Ancestral Collage: Dr. Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs, Part 3
By Dr. Gloria J. Latimore-Peace
Presented by Omni-Virtual University
"I have drunk deeply of late from the fountain of my black culture
I have sat at the knee of and learned from Mother Africa
I have discovered the truth of my heritage
The truth that has been so often obscured and omitted…."
Dr. Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs[1]
This H3O Art of Life Blog represents another effort to demonstrate my reverence for the "Mother of Black History", Dr. Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs. Her autobiography," Life with Margaret…", in addition to other books written about her (See Recommended Readings)- plus what the reader may have learned from personal or other experiences- provide ample biographical facts about her life such as that her birthday is November 1st, and so on. These will not be reiterated here. What is offered, herein, is an up-close and personal glimpse of our Queen Mother by people who knew her long and well. I am privileged to say that "Yours truly" was one of them from her time as a student in Dr. Burroughs' Art class at DuSable High School until this very day.
Among the significant others presented here are: Ancestor Lawrence E. Kennon; Dr. Carol Adams; Diane Dinkins-Carr; Prof. Robert T. Starks; and Faheem Majeed who are featured in Part One of "Reflections on the Life of an Icon: Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs", an H3O Art of Life Show. Ancestor Timuel D. Black; Queen Mother Helen Sinclair; Eleanor Chatman; Dr. Jerome Lee, Jr; and Artist Debra Hand are featured in Part Two.
The importance of remembering and honoring our Ancestors cannot be over-emphasized especially since, as Dr. Harold Pates so incisively proclaimed, we are being " de-Ancestralized",i.e., denied access to our own true ancestors by an admixture of the theft of their identities[2]; the substitution of the ancestors of our oppressors; and the false accusation that paying homage to them is "Ancestor Worship".
Yet, we are inundated with non-Black images and symbols:
"in a white world, A place where white has been made to represent
All that is good and pure and fine and decent
Where clouds are white, and dolls, and heaven
Heaven surely is a white, white place…"[3]
Will the real "Ancestor Worshippers" please stand up?
It is imperative that we reclaim, revere, and venerate not only our Ancestors and their legacies, but also our true identity which continues to be obscured by a litany of n-words and other pseudonyms. This means that we must devote far more than one month to the study of OurStory as preserved for us by Ancestors like Dr. Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs, Ancestor Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of Black History", and the legions of others whom we shall hold in high esteem every day from this day forward.
Recommended Viewing
Recommended Readings:
Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs. "Life with Margaret: The Official Autobiography of Dr. Margaret T.G. Burroughs.
Dr. Mary Ann Cain. South Side Venus: The Legacy of Margaret Burroughs
Eleanor Chatman. Me and Dr. B.
Ancestor George G.M. James. Stolen Legacy
Recommended Reading: H3O Art of Life Blogs:
Blognotes
[1] "What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black?
[2] The Black Presence in the Bible: Discovering the Black and African Identity of Biblical Person's and Nations, Teachers Editio by Rev. Dr. Walter A. McCray
[3] Ibid, "What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black?"