Higher Education: Doing for Self
By Dr. Gloria Latimore-Peace Presented By Omni-University
Presented by Omni-U Virtual University
"History shows that it does not matter who is in power or what revolutionary power takes over the government, those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights in the end than they had at the beginning." Ancestor Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Maat Kherew.
Of all the gems of wisdom taken from his landmark work, "Miseducation of the Negro", the admonition quoted above is the least-cited but, nevertheless, it is equally significant. Ancestor Woodson's emphasis on the "Do-for-Self" philosophy that was so often emphasized and so essential to the welfare and well-being of Ourselves and Our fellow men and women, was exemplified by Our Ancestors:
The Honorable Marcus Mosaiah Garvey,
Maat Kherew; Martin Robison Delany, Maat Kherew; Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, Maat Khterew; Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, Maat Kherew; The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Maat Kherew; Jomo Kenyatta, Maat Kherew;
Maggie Lena Walker, Maat Kherew; Dr. Anita Young Boswell, Maat Kherew, et al.
An equal part of “The Miseducation of the Negro" is devoted to making the distinction between "getting a job" and "making a living." Woodson makes the critical point that:
"Foreigners, who have not studied economics, grow rich by taking up the business of studying opportunities among our own people." The proliferation of convenience stores and vanity businesses, in our neighborhoods, such as eyebrow and nail salons, is a testament to this fact. Meanwhile, we continue to mortgage our families futures in order to pursue the dominant educational objective of "getting a good education" because this is purported to be the pipeline that leads to getting a "good job." Ultimately and inevitably, it is anticipated that once the "good job" is secured and student and/or parent loans- and related debts- are being paid, the "good life" will follow. However, according to the way of thinking of Our Ancestors, a "good job" is an oxymoron since doing for others can never be more beneficial, in the long run, than "doing for Self" -especially doing for the collective self. [1]
We are introduced to one of many early examples of this "self- reliance" philosophy, Maggie Lena Walker, in a sermon presented by Rev. Randall K. Blakey, Executive Pastor of The La Salle Street Church in Chicago and Volunteer Executive Director of the Near North Unity Program. As her story goes, Ancestor Maggie Lena Walker joined her mother as a member and,subsequently, as leader of "The Independent Order of St. Luke," a mutual benevolent society that provided "insurance, educational funding, and financial services to Black people after the Civil War. The organization also launched a Department store, a newspaper, and ..., a bank that she strongly believed was the way to uplift Black women. The economic independence of the Black woman was seen by her as an “ethical imperative.” This view was shared by Dr. Arnita Young Boswell who, in 1970, founded "The League of Black Women." [3]
Maggie Lena Walker charted her own "course of studying," incorporating correspondence courses in banking and accounting while utilizing a bank as the classroom in which to hone her skills. Thereafter, Ancestor Maggie Lena Walker became "the first Black woman, ever, to head a US bank, The St. Luke Pennysaving Bank, which she founded in Richmond Virginia in1903." It remains in operation to this day- 117 years later. As Rev. Blakey observed, "She zeroed in on an underserved market and focused her dynamic energy on meeting its needs. Her story is all the more remarkable," Rev. Blakey concluded, "because it played out on a stage of an intense and excruciating global pandemic of racism." (2)
One of the main points that We are considering here is collective Self-reliance, which is set forth in the following quote from Ancestor Julius Nyerere, Maat Kherew, former President of Tanzania and author of the theory of "Education for Self Reliance:"
"The education provided must therefore encourage the development in each citizen of three things: an inquiring mind; an ability to learn from what others do, and reject or adapt it to their own needs; and, a basic confidence in his own position as a free and equal member of the society, who values others and is valued by them for what he does and not by what he obtains." Much more on the subject is undertaken in The H3O Art of Life Shows,” Taking Care of Business: Consumer Education, Parts 1& 2” and “Women and Wealth.” You will find the links to these show below in the "Recommended Viewing" section of this blog.
As Rodney K. Strong, JD, so aptly observed:
“When we went through what historians call the “nadir” of our existence, as Black folk in this country, the way we survived was to come inwardly and build our Black churches, build our Black Colleges, build our Black institutions and use those as a base to respond. We're at a time now when we need to do that kind of institution- building and the only way to do that is to consolidate our wealth.”
It is hoped that a consensus is reached that is based on the philosophy of “Do for Self/ Self- reliance” so that more effort will be directed toward this oblective.
Blognotes: [1] Jomo Kenyatta, "Facing Mt. Kenya” [2] “Entrepreneurship in the Face of a Global Pandemic" Sermon by Rev. Randall F. Blakey, Executive Pastor, LaSalle St. Church, Sunday, October 4, 2020 YouTube https://youtu.be/DXvjXStK8zk
"Women and Wealth," Featuring: Sandra Finley.
Recommended Viewing:
“Taking Care of Business, Consumer Education, Part 1,” Featuring Toure Muhammad, Publisher of Bean Soup Times.
“Taking Care of Business: Consumer Education. Part 2” Featuring Toure Muhammad and Raymond Aikens
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