THE TIGER AND THE TORCH ebook

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PAST & PRESENT…MEET FUTURE
African American History is at once African History, Black History, Virginia
History, US History and World History. It cannot be fully celebrated within the
month of February 121 or solely contained in books. It is a lifelong experience
meant to be shared with others. Delving into our history creates a foundational
understanding that enables us to make stronger connections between our
current experiences and our future endeavors.
Some behaviors and events in our lives can often be traced back to something
or someone from our history and can provide valuable insight in the here and
now. Black history contains beautiful and inspirational accounts of survival,
significant accomplishments, extraordinary relationships, exceptional skills and
amazing inventions. These feats are attributed to people who chose not to let
anything or anyone keep them from living their life fully.
These liberated individuals choose to move forward with a purpose. Yet part of
what continues to be missing from their stories is how they achieved what many
considered to be beyond reach. They achieved a level of freedom unknown to
many of their counterparts. Freedom does not begin with laws. Freedom begins
with a mindset. People who are free, think and act differently.
ROAR! “OUR SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE IS THEREFORE TO HELP
ESTABLISH A SOCIAL ORDER IN WHICH THE FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDUAL
WILL TRULY MEAN THE FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDUAL.” 122 NELSON MANDELA
Sometimes there are a series of indirect factors that can impact a person’s
ability to exercise freedom and to succeed. Starting back in 1619, Dutch sailors
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traded enslaved Africans in Jamestown, VA, for food6F centuries of
institutionalized inferiority began. Today, there are some African Americans who
are still affected by how other people define their value. Because of that there
are additional challenges to consider.
Emerging research in epigenetics and slavery 124 suggests that the psychological
and biological effects of trauma in the offspring of individuals who have lived
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