For the Sake of Aaron: Celebrating Our Black Men "Men for All Seasons" by Charles Bibbs

Young males who are part of the "What Is A Man?" mentoring project, struck a pose recently in front of Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History.

Male students explore their past to make a better future during Chicago trip to Black historical institutions

by Dr. William Rogers
Nirvana Ministries and director of the "What Is A Man" project
"The use of history as a tool of liberation is an ongoing battle that the African in American Community must come to grips with.

"Far too many African in American people reject the use of history as a tool to understand the past, the present, and the future. The rejection of history, by many of us, results in the denial of our true condition and situation as thirty million people living in the United States."--Dr. Conrad Worrill

The above statement is paramount in the process of empowering African American children. Young people must be taught the powerful legacy of their ancestors. This process will give purpose to their journey through life.

One of the curriculum formats for the "What Is A Man" project is reclamation. We center our young men on the idea of going back to the blueprint of their ancestors and bringing ideas of empowerment forward to support and give strength in areas of life that may challenge them along the way.

In traditional West African philosophy it is often referred to as Sankofa. The concept of Sankofa is derived from King Adinkera of the Akan people of West Afrika.

Sankofa is expressed in the Akan language as "se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki." Literally translated it means "it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot."

"Sankofa" teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward. That is, we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward.

Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of, can be reclaimed, revived, preserved and perpetuated. Visually and symbolically "Sankofa" is expressed as a mythic bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg (symbolizing the future) in its mouth.

The participants of the "What Is A Man" project are consistently taught this principle. The group journeyed to Chicago on Saturday April 28, along with 11 mentors and chaperones.

There are many strong African American cultural images in the city of Chicago that provide an excellent opportunity to expose young people to the struggles, work and life of African American people in the Mid West.

The trip started with the DuSable Museum, which opened dialogue concerning the founding of the City of Chicago by an African, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. The tour also included an expedition on life in Traditional Africa prior to slavery and an exhibit on the former Mayor Harold Washington.

Students were provided disposable cameras, donated by the "Milwaukee Community Journal," so that they could capture many of the highlights or special memories of their trip. The tour included a ride through some of the African American business districts and communities of Chicago. A bus tour with discussion was also done through the campus of the University of Chicago.

The tour concluded with a scrumptious cafeteria-style soul food dinner from Morrison’s Restaurant sponsored by Nirvana Ministries.

The impact and significance of this trip will be highlighted through writing, art and PowerPoint presentations in upcoming workshop activities.

Future trips will include a historical tour of early Black settlements in Wisconsin to be conducted by the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum and a tour of the Wisconsin Black Holocaust Museum.