Photo By Lt. Col. Ruth Castro | U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers and civilians from the 1st Mission Support Command (MSC)...... read more read more
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FORT BUCHANAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers and civilians from the 1st Mission Support Command (MSC) came together to honor and recognize African American History Month at the Fort Buchanan Community Center, February 16.
The commemoration began with an artistic performance in tribute to African Americans by the “Escuela de Bellas Artes de Bayamon” (Bayamon Fine Arts School).
By Presidential Proclamation, every year, the month of February is set aside to celebrate African American Black History Month - an annual celebration that has existed since 1926.
Each year a theme is chosen to create a particular focus for the National Commemoration. The theme for 2017, “The Crisis in Black Education,” examines the role that education has played in the history of African Americans from times of slavery, through the Civil War, to present day.
Col. Benjamin Garcia, 1st MSC Chief of Current Operations, welcomed guests and introduced Mr. Thomas Whittle, principal at Antilles High School, as the event guest speaker. “Mr. Whittle is a very valuable asset,” said Garcia. “His education and military experience allows him to understand and share the language and culture of those students whose parents are part of our military force. “
Garcia briefly summarized Whittle’s biography and highlighted his educational background, an important aspect considering this year’s theme. Dr. Thomas Whittle holds a Bachelors Degree of Arts, a Master’s Degree in Business and Management from the University of Maryland, Master’s Degree in Divinity from Virginia Union University, in Richmond, Va., and a Doctorate in Education and Administration from Virginia State.
Whittle began by sharing some of his background. Growing up in Southern Virginia, Whittle was exposed to segregated schools, segregated beaches, bathrooms, church’s and lunch counters. “Those of us who grew up in the south didn’t know anything about the world around us,” said Whittle. “We were exposed to Jim Crow laws, the laws that separated everyone. We had no experiences to relate to when it comes to being involved with different cultures and different people. One county, Prince Edward County, in south central Virginia closed schools rather than integrate. They closed the schools for five years and young black boys and black girls did not have the opportunity to expose themselves to education.”
“Something happened to the Negros in the United States when the automobiles was introduced,” said Whittle. “When the automobile was introduced, travel took hold. The Negro began to see himself differently and began to feel that he wasn’t being somebody. In the movement of the Negro, he began to see that he was in deed, somebody.”
Whittle made notice to the fact that the Negro story has made progress but he believes there is still a long way to go. “Take a look at our Nation, take a look at America,” said Whittle. “I remember people saying in the 60s and 70s that we need to slow down because we are asking for too much. We were told to slow down and cool off but the problem with slowing down and cooling off is that pretty soon you will find yourself in a deep freeze of doing nothing about the problem that exists around you.”
To Whittle, the greatest tool that came to the black man in those days was education. “Education was the tool that unearthed that thought of who we are and where we came from,” continued Whittle. “We began to be able to study about ourselves and understand that we had landed in Puerto Rico in 1873 on our way to America to slavery. I imagine some of my ancestors landed there before going to America.”
Your history (Puerto Rico) and my history are interwoven for we are one. The brown man and the black man, we are one.
“I am leaving a legacy of the path I carved out for myself,” said Whittle. “I encourage you to leave a legacy so you are remembered for more than just coming and going.”
On a tombstone there are only three significant things that you see, the birthday date, the death date and the dash between the two. “It is always important to remember what you put in the dash,” said Whittle.
“The dash speaks to who you are. The birth date and death date are just the beginning and the end, but the dash is where you pack all the action of life.”
“You seated here are the next generation,” continued Whittle. “I realize that I have written on the wall of history but you are still writing.”
“I say to you today, write and write well. Don’t write and look back and when you write on the wall, write with character and integrity because that is all you have,” he said.
“We expect more of leaders than we expect of those who follow us,” said Whittle. “You are the next generation. We are counting on you to make a difference in the world in which you live.”
You can’t make a difference in the world until you first make a difference in yourself. Education is the tool that you can use in order to lift yourself; not only lift yourself but lift others up as well.
“As leaders, we don’t expect you to fail, we expect you to succeed,” he said. “Sometimes in failure, the cloud of opportunity comes. “
Whittle recounted a story of when he was young and faced an illness that did not get any better despite home remedies. His family didn’t have money to go to the doctor and the doctor for “blacks” only showed up once a week. When the doctor arrived, Whittle was unable to walk but the doctor had an experimental medication called penicillin that he offered the family at no cost.
“Some 70 years later, that child stands before you as living witness of what faith and trust can do,” said Whittle. “So I say to you, opportunity comes disguised in so many different ways. Only through education are you able to take a hold of those disguises when they come to you. Only through education are you prepared to lead when those opportunities come.”
We need black and brown men and women who feel that they are worthy to carry forth this leadership mantel. You are our best hope and we are depending on you to be the good example and point others in the right direction. Develop you intellect, meet that need to know one self. Education is the tool to help you, know yourself.
Over the course of our diverse history, African Americans have made lasting contributions in every aspect of our lives: literature, arts, politics, language, space exploration, economics, and business. Most notably, African Americans have left a legacy of selfless service and devotion to duty in defense of the freedom we enjoy as Americans.
| Date Taken: | 02.23.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 02.23.2017 08:57 |
| Story ID: | 224410 |
| Location: | PR |
| Web Views: | 132 |
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This work, 1st MSC Commemorates African American History Month, by LTC Ruth Castro, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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