Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

In May of 2020, America was forced to do something she had avoided for most, if not all, of her 247 years. 2020 forced America to look into the mirror and deal with America the Ugly that was showing for the whole world to see. Instead of seriously and candidly dealing with her Ugly, and working to remove and improve upon the Ugly, many politicians decided to try and mask the Ugly as we masked during the height of the pandemic. It started with the 45th POTUS to just simply deny the truth or what I plainly call a "Lie" about the truth.

Now there is a movement to rewrite history so it resembles "his-story." At the beginning of this year, the state of Florida led by Gov. DeSeneless, my apologies DeSantis, began the assault on history by banning books that shared the TRUTH about America. In his efforts to kidnap the truth, he has encouraged the Florida State Board of Education to approve lies or rewrite history for the sake of "his-story."

The Bible states, "That you should know the truth and the truth shall set you free." If the Bible is correct that the truth brings liberation then a lie brings bondage and prison. The truth sets free and a lie locks up. The latest assault on the TRUE history of America, is in the fashion in which Florida Public Schools will now teach that African Americans benefitted from slavery because it taught them useful skills. REALLY? When this line of "his-story" I guess First or Native Americans also benefitted from having their land stolen and the majority of their ethnic group slaughtered. But hey, they now have free college and casinos.

Well, let's see how beneficial slavery was to European American slaveholders and what skills did they learn from this inhuman chattel slavery experience. I guess that I can name a few that come to mind...kidnapping, separating families, human trafficking, rape, murder, lynching, cheating, pedophilia, exploitation, medical malpractice, police brutality, injustice, discrimination, racism, savage behavior, breaching copywriting laws, labor laws, and hatred to name a few. My message to Gov. DeSeneless, my apologies, DeSantis if the true History of America is to be taught it must include America the Ugly and America the Beauty, and stop indoctrinating our children and youth with "his-story!" Who would have ever imagined America a country that prides herself on freedom of speech, is so ashamed of her history that she would punish people for teaching that history, and would try to cover the truth with "his-story?"

America deserves better and the truth must be taught, regardless of how painful it might be to those students. If we do not learn from the mistakes of our past or history, we are doomed to repeat those same mistakes. Of course, there are many who want to return to what they call "The good ole days!" For my ancestors and their descendants, those days weren't so good. However, we did learn how to survive, love, forgive, preserve, and excel in the worst of conditions and circumstances. These are some skills we learned because of slavery and not from slavery. We already had agriculture and building skills, after all, our ancestors built pyramids without elevators! America can achieve the beauty we all imagine for our country, but she must deal truthfully with her Ugly!

Rev. Dr. John E. Duckworth, Pastor

Gethsemane Missionary

Baptist Church