Monday, February 18, 2008

Why Learn Black History?


Some people question the necessity of students learning African American history. The students of the d’Zert Club are a perfect example why. The d’Zert Club and its African Genesis Corrective History Educational Program recently celebrated 10 years of exposing Black youth to their true history and their connection to the land of their ancestors – Africa. Founded in Philadelphia and now operating in 12 cities nationwide, the organization has changed the lives of Black youth. The organization offers a proactive, three semester, educational/cultural program for African American youth ages 7-14, focused on developing an understanding and awareness of the African experience in America. Over a 27-month period, students are exposed to African American history through classes, assignments and field trips. The course of study is based on a curriculum written by Dr. Edward Robinson who helped write the Black History curriculum for Philadelphia Public Schools. At the end of the program, the children are taken free of charge to Egypt and West Africa to see the wonders about which they have been learning.

Most youth enrolled in the program are average students. Some have negative attitudes when they join. Some have poor grades. But, during those two years, their academic proficiency increases enormously, their behavior becomes exemplary and 97 percent go on to college. In 10 years of operation, there have been only two incidents of questionable behavior. What’s the reason behind these changes? It’s the children’s learning of the achievements of their ancestors of the land of their origin. After living in a society that negates and demonizes everything Black and African, learning the truth about your history is life changing. The reason that people perform at their maximum when relating positively to their land of origin is discussed scientifically in the book, “The Territorial Imperative” by Dr. Robert Ardrey. The book discusses why, when humans are programmed to despise their land of origin, their intelligence decreases and their social behavior turns negative.

Dr. Robinson proved this through demonstration projects in two public schools that were experiencing disruptive behavior from African American students. After being exposed to Robinson’s curriculum, student offenses decreased tremendously and grade averages were raised to B+. It was with the learning of the greatness of their ancient African ancestors that changes came.

The youth in the d’Zert Club learn that their African ancestors were reading and writing 9,000 years ago while the first book written by Europeans was only 2,800 years ago. They were ecstatic to learn that algebra was created by an African man, Ahmose, in Egypt and his book is there for all to see in a British museum today. The students’ proficiency soared when archeologists in West Africa recently discovered thousands of exquisitely written legal and medical treatises and books from around Timbuktu, buried there by their Songhai ancestors in West Africa when the Europeans invaded Songhai in 1591. And, everyone now knows that the oldest human fossils on Earth were found in Africa. They learn that their ancestors did not just contribute to civilization --they created it.

The d’Zert Club is a living testimony to how true knowledge of one’s history can be a deterrent to low selfesteem, negative thinking and under achievement. We also believe that knowledge of self and one’s history is an anti-violence measure that is intentionally overlooked when seeking solutions for the violence that pervades Black communities nationwide. Our motto is, “It is better to build a child than repair an adult”.

The d’Zert Club will hold informational/enrollment
meetings in:

-South Jersey, 12 noon, Saturday, February 23 at the Cherry Hill Holiday Inn, 2175 Route 70 East

-Delaware, 4:00PM, Saturday, February 23 at the Doubletree Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike in Wilmington

-2:00PM, Sunday, February 24 at Temptations 218-220 W. Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia

For more information on how you can get involved with the d’Zert Club in your city, call 1-888-257-5991 or go to http://www.dzertclub.com/.

Ali and Helen Salahuddin founded the d’Zert Club in Philadelphia in 1997 after the Million Man March.

-February 15, 2008 Issue
Source: http://www.scoopusanewspaper.com/

1 comment:

Unknown said...

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