As we move into 2022, let’s remember our full history, including the racial injustices. (Some officials would prefer we forget) | Opinion

On Jan.1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation decreed by President Abraham Lincoln declared that slaves in all the Confederate states, then at war with the Union Army, would be “forever free.” The document also made the Negro slaves fighting in the Union Army eligible for pay for their military service.

Today, as we are just days away from the 158th anniversary of the historic document, I can’t help but wonder, if in another year or two, Americans won’t be allowed to even acknowledge that there ever was an Emancipation Proclamation — that there never really was a need for it. Or that slavery never happened in America. I ponder this in my mind because of all the fuss over if we should, or if we shouldn’t teach our children about our history.

And I am growing more and more concerned each day, as books depicting the stories of African American heroes are being banned, one book at a time. For instance, South Florida writer Brad Meltzer’s books “I am Rosa Parks” and “I am Martin Luther King, Jr.” were banned by a Pennsylvania school board; and there are numerous examples of book bans that hit every marginalized group.

What are the people who want to delete the unpleasant aspects of our American history afraid of? Why try to silence the voices that tell the stories of our — African Americans — deliverance? Of our struggles? Of our courage? Of our accomplishments and contributions to our country? Why are you so afraid?

The ugly truth is slavery really did happen in America. So did the lynching of black men and women (some of the women were even pregnant). Racism happened. Water fountains in public places were designated “Colored” and “White”, as were public restrooms and restaurants and public schools. This was a very real situation in America. And while nearly 200 years later we African Americans are still trying to dig out from under the rubble of such a shameful time in America, I am proud to say that through it all, the Black race prevailed.

The fact that we survived such a tumultuous time is a story worthy telling. It should be shouted from every hillside and echoed from every valley. My children and my children’s children should not be the only descendants from that time to know this side of our nation‘s story. Every American child — no matter the color of his or her skin — should be taught the true story of our nation. The story should be taught in a way that no child should feel ashamed. Rather, it should be taught in a way that each child hearing the story would be able to say, “Never again!”

Personal experience

As an African American woman who has witnessed racism, and felt its pain and hate, I never thought about hating the whites of my generation for what their fore parents did to my fore parents. I know it wasn’t their fault that my people were brought to these shores as slaves and forced to live not much better than the animals they were made to care for.

During my young days, I worked for a while as a maid in several private homes. I loved the white babies and children left in my care just as I loved the children I carried in my womb. I nurtured them; I fed them their first “grown-up” foods; I potty-trained them and kissed their tiny feet — just like I did my very own babies.

Yet at a certain age, the same babies I had loved and kissed and nurtured were taught to call me the “N” word. It was a hurtful feeling. But I didn’t blame the babies. How could I? The babies were only doing what they were taught. Still, I suppose some people would object to my talking about this phase of my life. It just might hurt somebody’s feelings or make them feel ashamed, even if they are not the guilty ones. But if you feel ashamed just hearing my story, imagine how I must have felt living it.

I tell my story, not to make anyone feel bad or ashamed. I tell it because it is a part of my history. Looking back does not make me bitter; only better. When you learn what Blacks have had to endure in this country, it should make us all better. It should make us all want to say, “That will never happen again.”

That is the way I look at teaching our children the complete history of our nation. We all should be able to look back and learn from the dark stories of our past. We all should be able to say like our Jewish sisters and brothers say whenever they remember the Holocaust: “Never again.”

Critical race theory assailed

But instead of learning from our mistakes of the past, some of our elected officials are seeking to shut out or past, or history, completely. Why, our very own Gov. Ron DeSantis has called critical race theory “crap.” Critical race theory is centered on the idea that racism is systemic in our institutions, and that it functions to keep whites in dominance roles in our society. That is not “crap,” Gov. DeSantis. That is simply fact. I don’t understand why you don’t know this.

As of now, I don’t know of any Florida school that teaches the critical race theory, yet at the governor’s direction in June, the state Board of Education banned critical race theory in schools.

The past two years have been trying ones for all of us. We have weathered natural disasters and gun violence in our neighborhoods and in our schools, even as we try to dig out from under a worldwide pandemic that just keeps on growing and killing. With so much pain in other areas, we shouldn‘t have to worry about hating each other.

We are just a week away from 2022. Ushering in a new year should be more than a celebration for one evening. The past has happened, people. It is history. We can’t undo what has happened. But we can learn from our history and do better from this time forward.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Bea L. Hines can be reached at bea.hines@gmail.com.

This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 9:00 AM.