34,330 --> 00:37:38,100 powers that were and still are told us 734 00:37:38,160 --> 00:37:40,890 that we have achieved integration . But 735 00:37:40,890 --> 00:37:43,230 what we actually received was 736 00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:45,820 assimilation , and there's a difference 737 00:37:45,820 --> 00:37:48,540 between integration and assimilation . 738 00:37:49,030 --> 00:37:51,010 In true integration , we gained 739 00:37:51,010 --> 00:37:53,177 something when we become a part of the 740 00:37:53,177 --> 00:37:55,390 whole . But in assimilation , we lose 741 00:37:55,390 --> 00:37:58,040 something when we become a part of the 742 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:01,060 whole and we've lost so much . We've 743 00:38:01,060 --> 00:38:03,150 lost our culture . We've lost our 744 00:38:03,150 --> 00:38:06,180 identity . We've lost our history . Our 745 00:38:06,180 --> 00:38:08,180 Children sit beside Children , some 746 00:38:08,180 --> 00:38:10,180 public schools , and all they learn 747 00:38:10,180 --> 00:38:12,236 about are the great people of Europe 748 00:38:12,236 --> 00:38:14,458 and Africa . But they are taught little 749 00:38:14,458 --> 00:38:16,736 about the people of Africa and America . 750 00:38:16,736 --> 00:38:18,791 This is assimilation in school or in 751 00:38:18,791 --> 00:38:20,680 classroom settings . Teacher made 752 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:22,847 mention from your brother's Booker T . 753 00:38:22,847 --> 00:38:24,958 Washington , the Martin Luther King . 754 00:38:24,958 --> 00:38:27,124 But there's often no in depth study of 755 00:38:27,124 --> 00:38:29,291 these persons in their backgrounds and 756 00:38:29,291 --> 00:38:31,458 usually no mention of them until Black 757 00:38:31,458 --> 00:38:33,740 History Month in February . This is 758 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:36,730 assimilation , and too many people are 759 00:38:36,730 --> 00:38:39,130 fooled by this , which is why many 760 00:38:39,130 --> 00:38:41,590 people have for gotten who we are for 761 00:38:41,590 --> 00:38:43,690 gotten our heritage , forgot our 762 00:38:43,700 --> 00:38:46,930 identity for gotten our history , and 763 00:38:46,930 --> 00:38:49,310 because we have for gotten , we 764 00:38:49,310 --> 00:38:51,366 remember very little and we have not 765 00:38:51,366 --> 00:38:54,580 shared with our Children , said many of 766 00:38:54,580 --> 00:38:56,413 us in the midst of our so called 767 00:38:56,413 --> 00:38:58,636 success , now that we have a good job , 768 00:38:58,636 --> 00:39:00,636 big office , big house with four or 769 00:39:00,636 --> 00:39:02,636 five bedrooms or three or four cars 770 00:39:02,636 --> 00:39:04,747 drive where four and five bathrooms , 771 00:39:04,747 --> 00:39:06,969 we believe that we arrived have arrived 772 00:39:06,969 --> 00:39:09,247 and we no longer need God in our lives . 773 00:39:09,420 --> 00:39:11,642 But there's only one way we're going to 774 00:39:11,642 --> 00:39:13,770 survive as a people . That's black 775 00:39:13,780 --> 00:39:15,891 people . That's white people . That's 776 00:39:15,891 --> 00:39:15,800 where people , that's young people . 777 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:17,967 That's all people . Only one way we're 778 00:39:17,967 --> 00:39:20,022 going to survive , and that's to let 779 00:39:20,022 --> 00:39:23,210 God back in our lives . The only way 780 00:39:23,220 --> 00:39:26,240 we're gonna save our families is so 781 00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:29,650 that God back in our lives . So before 782 00:39:29,650 --> 00:39:31,970 I take my seat , I share these final 783 00:39:31,980 --> 00:39:35,760 words with you . Don't forget our 784 00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:39,560 history . Don't forget to share it with 785 00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:43,160 our Children . Don't forget where 786 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:46,040 you've come from , and don't forget 787 00:39:46,620 --> 00:39:49,370 where we need to go either . Too often 788 00:39:49,370 --> 00:39:51,370 we think we've arrived , that we've 789 00:39:51,370 --> 00:39:53,703 made it . We think the struggle is over , 790 00:39:53,820 --> 00:39:55,931 but our average income is still quite 791 00:39:55,931 --> 00:39:57,987 lower as black people that our white 792 00:39:57,987 --> 00:40:00,153 counterparts were still the last to be 793 00:40:00,153 --> 00:40:02,264 hired , the first to be fired in many 794 00:40:02,264 --> 00:40:04,209 cases were still rejected for bank 795 00:40:04,209 --> 00:40:06,320 loans , an alarmingly high rate , our 796 00:40:06,320 --> 00:40:08,264 Children still make up the largest 797 00:40:08,264 --> 00:40:09,820 percentage of those who are 798 00:40:09,820 --> 00:40:11,820 incarcerated . It's great to have a 799 00:40:11,820 --> 00:40:13,820 black man of Supreme Court justices 800 00:40:13,820 --> 00:40:15,764 still in Just when the prisons are 801 00:40:15,764 --> 00:40:17,820 filled with just us . It's great the 802 00:40:17,820 --> 00:40:20,153 Constitution gives us the right to vote . 803 00:40:20,153 --> 00:40:22,264 15th Amendment is worthless if people 804 00:40:22,264 --> 00:40:24,098 are turned away at the polls for 805 00:40:24,098 --> 00:40:25,987 senseless reasons . Or the oldest 806 00:40:25,987 --> 00:40:27,987 voting machines are placed in black 807 00:40:27,987 --> 00:40:29,987 communities , where the chance just 808 00:40:29,987 --> 00:40:32,042 don't fall off the bone in cards and 809 00:40:32,042 --> 00:40:34,098 our votes end up not being counted . 810 00:40:34,098 --> 00:40:36,320 It's great to have an opportunity to go 811 00:40:36,320 --> 00:40:38,431 to college to go to grad school , but 812 00:40:38,431 --> 00:40:40,431 the opportunity is worthless if too 813 00:40:40,431 --> 00:40:42,487 many of our Children end up flunking 814 00:40:42,487 --> 00:40:44,653 out because of the inferior elementary 815 00:40:44,660 --> 00:40:47,620 education . It's wonderful to have 816 00:40:47,620 --> 00:40:49,509 racial tolerance as a part of our 817 00:40:49,509 --> 00:40:51,620 elementary school curriculum , but we 818 00:40:51,620 --> 00:40:53,676 need to teach you to the real estate 819 00:40:53,676 --> 00:40:55,731 broker , the bank loan officer , the 820 00:40:55,731 --> 00:40:57,787 human resources departments of major 821 00:40:57,787 --> 00:40:59,453 corporations , members of law 822 00:40:59,453 --> 00:41:01,620 enforcement and our neighbors who move 823 00:41:01,620 --> 00:41:04,190 out when we move in . History can be 824 00:41:04,190 --> 00:41:06,830 wonderfully satisfying . But beware of 825 00:41:06,830 --> 00:41:09,520 letting history ruin your appetite for 826 00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:12,990 progress . There's still work to be 827 00:41:12,990 --> 00:41:16,640 done , So teach our Children , 828 00:41:17,510 --> 00:41:20,360 say our families 829 00:41:21,010 --> 00:41:24,920 speak it . Write it down because if you 830 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:27,390 don't , our communities will be 831 00:41:27,390 --> 00:41:30,150 debilitated . Our Children will be 832 00:41:30,150 --> 00:41:32,890 devastated , our world will be 833 00:41:32,890 --> 00:41:35,920 disintegrated and our goal over will be 834 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:39,730 annihilated speaking . Write it down . 835 00:41:40,610 --> 00:41:44,530 Teach our Children . Share our history . 836 00:41:45,310 --> 00:41:47,970 Nobody can stop . Nobody can hold you 837 00:41:47,980 --> 00:41:50,258 down when they build a wall around you . 838 00:41:50,258 --> 00:41:52,620 Knock it down . They put a mountain 839 00:41:52,630 --> 00:41:55,210 before you speak it down . When they 840 00:41:55,210 --> 00:41:57,432 lay a problem in front of you , tear it 841 00:41:57,432 --> 00:42:00,190 down where they bring you prejudice . 842 00:42:00,190 --> 00:42:02,680 Turning into praise when they bring the 843 00:42:02,690 --> 00:42:05,170 grief turned it into gratitude when 844 00:42:05,170 --> 00:42:07,730 they bring you hurt , turning its hope 845 00:42:08,100 --> 00:42:10,260 when they bring you trouble . Turning 846 00:42:10,270 --> 00:42:13,580 into banks may bring you a deficit 847 00:42:13,590 --> 00:42:16,970 turning into a surplus when they laugh 848 00:42:16,980 --> 00:42:20,080 at you . Keep on smiling with a slander 849 00:42:20,090 --> 00:42:22,320 your name . Just praise God's name . 850 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:25,320 That's what I purpose to do in my life . 851 00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:28,078 People can talk about me all they want . 852 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:30,440 They could take away my health , but 853 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:32,662 they can't take away my hope . They can 854 00:42:32,662 --> 00:42:34,829 take away my job , but they can't take 855 00:42:34,829 --> 00:42:36,829 away my joy . They can take away my 856 00:42:36,829 --> 00:42:38,884 pulpit , but they can't take away my 857 00:42:38,884 --> 00:42:40,718 praise . They can't take away my 858 00:42:40,718 --> 00:42:42,884 position , but they can't take away my 859 00:42:42,884 --> 00:42:45,051 power . Bigger take and stripped me of 860 00:42:45,051 --> 00:42:47,380 my letters . But you can't strip me of 861 00:42:47,390 --> 00:42:50,690 my life because I will continue teach 862 00:42:50,690 --> 00:42:53,990 our Children . I will continue to help 863 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:57,410 our families . I was speaking . I would 864 00:42:57,410 --> 00:43:00,300 write it down until that Great getting 865 00:43:00,300 --> 00:43:03,820 up there . My God says Well done 866 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:06,760 Now good and faithful service , thou 867 00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:10,230 has been faithful over a few things . I 868 00:43:10,230 --> 00:43:13,350 will make the ruler over many things 869 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:17,420 into Not that into the joy 870 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:21,110 of your God . Write it down , 871 00:43:22,300 --> 00:43:25,840 Speak it . Teach our 872 00:43:25,840 --> 00:43:29,620 Children Share our history 873 00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:33,440 until the grand and glorious day where 874 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:35,620 there's a great camp meeting in the 875 00:43:35,620 --> 00:43:39,580 promised land filled with lucky white 876 00:43:39,580 --> 00:43:43,010 people read people there will be 877 00:43:44,300 --> 00:43:48,200 and all God bless you and that 878 00:43:48,200 --> 00:43:51,430 God bless the United States of America . 879 00:43:55,500 --> 00:43:57,722 Dr . Bird , on behalf of the U . S Army 880 00:43:57,722 --> 00:44:00,260 Corps of Engineers and Team Redstone . 881 00:44:00,270 --> 00:44:03,260 I wanna thank you for your time today 882 00:44:03,270 --> 00:44:05,048 and for graciously sharing your 883 00:44:05,048 --> 00:44:07,214 thoughts as we celebrate Black History 884 00:44:07,214 --> 00:44:09,048 Month . I also want to thank the 885 00:44:09,048 --> 00:44:10,603 dedicated professionals who 886 00:44:10,603 --> 00:44:13,010 orchestrated this program and made this 887 00:44:13,010 --> 00:44:15,090 possible . Thank you all and have a 888 00:44:15,090 --> 00:44:16,090 great day . 889 00:44:22,090 --> 00:44:24,990 Yeah , go 890 00:44:24,990 --> 00:44:28,890 out and tell the story . 891 00:44:28,900 --> 00:44:31,810 Let it echo far and wide . 892 00:44:32,690 --> 00:44:34,220 Make them here . 893 00:44:35,990 --> 00:44:38,810 May tell me you 894 00:44:40,390 --> 00:44:44,200 how justice was our battle and 895 00:44:44,210 --> 00:44:47,130 how justice was denied . 896 00:44:47,890 --> 00:44:49,300 Make them here You 897 00:44:51,190 --> 00:44:53,610 make them He you 898 00:44:55,390 --> 00:44:59,310 and say to those who blame us for 899 00:44:59,310 --> 00:45:02,010 the way chose to fight 900 00:45:02,980 --> 00:45:06,550 that sometimes there are battles 901 00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:09,900 that more than black or 902 00:45:09,900 --> 00:45:13,830 wide And 903 00:45:13,830 --> 00:45:17,250 I could not put down my sword when 904 00:45:17,260 --> 00:45:21,170 justice was my right . Make them 905 00:45:21,170 --> 00:45:24,900 here You go 906 00:45:24,900 --> 00:45:28,320 out and tell the story to your 907 00:45:28,330 --> 00:45:31,660 daughters and your sons Make them 908 00:45:31,670 --> 00:45:35,480 you make them here 909 00:45:35,490 --> 00:45:39,140 on Tell the men the 910 00:45:39,150 --> 00:45:42,760 struggling will not the only once 911 00:45:43,390 --> 00:45:47,210 Make them here You make them 912 00:45:47,220 --> 00:45:51,140 you your saw can 913 00:45:51,150 --> 00:45:54,790 be a sermon or the power of the 914 00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:58,790 pen Teach every child to raise his 915 00:45:58,790 --> 00:46:01,630 voice on Then my brothers 916 00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:05,400 on will 917 00:46:05,410 --> 00:46:08,900 just steam demanded fight a 918 00:46:08,910 --> 00:46:12,420 million righteous man Make them 919 00:46:12,430 --> 00:46:44,790 e 920 00:46:55,100 --> 00:46:56,100 When was the last 921 00:47:29,810 --> 00:47:32,870 e 922 00:47:50,380 --> 00:47:52,670 facing the rises ? 923 00:48:16,180 --> 00:48:32,290 E 924 00:48:32,670 --> 00:48:51,390 way 925 00:48:51,870 --> 00:48:54,400 you know , we stand us 926 00:48:58,170 --> 00:49:01,500 Well , alright , Sleep Mhm 927 00:49:03,060 --> 00:49:04,050 Alright , 928 00:49:09,270 --> 00:49:13,200 This car last 929 00:49:15,070 --> 00:49:15,400 Oh , 930 00:49:52,570 --> 00:49:53,080 is 931 00:49:55,600 --> 00:49:56,750 oh , 932 00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:09,270 is Oh 933 00:50:09,660 --> 00:50:13,620 yes . So o 934 00:50:13,630 --> 00:50:16,240 z 935 00:50:28,160 --> 00:50:38,570 Oh , 936 00:50:47,360 --> 00:50:50,220 it's 937 00:50:50,230 --> 00:50:52,170 k 938 00:50:53,320 --> 00:50:55,580 o 939 00:51:15,460 --> 00:51:16,460 No more 940 00:51:23,230 --> 00:51:26,880 straight places for God's Wendy 941 00:51:27,760 --> 00:51:28,180 Steve 942 00:51:29,360 --> 00:51:35,400 E 943 00:51:35,400 --> 00:51:45,680 o 944 00:52:11,360 --> 00:52:14,780 Oh , 945 00:52:24,960 --> 00:52:26,960 this concludes our presentation for 946 00:52:26,960 --> 00:52:28,849 today . I would like to take this 947 00:52:28,849 --> 00:52:30,904 opportunity to thank Dr Carlton Bird 948 00:52:30,904 --> 00:52:33,120 and the Open University Gospel Choir 949 00:52:33,130 --> 00:52:35,720 for blessing us with such a beautiful 950 00:52:35,730 --> 00:52:38,790 words of wisdom and majestic voices . I 951 00:52:38,790 --> 00:52:40,790 like to also acknowledge Huntsville 952 00:52:40,790 --> 00:52:42,810 Centers Black History Planning 953 00:52:42,810 --> 00:52:45,300 Committee , the Public Affairs Office 954 00:52:45,310 --> 00:52:47,421 and the Visual Information Department 955 00:52:47,421 --> 00:52:49,588 for making this a successful program . 956 00:52:49,588 --> 00:52:51,270 Thank you . Have a great day .