Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Underground!! Why you should watch it!

Seeing the previews and advertisements for Underground (WGN), I automatically thought, "another slave show". As a black woman, wife of a black man, mother of two young black men, and two young black women.........I don't want to see another slave anything. I know the importance of passing on the lesson and history of my people. Teaching the younger generation about slavery and oppression. But these topics stir feelings of pain, anger, resentment, and to an extent hate. How do you teach and pass on these lessons without the emotions? Truth is, it's impossible. Human lessons involve human emotions. Although it's not a historically accurate depiction of what occurred. It opens a small window and allows us to look into the past. The story of the slaves as its shown can fit into history in so many narratives. In addition, seeing the slaves shown as people with intelligence, emotions that extend beyond anger, and even love. It's not the typical narrative. I can even see the relationship reference between blacks and native American people. I only knew the story of my family's relation to native Americans that was passed on from my great grandmother who died in 2004 at 90 years of age. If not for the sheer entertainment and insight, allow the show to spark curiosity that may motivate you to research your ancestry!