This February is gonna be different. Black History Month is only twenty- eight days, so I intend on making the most of it for my home-schooled children and our learning pod students. We will be intentional about celebrating our culture – EVERY single day with workshops, conversations, and ole school, low- technology research! Feel free to join us as we discover and share our current challenges as a large African American family here in the south, and honor how our ancestors overcame many of then with their inner strength, spiritual guidance, creative will power, and communal efforts.
All of our live engagement will be on QC Supermom Facebook and Instagram pages. So if you are not following now, be sure to hit the like and follow button on them right now—> FB and here’s IG
PARENTS of black children, it’s time to teach a new way! It is our responsibility to help them work through our history so it won’t haunt them within their future. As they gain knowledge and age, they will begin to challenge the system and want to play a role in deconstructing institutional barriers. This year,we must teach our children a more full circle view of black history. Otherwise, we will fail them! We are NOTHING without our ancestors. Nothing without access to our history. We are more than slaves, ballers, and drug dealers. African Americans are not to be feared, shunned or avoided. Black excellence is not confined to athletics and entertainment. I am so thankful for my parents for ensuring that we not only learned our family history, but also understood the challenges of people that looked the most like us. We got the painfully truth, blissful success and everything in between. From them, I have learned that when children are taught black history in their homes, and how we have contributed positively to society, education,science, art, law and medicine, it gives them an appreciation for themselves.
Lack of cultural appreciation leads to xenophobia both in the United States and around the world.
in. It’s really good and loaded with culturally rich information.
Traveling Seeds —
Africans brought over many seeds- A few of out favorite ones are–> Watermelon Black-eye Peas, Okra, Coffee and the West African Yam
African Traditional Kids Games-
Here’s one I found online. I called my friend in Kumasi to learn more. He says that children still play theses games today.!
Pronounced “Mboo-bay Mboo-bay,” this game uses a Zulu word for lion. The Zulu tribe is based in what is modern-day South Africa. The game is good for groups of six or more.
In this game, children help a lion, or mbube, locate and capture an impala (a deer-like animal with antlers). Players begin the game standing in a circle and two blindfolded players start the game. One player is the lion and the other one is the impala.
First, both players are spun around. Next, players in the circle begin calling out to the lion, “mbube, mbube!” As the impala gets closer to the lion, the circle players’ chants get quicker and louder. Conversely, if the lion is far away, the circle’s chants decrease and get softer.
If the lion fails to catch the impala in a minute, a new lion is chosen, and if the lion catches the impala, a new impala is chosen.
Ngunui/ Intonga -> This is a stick fighting game. It is quite violent but considered as part of South Africa’s culture. You might be a part of this sport by just viewing from the sidelines as it has rules that you might not be aware of. It is a game that helps young men develop endurance and learning to defend without “weapons of war”. It was a traditional way of settling disputes or for deciphering the stronger man amongst herdsmen.
It is a game of two, usually played by young men. Both players hold on to two sticks each, one for attack and the other for defense. A helmet or a rugby scrum cap is worn to protect the head. Strikes to the head, neck, knees, and ankles attract points while areas behind the ears and the groin when attacked are considered foal. It is advisable that you simply watch the sport as it is played so you don’t earn yourself bad injuries.
We Are Some Soulful, Beautiful, Naturally good people! This video of kids playing just warmed my soul! Watch it here.
African Medicine:
I want my kids to be able to stay healthy after leaving our home. For this I want to infuse their brains in herbal remidies that they can easily reclaim as needed. Herbs and roots like garlic, and onions were documented as being used 4,500 years before present. Humans used spices to help preserve foods before refrigeration. Both were also used in religious ceremonies too.
This month they will learn how to use herbs, roots, and other parts of a plant, etc … to heal by creating: infusions, oils, poultices and lotions.
Note: To prejudice mothers-> “Inclusion and Respect are both Learned in the home.”
Our History. Our Story
Ok, this one will require our children to annoy us a little more, but it’s ok. They will be asking us questions about our parents, our siblings, our childhood, our education, our favorite ancestors, our dreams, our relationship with God, food, nature, our struggles- our story. After all who better to tell them who they are give them a sense of self? —— RIGHT!!! Their parents!!! Then we’ll put it all in a book for them to keep as heirlooms.
QC Supermom 