By Pam Osbey

The Sacrifices of Every Day People

Young Black Creativity

A Reflective Look at Contemporary African-American Literature

Every year during Black History Month there are several options for celebrating the triumphs, challenges, and tribulations of our rich heritage. Wherever you live you will find a poetry reading, a church program, tons of black programming on local and national channels and other cultural programs conducted during the month to reflect our history. It is nice and beautiful month to be reminded of the accomplishments of African Americans from Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, as well as boxing legends Muhammad Ali and others. It is a reminder that we are a rich people. We have contributed in all kinds of areas not just to the benefit of our race but to other human beings as well.

I think it’s important to note that our children and our families are a part of our rich traditions. And that we should celebrate the triumphs, challenges, abilities, tribulations and many skills that we have in our own families. Often children look up to the lives of notable black authors, black scientists, black actors, black basketball stars, black entertainers, black historical figures, and other blacks who contribute to our race. I think it is up to the family to ensure that children not only remember those who have paved the way but remember those in their families who are paving ways for them to achieve and reach a higher ground.

Often the family member who works hard to save money, invest it, and give to their children at a later stage are forgotten in the shuffle. The family member who has taken the time to teach their child how to be a productive individual is not remembered during this month. The person in your family that helped with your college application and mentored you are not remembered as well. I think it’s important to not forget the sacrifice some people have done to ensure your success should not be forgotten.

Just as Martin and Malcolm sacrificed their lives for the civil rights struggle, and Muhammad Ali sacrificed his family life during the years as he fought and Rosa gave her up freedom for that brief moment she sat on a bus in an area where colored folks were not allowed, we cannot forget the sacrifices of our people. Our people who are ensuring our success in our personal or private lives. Maybe our family member has not laid their life on the line - the way of a truck for you or taken a bullet like Martin did, we must remember those in our families do on a daily basis. It is during the little moments in life that our family and friend circle take time to do all kinds of things to make sure we live productive lives.

And I feel we should honor them as well as those historical and notables during this month. For without the love, the strength, the skills, the contributions of every day people we would not be where we are at in our journeys in life. The bus driver who makes sure you get to work or school, the teacher who imparts knowledge to a child, the babysitter who watches the child while you work, the telephone operator who connects your calls, the store clerk who bags your groceries and many more unnoticed or forgotten black people assist you with your daily journeys and should not be forgotten. They sacrifice their time at work, away from family, to help the race as a whole.

We should pass on the cultural traditions of our lives to our children and in our communities to ensure we as a people continue to grow and be productive in this life. We should not forget our fellow black man who is contributing in his or her own unique way. Honoring the sacrifices of those who came before us helped the next generation it will help us to continue this tradition for generations to come. For Black History Month shouldn’t be the only month we honor notables but also everyday black people who contribute to the race as a whole.

(c) 2005 by Pam Osbey

It is that time again, Black History Month, where we take a historical look back at all the accomplishments within our race. It is the time where you will see television specials about boxing legends, writers, the story of people (Roots), the civil rights leaders and much more. It is the time where young black children will soak in knowledge of what their abilities are and what they can do with the gifts that they are blessed with. It is at this time, while we are discussing black notables, that we can also share with our children what we like about their gifts and how they can bring out their black creativity.

As a Coordinator of many youth programs in the Chicago area, on a daily basis I speak with many young black children, trying to impart to them that they are positive beings who have at least one skill to share with the world. Many are young writers, singers who share their talents with their families, some want to be just like their idols (Nelly, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly, and other black artists or entrepreneurs). The main thing we have to help them to discover is their voice and how to use it and not be afraid to communicate their feelings. Some of the children I have served over the years are often scared to speak up for themselves and often do not dream out loud.

Instead of helping them hope for a better future, I try to get the black children to give me specifics on what they want to do and how they think they will get to that destination. Do they want to be a scientist, a forensic detective, a writer, an entrepeneur or a vocalist? When do they want to graduate from high school? Do they want to go to a trade school or a college? These are great questions that get youth started on brainstorming how their future will play out. And also these are starting points to help them to think outside of the box. Although some of our children may want to be the next USHER, they also need to realize they are a unique person who may even do more than a celebrity or any historical person who may have contributed to the black race. They may have their own set of abilities that will help them to empower and move the race on. The next generation of black youth has the power to shape our race further and take us up even further.

Often when black children hear about the vast possibilities connected with their future, their eyes light up and they smile. When they discover within themselves the power to be - positive, and creative, they sometimes can’t believe that they hold the key to their futures. The job of adults, community workers, teachers, religious leaders and politicans who come into the contact of young black children, should implore themselves to help the next generation be leaders, be confident, and learn how to critically think about their future.

Young black creativity is that child who inspires to be a teacher, a leader, a poet, a dancer, a singer, a writer, an entrepreneur, a teacher and so much more. We as a community have the power to share knowledge with the youth, not just telling them to believe in themselves, but providing opportunities for the youth to learn about their industries. Referring a child to a business owner so they can know how to run a business is a great start. In my position, I often set up appointments for youth to be connected with the world outside their blocks.

How will they know about their creativity if all they do is talk about it. Often a volunteering experience can open their eyes, or an opportunity to speak with a writer can do it too. Our children are blessed with many gifts and with the keys of critical thinking, brainstorming, volunteerism, and empowerment we can help them get to the next level. Whether they will be the next hot actors, great musician, young entrepreneurs or choose another path, we must encourage them to grow into positive, healthy individuals who can think outside the box. We can help bring their creativity out by referring them to mentoring programs, after school programs of things that interest them like graphic design, writing, performance, acting and more. We can help foster their creativity by listening to their dreams and helping them to plan their awesome futures.

© 2005 by Pam Osbey

I remember being called a bookworm for the majority of my life. Since the age of three I have had a long, deep love affair with reading. It wasn't until I reached my early 20's that I discovered some black literature that was forbidden, but because it was "afrocentric" I wanted to read and discover it's wealth. The forbidden street tales of ghetto realism came to me as I browsed some of my older brother's books. Donald Goines' "Dopefiend" was stark reality thrown in your face, and it begged me to taste it's ugly fruits. From then on I read lots of ghetto tales including Iceberg Slim's "Pimp". I love those tales and needed more. Somewhere during my Junior year at Grambling State, I wanted and yearned for tales that connected with me on a romantic level - from a black woman's perspective!

Until Terry McMillan, there was no real black love stories - at least not from a contemporary standpoint. When her book Disappearing Acts came on the literary scene, I was burnt out on those Silhouette and Harlinquin romance novels. And after Terry McMillan stormed the world with her talents, Arabesque books came with a line for us - sweet black love stories. I read those books until I couldn't read anymore and then somewhere in between came the works from black male authors...Omar Tyree, Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris'.

The sweet seduction of all these written words have always seduced me to pick them up and read them - even though I've read contemporary love stories and other types, I still am a victim of my literary addiction. Black style is wonderful and I have had a chance to read so many different tales of our worlds...and want more. From Alice Walker to Mat Johnson, black literature has much to offer the world. Maybe a little peak into our worlds..maybe a peak into the human race..cause we all bleed the same, feel the same pains, and experience the same type of things. I love black literature and look forward to us blazing other trails, creating new types of stories, blending genres, exploring our black literature and letting the world be seduced by our newly created voices and styles. Yes, I definitely have been bitten by the black word and seduced by our voices, our styles, our stories.

Black literature has grown so much in the past few years, and I can only see us continually rising and opening new doors for all to explore.

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