Commemorating Black History month, we reflect on the institution of slavery and those who were enslaved for four hundred years! Slavery is a deep wound, a sore, a cancer in American history! It tells of the sons and daughters of Africa being subjugated to less than humane standards to that equated to cattle for a period of four hundred years. Like the sons and daughters of Israel, they had the fire “burning in their bellies” that God had a more meaning purpose for them. The story of a capture and subjugated people sometimes can parallel how nature can create a diamond. It takes a piece of coal and through the process of “pressure”; that coal becomes a Precious metal, a diamond. A capture and enslaved people, African Americans, have contributed immensely to countless inventions and discoveries. Among a few are Lloyd A. Hall (1894-1971) developed a method for combining sodium chloride with crystals of sodium nitrite and nitrite to keep nitrogen in the air from spoiling food—a method still used today to preserve meats—and other food preservation techniques. Frederick McKinley Jones (1893-1961) developed the first reliable refrigerated truck and also refrigerated railroad cars to carry foods over long distances without spoiling. Lewis Latimer (1848-1928) is arguably the most famous historic African American inventor. He worked both with Alexander Graham Bell (on his famous telephone patent) and Thomas Edison (on incandescent lighting and other inventions).
Slavery, for some, was a diamond in the rough, a transforming experience to bring forth our “God-giving” gifts. Just as our life challenges can sometimes transform us into better witnesses for Christ. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16a). A lamp is meant to be placed on a stand to give light to everything around it. Whether you’re timid or outgoing, you’re called to be a light to the people around you. God illuminated in the hearts of our ancestors as a driving force to focus on being “freed” one day!
Though we mark “Black History Month” with a focus of a suppressed people we must also realize that of a liberated people as well. Joseph, a slave aspired to the 2nd place on the throne of Egypt, a world power at the time Just as Joseph told his brothers, in Genesis 50:19,20 19Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. The struggles, trials and tribulations of black America has open the doors for ALL non-white peoples, immigrants and the likes for the laws against discrimination, equal access to services and so on. The evil of slavery did bring about transformational changes even though there are more battles ahead. Their spirits, our spirits cannot be captured by the physical cage. “Through it all”, Jesus has lead” the Sons and Daughters of Africa” through a challenging experience.
PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR wrote this poem
I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings —
I know why the caged bird sings
Our black American ancestors send prayers from their heart’s deep core, and prayed prayers/pleas upwards to Heaven. God answered their prayers for liberation and freedom!
Biography
Rev. Dr. Joseph Whama Boayue, Jr was born in Monrovia, Liberia on Sunday, October 9, 1955 onto the union of Betty Joyce Carter-Boayue, a black American from Bryant, Texas, and Joseph Whama Boayue, Sr, who hailed from Bunadin ,Nimba County, Liberia. His mother was a business woman, philanthropist, and socialite and his father was Liberia’s first civil engineer who eventually served his country as a member of the President Tubman’s cabinet as Secretary of Public Works and Utility. Rev. Dr. Joseph Whama Boayue is an adjunct Professor of Business, Health Management and Information Science at The University of The Potomac in Washington DC. He has served for the past ten (10) years as Senior Pastor of The Christian Baptist Church in Silver Springs, Maryland USA. Rev. Dr. Joseph Whama Boayue is married to Marilyn Anderson-Boayue who hails from Maryland County, Liberia. He has two children and two grandchildren.
Well written… good history !
Carl
Thank you Rev Boayue for reminder us from whence we have come, and the opportunity we have been given to enjoy some of the freedom our ancestors prayed for . God bless you.
Great piece and illuminating!!
This is beautiful and well said. Our history is deep but we stand strong.
Great article, it is important to remember that black history is a story of liberation
Awesome, timely, crafted piece, Rev. Dr. Boayue! Thank you!
Excellent reflection…
This is so inspiring! It is important to honor our ancestors and continue to acknowledge our history.
Congratulations
Such a beautiful remembrance of our legacy and our charge! We must never forget not let the world forget from whence we came! Black History Month 2022 puts before us the dark reality of America’s past with reminders from ungodly factions wishing still to dehumanize us. But we rise, still we rise! Bless you dear one, for all you do and all that you are.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Whama Boayue, Jr., thank you very much for the phenomenal Black History narrative commemorating Black History and referencing our history with Biblical History. As I was reading the narrative, I was listening to Rev. James Cleveland’s “There is Lifting” recording on KTSU 90.9, here in Houston, and I was reflecting on God’s supernatural lifting power during the struggles, trials, and tribulations of Black people. In spite of the deplorabe, inhumane, and unChrist-like conditions, God gave them gifts/ talents to glorify Him and also to reveal to the world that black people were academically, musically, scientifically, physically, and spiritually gifted then, as we are today. I honor the known and unknown, the sung and unsung heroes and sheroes who paved the way for me. I thank God for them. They were called “boy, gal, uncle, aunt, and nigga, ” Monday through Saturday but on Sunday morning when they went to church, they were called Brother or Sister. There was dignity in God’s House. They felt special and a sense of pride at church. I thank God for you cousin Joseph. I thank God for introducing me to my Boayue,Tolbert, Carter, and Wiley family members.
When I think of Black History month, my thoughts start with Africa and the great accomplishments we made and continued to make in the new world. The great pyramids, the great universities, the great leaders, the great trade routes, the rich natural resources we had in Africa mark us as a people. Our accomplishments continued in America – during the colonial period, during the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, WW I and II. As Africans our accomplishments in the sciences, business technology and medical fields were fact before, during and after slavery. As a people we suffered through slavery, racism and bigotry, but can never allow that to define us. Our contributions to the US and the world is what I see when I think of African History. As the Jews, Greeks, Romans and other people groups who experienced slavery as well, don’t forget the dark days of their history; they focus on their accomplishments which far outweigh the blemish within their history. While we don’t forget the denigration we faced and continue to face, we make sure we are remembered for our contributions and accomplishments to the betterment of mankind, which outweigh the part of our history that could never keep us down. This is what I think of when I think of African History – all year.
What a word; very thought provoking, inspirational and spiritual at the same time. Thanks for sharing!
Wow
What a great article! I’m proud of my uncle! Keep shining for Jesus.
What a beautiful essay! I appreciate the scripture references and poem. Well done Rev Dr Boayue!
Congratulations and thanks for the enlightenment, Rev. Dr. Boayue; thanks also for sharing the Gospel!
Good reminder of our history and where God has brought us from. Thank you!
Whɑt’s up all, here everу person is sharing these know-how, thus it’s fastіdious to геad this weblog, and I used to ⲣay
а visit this webpage everydaу.