Tom Lee - Worthy Negro

A week and one day ago, I visited Memphis Tennessee.  My significant and I partook in the TSU vs. JSU festivities (Southern Heritage Classic).  The weekend was mostly for my soul mate to enjoy.  I’m not that big on football any longer. The day of our departure, my significant other wanted to visit the riverfront.  I was okay with that.  It’s a beautiful site and also now, named the Tom Lee Park.  I wasn’t aware that the name of the river park is named Tom Lee Park and that Tom Lee is a black man.  Discovering Tom Lee was another black history moment for us.

We took the opportunity to view and read the statues/monument of Tom Lee.  He was an honorable man of integrity from what I can see and understand.  But here’s what got next to me and my significant other.  On the monument, Tom Lee was a, “a worthy negro.”  When I read that part, it took me off guard with a head role and all.  It stated, exactly that he was  “ a worthy negro” because Tom took it upon himself to rescue several white men who capsized in 1925.   

That’s good, I suppose.  We were very flabbergasted at the wording, “worthy negro.”  Hmmm.  If he’s a worth negro, what are the rest of the negros?  Unworthy?  I feel that this monument is dated and should be changed to say, “he was an honorable man of integrity.”  Yes; I understand that in the days of old black people were called negros.  We went from the n-word (still considered the N-word) to negros.  From Negros to colored.  From colored to black people.  Now, society in America is so stupid because descents from slaves referred as “African Americans.”  Yes, people; that is stupid.  Very stupid.  In order to be called African American, you must be born in Africa. It’s obvious that blacks at one time stolen from Africa, but they were not born there.   If you are born on American soil, you are American.  It doesn’t matter your parents’ origin. The first slave bone in America is American.  However, that is another blog for another week.

Getting back to Tom Lee; I’m still perturbed over the term, “worthy negro.”  What negro has ever been unworthy?  I just would like to know. Because during slavery, and during Jim Crowe, we Black people had no choice in following the rules.  Even if blacks followed the rules, they were either beaten, hung, raped, sodomized, or castrated.  So, if Tom Lee is a worthy Negro, what are blacks considered modern day?

Think about it.

It did happen

This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit the civil rights museum in Memphis.  I’m on my second visit, but it still seemed like the very first time.  It’s amazing how much occurred in America’s past that people seem to have forgotten. Maybe we haven’t forgotten, but we want to overlook because what occurred was too horrible.  It’s not a vivid of the imagination. Slavery was real and a horrific time in history.  

 

My significant other wanted to visit the Civil Rights Museum, but I must admit.  I was hesitant because it is awful to believe and think of how this could have ever happened – how people succumbed to this atrocity. Still today; no apologies, no retribution to the descendants, and people still do not recognize us as being a citizen.  When I say us, I mean any descendant of slavery, which is truly unfair.

Getting back to the Civil rights museum, I recommend any one of any race, creed, a religious or political background to visit.  It is something that will make you think just a little different, that’s if you have any humanity within your heart.  We took several pictures and discussed the when, why, where, and how of it all.  It is still painful to see and to think of even at this particular moment.

However, I do not feel this is a place for children to roam or visit unless their mind is ready for this sort of thing.  Several children that were playing appeared to me (in observance) that this was not a big deal.  They went from room to room, dancing, laughing, as if it was all a big joke.  I often marvel if parents or schools that bring children at the museum explain what it’s all about.  Once again; I state that children should not attend unless their mindset is there or understand.  Until parents explain to children what happened and how real it is, there is not a particular point in having that sort of field trip.

I know that It has been a very long time since I shared something on my blog.  Life has kept me quite busy for the past years, but I’m back.  I will continue to share each month my thoughts and new adventures because I’m sure there are more to come.