Saturday, July 31, 2010

Expectations

As I ponder the prospect of traveling to Egypt (Kemet), several thoughts flash through my mind. This is a journey that I have long sought to undertake. I had planned on making the trek last summer, but my health rendered this impossible. Since then, I have prayed for strength and healing. Praise God for allowing me to move forward.

The mere thought of visiting the cradle of civilization, which is nestled along the banks of the Nile River, invokes a myriad of emotions. My expectations are high as I anticipate viewing one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the majestic Great Pyramids of Giza or as I prepare to marvel at the grandeur of Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple at Deir el Bahri, which is near the Valley of the Kings. The Temples of Ramses II and his queen Nefertiti at Abu Simbel in Nubia have a special allure for me. These two massive rock temples are among the most magnificent monuments in the world. These are just a few examples of the many treasures that will soon be revealed.

At many of our stops, I seek to pour libations to pay homage to our ancient ancestors. Their contributions to humankind in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, religion and the arts have long been ignored. They leave behind a legacy of greatness. So, this journey, in part, is undertaken to correct the blatant attempt by many so-called scholars to mis-educate me.

Many individuals that have traveled to Kemet describe the visit as a life altering experience. For people of African descent this is especially true. We must understand that, for the most part, education for African American for more than 400 years has been designed to dehumanize and disconnect us from our rich African culture and heritage. Therefore, it is important that we begin a process of re-education. This is critical to our liberation and achievement. It is never too late to learn and grow intellectually.

I invite all who follow this blog to ponder the images, thoughts and reflections posted by members of this study aboard experience. Not only will it be an unparalleled learning experience for each of the participants, but readers of this blog have an opportunity to share in this journey. I hope that this virtual experience will encourage many of you to plan a similar visit to Kemet.

Lastly, I look forward to meeting and sharing this experience with the others members of this study aboard journey.

Peace and Blessings,


Clarence Jones, CPA

1 comment:

Dana A Williams said...

Clarence, climb in and out of every pyramid and tomb. The coolness and energy are amazing. The temple and statues and architecture will make you ponder our simplicity and complexity all at once. Keep blogging and adding visual images; it will inspire and reinvigorate us all.