EDITORIAL

The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation must be commended for its efforts to have school’s celebrate African Awareness Month, as February rolls around.
Through this initiative, students of African descent are encouraged to be proud of their African heritage and they are also encouraged to embrace the obvious physical traits that come along with it. Most importantly, they are able to free their minds from any misconceptions they previously held, about people of their own race. During African Awareness Month, those who are of different lineage also join in the celebrations and are better able to understand about all things African and this is a plus as well.

As one local teacher indicated, “It is good for children to be aware of their ancestry, because they have a lot of misconceptions about African culture. African awareness is good. It teaches them where they come from and not to be ashamed of it, not to be ashamed of the culture that their ancestors had.”

That teacher later noted that due to the African awareness celebrations, “the students are now proud of their black skin” and since they are proud of it, she no longer gets anymore teasing and the like amongst students. It was also noted that as the children come up against negative media images and messages which may suggest that black is not beautiful and they are even socialised to think this way as well, with the school’s push to have students truly embrace who they are, the students will be well on their way to address any future misgivings that crop up.

So once again, the celebration of African Awareness Day during the month of February across various schools in Barbados, is an effort to be lauded. As one principal noted, the initiative is one that has great value, even to young children, as it teaches the value of self, for those in a country that is predominantly black.

It appears that the African awareness programmes across the schools are also getting bigger and better every year and have become a critical part of the curriculum. Students now embark on projects about Africa, its many languages, customs and traditions. They also learn about the commonalities that exist between the traditions they engage in and those of persons in the Motherland. Students have even learnt that some of the foods they consume, originated in Africa. It truly is a learning experience for them all.

Another plus about African Awareness Month is that students get to learn about Black persons who have done great things to advance not only the Black race but humanity as a whole. During Black History Month, they learn about brave, key figures that have taken bold steps to defy the order of their day, and in so doing, they have changed the face of history for all time. Students can learn a lot from these lessons about what it means to stand up for a cause, even when others will not want to give you your dues, at that particular point in time. There is a strong message here.

And as African Awareness Day celebrations continue to take prominence in Barbados, during Black History Month, it is hoped that students and teachers alike will truly find and bring to the fore that internal pride, that can give them true confidence in themselves and enable them to stand tall and excel in all spheres of endeavour, knowing that they are beautifully and wonderfully made for a great purpose whilst here on earth.