The answer is knowledge. The answer to the question that has haunted many of us: how do we help? Â
Many of us are angry. Many of us are confused. Many of us are frustrated. We feel this way because of the recent events that, I for one, never thought I would see in our generation. Killings, police brutality and KKK affiliates returning in major areas are all terrifying examples of hatred and discrimination that have been publicized in the news recently.
In my naivety, I will admit, that I was under the common misconception that this time was past us in America. This delusion is due to the method used to educate Americans on our past and our actions.
Now before I continue, I must say, I am aware that the civil rights movement is not the only point in history that is distorted in American textbooks. We still mask genocide of people we now call natives with a feast that is celebrated each year on a holiday. Clearly there are plenty of historical events that our generation has failed to realize the significance of.
As for black history, we are taught the fairy tale version where slaves were freed and protests led by Martin Luther King Jr. brought us to a utopia of freedom and fairness. Realizing this is not true is hard to accept, but necessary to progress.
Truthfully, the revolution did not end with Martin Luther King Jr., and did not restart with Trayvon Martin. This lack of education is exactly what has allowed hatred to continue to fester among individuals that we are just now hearing about.
Then who is to blame for the lack of education? Pointing fingers is never the answer, but I must say our society does avoid harsh topics that may taint the freedom-fighting image we’ve created for Americans. How are we to learn from our past, if it is distorted and biased? In many schools, there is only one month used to cover centuries of a revolution. This is exactly why we are reluctant to recognize that we ourselves are part of a revolution right now.
Recently I was given the opportunity to visit the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. After 16 years of education, this was the first time I can say I fully understand the history related to the civil rights movement.
Reading about the years of bombing, seeing the images of children who were aggressively beaten and those who are hopelessly brainwashed by hateful bands of individuals was heartbreaking, but necessary. Frankly, I think everyone should see this institute, but for those of us who are not given this opportunity, we must count on our education system to teach us.
It is time we take responsibility for our own progress. We are not just the generation that will make a difference, but we have to. In order to do so, we must educate ourselves. We must provide ourselves with the knowledge our society has hidden from us. That means acknowledging it, reading about it and talking about it.
We will use this knowledge to educate others and our community. “Knowledgeâ€, according to Claire Fagin, “will bring you the opportunity to make a difference.”