The year 2004 should be the year that we Black folks should finally graduate from the 'Negroness' of "Black" history month. Founded in 1926 by the esteemed Carter G. Woodson, and choosing February because it was the birth month of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln(!), it reflects a 'Negro' mentality:
a) Celebrity history; with an emphasis on famous individuals as opposed to the achievements of our people as a whole.
b) Emphasis on African-American history and invariably using the starting off point of slavery!

We need to collectively, rejuvenate the classical "Sed festival" which symbolically was an annual celebration of the rejuvenation of the African king (Pharaoh), and by extension, the nation. This ritual was called the 'Festival of the tail' or (depending on the particular Ancient Egyptian dialect):
Heb Sadi
Heb Sadji
Heb Sati

We can collectively recreate the ceremonial aspects of this festival as well as instill within it its intellectual component:
1) Emphasis on the accomplishments of Black people as a people, and our contributions to human Civilization:

a) Classical Africa: Ancient Egypt; Nubia; Meroe; Axum

b) Medieval Africa: Ghana; Mali; Songhai;etc

c) Contemporary Africa and the African diaspora

--I suggest the "Sed" festival be held during the month of March, since March 6, 1957 was the day that Ghana became an independent state.
--I suggest the name HebSadji for the "Sed" festival

Tell me what you think...

Walter Moore