A Wealth of Wisdom

By Cokiesha B. Robinson |  

 
In February of every year, the United States pauses to shine the spotlight on African Americans and their achievements. We are grateful that others will learn more about our culture and our investment into this great country, but we too should accept the challenge and responsibility of learning or revisiting our history. May we join in the celebration of how God has used the voices of many of our heroes and heroines to equip us today.
(The following excerpts taken from “A Wealth of Wisdom...” see side bar for citation)

In their words we find a treasure chest of wisdom:

Maya Angelou-poet, educator, author, actress, playwright, producer 
“I want young people to know that you may encounter many defeats but you can not be defeated. Defeats are necessary so you can know who you are, how you can rely upon yourself…” Also, “Most people don’t grow up. People age, but to grow up is to take responsibility for the time you take up and the space you occupy and to honor every living person for his or her humanity.” 

Lee Archer-Tuskegee Airman 
“I am most proud of the fact that I married someone I loved very much and stayed married to her for fifty-two years…we raised four children…I evaluate myself as a person on how my kids turned out. I’ve done many things I am proud of, especially becoming a pilot. It took some doing under the conditions I faced.” 

Elizabeth Catlett-artist, educator 
“This is advice that I would give: try and do something constructive, not to be rich and not to be famous, not to be important…make your life important.” 

Dorothy Height- civil rights activist 
“You can do something significant only by being apart of a collaborative, organized effort…a kind of unity that makes it possible of us to make an impact.” 

Henry H. Mitchell-minister, educator 
“My father taught me that anything that can be broken can be fixed.” 

Andrew Young-U.S. Congressman, former mayor of Atlanta 
“When I was mayor, we didn’t make very much. My wife worked as well and we had 3 kids in college but we didn’t want for anything. My grandparents used to quote the scripture, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor their seed beg for bread. Whatever we needed, it always came.” 

Barak Obama-44th President of the United States 
“Yes We Can!” 

Clearly our history is inextricably tied to who we are. The voices of our elders, both past and present, continue to encourage and inspire. May we reflect with an appreciation for their contributions. May we also praise God for His investment into our lives by way of Jesus Christ. 

He takes our story and wraps it in His story. Our Afro-centric thread weaves in and out of our Christi-centric fabric. Oh, what a marvelous and enduring “quilt” to behold. May we ever draw from their treasures of wisdom…their words are practical, hopeful, relevant and valuable.
 

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Source:
A Wealth of Wisdom: Legendary African American Elders Speak 
By Camille O. Cosby, Rene Poussaint, Howard L Bingham 
Photographs by Howard L Bingham 
Contributor Howard L Bingham 
Published by Simon and Schuster, 2007 
ISBN 0743482298, 9780743482295

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