The more we know

Randy Hughes

Creston

The value of learning history is to make the future better.

Knowing what conditions were faced by those who came before us; the actions that were taken and the results of those actions can help us guide in our own time. It is, therefore, important to know the past as completely as possible. Promoting the study of Black history during February is an essential step to broaden our knowledge of the past to help guide us to a better future.

In 1968, the documentary television show “Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed” was first broadcast. I was then two years into completing a degree in history. I was embarrased to discover that I knew very few of the facts presented in that show. I knew that in order to effectively outline the history of the United States I had to broaden my knowledge. That has been an ongoing process. I know more than I once did but also know that I have only scratched the surface.

That scratching has both inspired me and horrified me. Most importantly it has helped to give a more complete understanding of the world in which we live. The more we know about the past the more likely we are to able to shape the future.