Thankful

So, since my unemployment, I have started watching Roots. This is an epic depiction of the beginning slavery and the history of many Black and White people across the world. I remember when I first saw this many years ago; it only made me angry. As I grew older I begin to understand a little more. Now, at age 28, I watch the series with a slightly different mind set. It still saddens me and sometimes evokes stronger feelings but more than anything it makes me thankful. Most people watch Roots and see the sufferings of Black people and never see anything else. Do you know what I see? I see how White Americans understood the power of education. They knew that one educated Black person could be the downfall of their entire income in the south. EDUCATION was just as powerful then as it is now. We don't think twice when we wake up in the mornings and send our children off to school. Or get in the car to drive to campus for our college education. Or get a full scholarship to an Ivy League school. I encourage you to think about the power of education as you utilize it everyday. Parents, as you take your children to school remember to participate in their school activities because there was once a time when this was not possible. Children as you sit in your classrooms with classmates and friends of different cultural backgrounds take advantage of learning new things about them. Instead of wasting time bullying others for their differences learn more about them. There were times when the fascination of other cultures was just that, a fascination. We did not have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and ways in one setting. Now we can. Be thankful for the freedom that education has presented. I know there is still so much more to be done within education but it takes interest. One person has to show an interest and then two and then three and so forth and so on. Get interested while it's still free because it could be gone in an instant.