In many educational institutions, African History is given
it's own Jim Crow Department. There is History, then, the
tassel of African History.
In the late Sixties/early Seventies, across campuses in
the United States, came a push to teach African History.
One group wanted it included in the standard History course.
A discussion on any period of time would include events in
Africa.
This would of required History Lecturers to learn more than
'authorized' History. As a benefit to them, many Afro-
Americans agitated for their very own Jim Crow Department,
outshouting those who took the "integrationist" view.
Today, African-American History is filed in it's own little
box. One can easily avoid it.
One can gain a degree in History and never hear of Mansa
Musa, Shaka Zulu, or Osei Tutu. One can gain Masters,
Doctorates, be made a full professor, and know nothing
that transpired south of Egypt save as a footnote.
This segregation in education is as harmful as segregation
in economic development was useful to the Black American
community.
When one studies American history and encounters segregation
only a turgid mind would not ponder;
If Blacks could not eat at a White Restaurant, were there not
Black restaurants?
During the period after the Civil War Black entrepreneurs
existed all over America.
They ran restaurants, hotels, every conceivable business of
which only the Black Barber shop remains.
In every facet of life there was the Black owned business
catering to Blacks. Money was kept in the Black community.
If one wanted to spend a week at the sea shore, there were
Black hotels. If one wished to have a suit made, there were
black tailors. It was only in parts of the country where
there was not (or a very small) black population that a
problem would arise.
In the days of segregation the "family" or "community" spirit
was very strong. It had to be.
The advent of integration starved the Black community.
If one could go anywhere they didn't have to go to the Black
Guest House. In a twisted sense of "victory" the Black
family might book into what had been an all white hotel and
accept whatever poor service they received, instead of
continuing to support the Black hotel.
Black businesses began to fail at the end of segregation,
and many communities, which had been middle class became
slums because of starvation of capital.
Far from being a great leap forward for the Black Community,
integration was a prat fall.
Yet, in the one area in which integration would be of
significance, that is, education, the choice was Jim Crow.
