Dr. John Warren: Celebrating Black History Month

by Dr. John E. Warren This year, perhaps more than ever, we need to be especially mindful of Black History. This time of banning books from local libraries, especially those that tell of the history and struggle of Black Americans against slavery and racism, pose a threat to both our presence and our future. It has often been said that if you don’t know where you come from, you will have no idea of where you are going. Well, African Americans in particular must remember that we are here today because of strong ancestors who did not allow the circumstances under which they lived, to stuff out their dreams of a future for themselves and their descendants. We must remind ourselves that we are not to be defined by others; that we are not disadvantaged, or handicapped; that we are born with a right to equality and that we have always demanded equity even though others have tried to deny it to us. We are “We The People”. We must not allow the changes that have been removed from our bodies to be placed on our minds. We have the ability to remove ourselves from poverty by using the tools...