History as if our contributions did not nor do not matter.. The mission of the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program Company is more than being about showing and telling are good we are as a cast, but to teach and reach regarding the Harlem Renaissance Era, the most pivotal turn in the Cultural History of the United States that has reverberated during the span of the last 100 years.
Just as the Ancestor that began this journey were not afraid, we must not run from the truth, but embrace it and take it forward for the purpose of educating and empowering our community and beyond. We have an assignment that began when we were founded in 1997. We must use the stage to refine and define our greatness. Our History must be told, for if we don’t, who will. Welcome to the 2019 season of the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program Company.
Sleeping on the job
Reading about how an African American Investor by the name of Robert Smith should be a kick in the you know where because we have been “sleeping on the job” as to what having an education sometimes backed with so-called advanced degrees such as PH Ds., etc. means.
What I am about to say many of you maybe have already thought about when it comes to graduating from college and feeling hopeful that you will get a profession, be promoted from time to time and be in the top echelon of the corporation that you work and receive ALL the benefits to maybe becoming the “only, but lonely” one. Being the “only, but lonely” one is unlike the “Spook That Set By The Door,” written by Sam Greenlee wherein the central character went in and learned all that he could and stepped off on his campaign to change things.
You do not learn everything in school and graduating from an institution of higher learning is good, but not taking that education to make some others very wealthy and you work on retiring after 30 years with a gold watch as a reward if that. To me that is akin to being a “slave” you just don’t sleep in the slave quarters.
I think Robert Smith was saying a couple of things to those Morehouse graduates and to others. In order to own something you have to do something and do not be afraid to step out on faith. There should be waves after waves of our college graduates learning computer sciences, chemistry, finance, international studies, and medicine as well as biological research and reach out to our youth instead of not giving them some of what you have learned to inspire them. We must get away from racist thoughts and labels and believe in our Greatness as a People. Remember, Mr. Robert Smith talked about his family and the eight generations they have been building. Start now to build the spirit for wealth building so that we can have our own economy.