4 The Hampton Roads Messenger Editorial


Learn Your African American Story; Then Celebrate


vital records, social security records, school records, tax records, military records, voter records and newspapers can be used to obtain family history information after 1870. Post-Civil War entries from the Freedman's Bureau Records and the records of the Southern Claim Commission specifically document thousands of African Americans. If one is unsure whether their ancestors were enslaved prior to the Civil War, they may want to start with the U.S. Free Population Schedules of the 1860 census.


I read a quote recently that could BY ANGELA JONES As always, when African


American History Month rolls around, I immediately begin to think of how much of our history is unknown, distorted or just plain hidden. The celebration of African American History Month is just what its name implies, a celebration of someone else’s story, “His-story.” It is a story that is not told by African Americans; however, this story is being written by the European American authors of American history books. Whether African American history has been distorted or hidden intentionally or un- intentionally, much research is required by every individual African American to determine his own story.


One could begin his research of


his story with his family members. Many African American families have an historian; a family member who knows most of the post-civil war history of the family. Pre-Civil War records of African Americans are more difficult to uncover.


The internet is a useful tool in


tracing one’s ancestry and can often lead to great discoveries without leaving one’s couch. There was a story in the news recently about an 8 year old boy in Missouri who used Facebook to reunite siblings who were separated for 65 years. Unfortunately, not every internet search will end with this degree of success.


The federal census of 1870 was


the first census in which African Americans were listed by name; therefore, investigating the records from this census provides a unique opportunity to glean post-civil war information about African American families. The basic genealogical entries from cemeteries, wills, census records,


be paraphrased as saying, “No one can empathize with something (or someone) that they do not know.” If you do not know who you are, you cannot teach others about your plight. This theory may explain why there is no empathy for the millions of African American children who are in the cradle-to-prison pipeline; or the many young African Americans, who are victims of violence in their own neighborhoods. When people do not have knowledge of someone’s history, they cannot sympathize with them nor have empathy for them. That fact may also explain the so-called “Black on black crime” phenomena; neither party, the victim or the perpetrator, has empathy for the other because neither party knows the true history of their ancestors before the Civil War. Is that by design?


One may remember from the


movie "Roots" that Africans were encouraged to forget their African heritage and even their African names when they came to America. They were stripped of their identity and given another name. There are numerous genealogy companies that will help one trace their family tree in spite of the efforts that were made to keep this information from coming to light. Some African Americans have resorted to genealogical DNA analysis to determine where their ancestors originated.


Lack of the knowledge of one’s


Established 2006 Angela Jones, Publisher Chris Parks, Editor


history can have a devastating impact on one’s present and future. American prisons and cemeteries are filled with African Americans who suffered because they never really knew their true and complete history. Not the history taught in American schools that begins with them being descendants of slaves [research indicates that prior to the U.S. Civil War at least one out of every ten African Americans (more than 200,000 in the North and another 200,000 in the South) were free when the Civil War began in 1861] and ends more than 400 years later with a man, who was not the descendant of American slaves, being


Rae Willis, Graphic Designer Ida Davis, Contributing Writer


PO Box 10414 ● Norfolk, VA 23513


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President of the Unites


elected States.


Current American history boasts an African American President, whose father was not a US citizen and whose was


Volume 7 Number 6


American. Our president is, quite frankly,


a man with whom most African Americans have very little in common; furthermore, his election does not negate the extreme hardships African Americans have faced throughout the


66 Ways FROM PAGE 1


quotes from several dealers (over the phone or Internet) and let each know you are contacting the others.


8. Remember there is no “cooling


off” period on new car sales. Once you have signed a contract, you are obligated to buy the car.


Used Cars 9. Before buying any used car:


• Compare the seller’s asking price with the average retail price in a “bluebook” or other guide to car prices which can be found at many libraries, banks, and credit unions.


• Have a mechanic you trust check the car, especially if the car is sold “as is.”


10. Consider purchasing a used car


from an individual you know and trust. They are more likely than other sellers to charge a lower price and point out any problems with the car.


Auto Leasing 11. Don’t decide to lease a car just


because the payments are lower than on a traditional auto loan. The leasing payments are lower because you don’t actually own the car.


12. Leasing a car is very complicated.


When shopping, consider the price of the car (known as the capitalized cost), your trade-in allowance, any down payment, monthly payments, various fees (excess mileage, excess “wear and tear,” end-of-lease), and the cost of buying the car at the end of the lease. A valuable source of information about auto leasing can be found in Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide, which is published by the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission.


Gasoline 13. You can save hundreds of


dollars a year by comparing prices at different stations, pumping gas yourself, and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner’s manual.


14You can save up to $100 a year


on gas by keeping your engine tuned and your tires inflated to their proper pressure.


Car Repairs 15. Consumers lose billions of


dollars each year on unneeded or poorly done car repairs. The most important step that you can take to save money on these repairs is to find a skilled, honest mechanic. Before you need repairs, look for a mechanic who:


• • is certified and well


established; has done good work for


someone you know; and


• communicates well about repair options and costs


Insurance


Auto Insurance 16. You can save several hundred


mother European


dollars a year by purchasing auto insurance from a licensed, lowprice insurer. Call your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different companies. Then call at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn


February 2013


history of America. Many African Americans were living in America, as free individuals, before Europeans landed here. Today, African Americans should free their minds; research their history; tell their story and not “His-story;” and then, and only then, should they celebrate!


what they would charge you for the same coverage.


17. Talk to your agent or insurer


about raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage to at least $500 or, if you have an old car, dropping this coverage altogether. This can save you hundreds of dollars on insurance premiums.


18. Make certain that your new


policy is in effect before dropping your old one.


Homeowner/Renter Insurance 19. You can save several hundred


dollars a year on homeowner insurance and up to $50 a year on renter insurance by purchasing insurance from a low-price, licensed insurer. Ask your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different licensed companies. Then call at least four of the lowest priced insurers to learn what they would charge you. If such a publication is not available, it is even more important to call at least four insurers for price quotes.


20. Make certain you purchase


enough coverage to replace the house and its contents. “Replacement” on the house means rebuilding to its current condition.


21. Make certain your new policy is


in effect before dropping your old one. Life Insurance 22. If you want insurance protection


only, and not a savings and investment product, buy a term life insurance policy.


23. If you want to buy a whole life,


universal life, or other cash value policy, plan to hold it for at least 15 years. Canceling these policies after only a few years can more than double your life insurance costs.


24. Check the National Association


of Insurance Commissioners website or your local library for information on the financial soundness of insurance companies.


Banking/Credit Checking Accounts and Debit Cards 25. You can save more than $100 a


year in fees by selecting a free checking account or one with no minimum balance requirement. Request a complete list of fees that are charged on these accounts, including ATM and debit card fees.


26. See if you can get free or lower


cost checking through direct deposit or agreeing to ATM only use. Be aware of charges for using an ATM not associated with your financial institution.


Savings Products 27. Before opening a savings


account, find out whether the account is insured by the federal government (FDIC for banks or NCUA for credit unions). Financial institutions offer a number of products, such as mutual funds and annuities, which are not insured.


28. Once you select a type of savings


account, use the telephone, newspaper, and Internet to compare rates and fees offered by different financial institutions, including those outside your city. These rates can vary a lot and, over time, can significantly affect interest earnings.


29. To earn the highest return on


savings (annual percentage yield) with little or no risk, consider certificates of deposit (CDs) or U.S. Savings Bonds


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