THE EDITOR, Sir:
FEBRUARY IS Black History month in America, as it now is in Jamaica. It is a celebration with which all Jamaicans living in the US should identify.
Having attended college in the US along with many other Jamaicans, I get the sense that we have never given due credit to the role of the African-American (meaning black US citizens in this case) struggle in providing us with many of the opportunities we now take for granted.
Earlier this month, I watched a History Channel special on the integration of public schools in the US, starting with a historic Supreme Court decision in 1954. In one highly publicised case, nine black students braved angry mobs and armed National Guard units to help integrate a high school in Arkansas.
As late as 1976, in Boston, buses taking black students to white and historically better schools were stoned by rioters opposed to black children sharing a classroom with white children.
It is easy to forget that it was only a few years ago when Blacks were legally and de facto excluded from quality education in America. Many Jamaicans and other non-Whites from all over the world now enjoy the benefits of the best available education in America. Many do so without giving a second thought to the people who paved the way. Black History Month presents us all with an opportunity to pause for a moment and celebrate the great struggles of the African-American people. These struggles have afforded us many of the opportunities from which now derive so much benefit.
It must also be said that our own Marcus Garvey was a forerunner in this struggle. I want to make special mention of my alma mater, Howard University, for leading the way in educating Blacks well before many other tertiary institutions would consider allowing Blacks to matriculate. Countless Jamaicans have been educated at Howard University, and during Black History Month, we should all like to express our gratitude to this great bulwark of higher education in Washington, DC.
I am etc.,
SHELDON LYN
sllyn@hotmail.com
Washington, DC.
Via Go-Jamaica
