When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary. Carter G. Woodson
Written in 1933, the timelessness of this book is staggering. Our people have made tremendous strides in this country, yet there is much work left to be completed. The crime, poverty, violence and under-education is unacceptable. Much of the self-inflicted woes are rooted in the mentality of inferiority.
We are bombarded with numerous negative images and stereotypes that subtly and overtly project black inferiority (even from black media). Our children, especially in poor urban and rural communities, have to learn their options for success are not limited to entertainment and sports.
This book, written by the father of African-American history, Carter G. Woodson, should be a staple in all African-American households because it holds the key to breaking the yoke of mental slavery.
His central point is that an emancipated mind/community is not self-destructive. The manifestations of a free mind are self-empowerment, self-sufficiency and a community that invests in their children.
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