Definitions of History
“History is the sum total of all that has happened that gives people an understanding of themselves and others in relation to the world, both past and present.” “History is a compass people use to find themselves on the map of human geography. It also tells them where they are and what they are. Most importantly, an understanding of history tells a people where they still must go and what they still must be. (From, ”Why Africana History?”) Dr. John Henrik Clarke listed one of the main obstacles Africans face and must overcome. We lost our mentality - We went for 500 years without knowledge of our history. Colonialism cut us off from the great history we made before we knew of the existence of Europeans.”This separation from the knowledge of our history is separation from the inheritance of our cultural legacy. This, of course, helped secure the physical enslavement. This is "why we must study." We must study history especially in order to replace this knowledge and restore our health. This is why many are walking around still mentally enslaved, eagerly signing up to join plantations in another form that are as corrupt as ever in terms of humanity. These public and private plantations get people to agree to hold their “self”captive for survival while the result of the work performed diminishes their survival. Mental enslavement includes spirit and emotions that are in bondage to cultures and religions that attack the African self and the self of everybody else from knowing their African self.
It takes study to get the rest of the way out of slavery. Since this is all we have to do, we dishonor our ancestors for not doing so. We delay our children's return to their natural selves.
History Is A Way Of Knowing
Dr. Clarke states: "I maintain all history is a current event and everything that did happen is still happening one way or the other." Other teachers have said, “history is prophecy.” Based on these two statements, clearly, history is a way of knowing for all time. History contains what happened, explains what's happening and pertains to what will happen. History is continuity. It connects past, present and future because history itself is past, present and future. History is a way of knowing what we need to know. This is true as we connect to history on all levels of knowing and ways of knowing.The Basic Need For An Understanding Of History Explained In Other Ways
"History tends to be what people make it out to be. History tends to be shaped by our understanding of history. If we understood right now that everywhere the European goes in the world he wants to rule by any means necessary and that no matter what his political belief is, no matter what he professes his religion is, he wants to be in charge and he never shares power with anyone. " – Dr. John Henrik Clarke Saunders Redding said, “Culture is the mainstay of a people. Heritage is a thing that stimulates a people's honest effort. A people must relate to their history in order to relate to the world and to relate to themselves. The relationship of a people to their history is the same thing as a relationship of a child to her mother's breast. When you are alienated from your history, you have not been nurtured to the point where you can be whole again. You have not analyzed your enemy to understand that many times your oppressor is weaker than you are... You have lived an illusion and these illusions have been disproven in history.” History to all people is essential to their survival – not to survive the way things happen to be at the time but survival in the sense of how life and existence are supposed to be. The knowledge of history is a Right Of Creation. There is no worthwhile education without it. This knowledge is going to be restored, thus so will humanity. To know yourself you must know your history. Without an understanding of history,wholeness of self, thus healthy self-esteem, is an impossible dream. All three are the same thing.You do not know what you think you know if you do not understand history. History is more than dates and events. Many people have a knowledge of history that has been drained of the truth. History includes the circumstances. History is the whole truth. This is how and why history helps you become whole also.
