Jan 18, 2008 6:00 am US/Central
Texan With Character: Miles Dean
(CBS 11 / TXA 21)
Miles Dean wants to educate young people from New York to California about African American heritage.
One thing that makes his journey so inspirational -- he's making the 180-day, 6,000-mile trip on horseback.
His horse, Sankofa, and Dean maneuvered their way through Dallas rush hour traffic earlier this month.
"I am going to teach you to find out the meaning of the word Sankofa and see how that word relates to what it is I am doing," Dean said during that visit.
The meaning of "sankofa" is the motivation behind Dean's trip. Sankofa comes from a language used in Ghana and means "to return to get it."
On one of the areas of the Black Heritage Riders' Website, the horse gives his perspective on the type of human dean is.
"We've been together since I was 3 months old. He's very sensitive to my feelings and appreciative about the role my ancestors played in helping his ancestors at a time when sometimes, the horse was their only companion. Did you know that when the horse was first born on this earth we looked more like a greyhound dog about 10 inches high, instead of the mighty Arabian/Saddlebred Stallion that stands before you today?"
The animal's profile also emphasizes the partnership between people and horses.
"My ancestors have been partners to human beings since we first met. We have had an impact on every culture that we have come in contact with. The only reason why most people don't understand this importance is because horses did not write the history books."
Although just in jest, the horse's "blog" entries resonate Dean's message that his generation "dropped in the ball" in educating others of the roles and contributions African Americans have made throughout history.
"I believe I have a debt, because I am able to walk around and do this," Dean said during his North Texas visit. "Just because I am able to walk around -- not have shackles and chains on my hands and feet -- someone paid the ultimate price for me to do this. I owe them a debt."
Dean will spend 26 days traveling across Texas teaching school children about the role of black conquistadors at the Alamo.
"That debt is to my ancestors everybody -- even you -- you owe a debt because you are able to what you do without the pain and suffering they went through," he told a group of students.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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