What would the ancestors think of today’s Black Community?

Reflections from the International African American Museum

Recently, my family and I took a trip to Charleston, South Carolina.  For those of you who are not familiar with Charleston, it is one of the oldest cities in America.  The city is full of history ranging from the Antebellum period up until present day.

It has been the site of a number of historical moments in American History, from the first shots fired during the Civil War to the recent tragedy at Mother Emanuel AME Church.

And, just like a number of cities that were founded during the colonial period, Charleston was a key player in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

While I have known this fact for decades, my recent visit to the International African American Museum in Charleston solidified this uncomfortable truth.

I must say, that anyone who has the fortune of visiting Charleston should make this museum a part of your trip.  The way the museum depicts the true history of that time period is sobering.

The many artifacts displayed as well as the rich history depicted will illuminate the hearts and minds of everyone.

This is not a museum just for Black People.  This is a museum for all Americans.

As I walked through the museum and saw the exhibits dedicated to telling the stories of hardship, trials, redemption, and triumph, a recurring theme kept running through my mind.

Would the people who suffered, bled, fought and died for freedom look on the current state of Black America with regret and shame?

Would the people who were courageous enough to reject the notion of victimhood, be appalled at the mentality that has gripped so many of their descendants?

Would the people who knew their identity came from God and not from man, feel disappointed that so many in the community would rather trust in government instead of the God that delivered them out of bondage?

Would the people who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the betterment of their progeny, look upon this generation of black people with disappointment?

Would the people who were willing to endure beatings, insults, water hoses, and police dogs just to realize their God-given rights as humans, be disappointed that their legacy is being tarnished?

As a native of the South, I am keenly aware of the toxic environment that encompassed my fore-parents.

Yet, instead of giving in to hatred, racism and bigotry, they chose to rise above it and be better.

They looked forward to a day when their children would hopefully be looked at based upon their character, not the color of their skin.

However, so many in the community would rather give in to the narrative of systemic racism and oppression, instead of picking up the mantle of overcoming that was laid before them.

So, the question is, was their labor all in vain?