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Revealing and enlightening facts of ancient African history were compared to the sometimes twisted, racist depiction of Blacks in America’s past during the program, “Black History 365,” at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC). 

Norman Ross, retired executive director of the Greater East St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, joined Jaye P. Willis, poet, author, playwright; Lillian Parks, EdD, community activist and retired superintendent of East St. Louis School District 189; and Redina Medley, former language arts director, for an informative and entertaining presentation of Black history, coordinated by LRC Program Assistant Danayka Saavedra Berrocal. 

Ross, Willis, Parks and Medley are part of the East St. Louis Historical Society, which partnered with the LRC and collaboratively brought the program to the community. Parks welcomed the audience and provided an overview of the historical society. 

“I want to address the historical defamation of Africa and the African diaspora,” said Ross. “Because of it and ‘miseducation’ (addressed by Dr. Carter C. Woodson, the founder of ‘Black History Week,’ in his 1933 book, The Miseducation of the Negro) within our school systems, we have created a serious self-contempt for ourselves as an African people within our American society.” 

He listed a few of the symptoms of racial self-hatred belief systems and the inferiority complex syndrome neurosis that has to be healed within the African American community: 

• African hair is bad/ugly
• Black skin is bad/ugly
• Negative language used by African Americans to mock themselves as a race (use of the n-word, etc.)
• African Americans are mentally inferior to other racial groups
• African American males tend to be criminal, violent and dangerous
• Commercial products of African American business owners are not as good as products of the business owners of other races
• The history of Africa is savage and primitive and has contributed little or nothing to world civilization

The contributions that the ancient Kemets (Egyptians) and Africans made to humanity, civilization and the world are critical and vast, according to Ross. His partial list included: education, religion, philosophy, mathematics, alphabet, writing, science, astronomy, calendar, architecture and art. 

“Art is not a mirror to hold up to society, but a hammer with which to shape it,” said Willis, quoting Leon Trotsky. “I believe it can do both. Art speaks where words are unable to explain what is happening or how you feel.” 

As an example, Willis showed a photograph of a student standing in front of tanks in Tiananmem Square. 

She also offered a local example of the killing of Michael Brown, and how artists have illuminated that reality. The poet read her original copyrighted work, “Praying for Prey (A Kwansaba for Mike Brown Jr. and Ferguson, MO).” 

“Braving hazy jungle paths, bwana hides behind

his shield, weapon drawn, prowlin’ the saran-

ghetto for alleged man-a-kin prey

in hues from onyx to beige. Subtly

grazing on unequal justice and divided support

in elusive freedom fields, they humbly kneel,

arms raised trans dignity, martyrs for fear.” 

Also performing was Medley, who opened the program with an original monologue, “Harriet Speaks from Way Up Here.” 

East St. Louis Historical Society member Bob Gill will present “The History of East St. Louis” at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22 at the LRC. 

To attend in person or virtually, please register by emailing the LRC at siue.esl.library@siue.edu or calling (618) 874-8719. 

The SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC) is organized as a full-service public library focusing on youth and adult community outreach, programs and collections. The library also contributes to the success of higher education opportunities and career development provided by the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus (ESLHEC). The LRC supports the diverse range of students and public patrons on the ESLHEC, and encourages them to succeed and learn new skills provided by the LRC community collection and programs. 

Photos (L-R): Redina Medley, former language arts director; Jaye Willis, poet, author, playwright; Norman Ross, retired executive director of the Greater East St. Louis Chamber of Commerce; and Lillian Parks, EdD, community activist and retired superintendent of East St. Louis School District 189.