Is it time to end Black History Month?

[fabulouslyghetto]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-07-black-history-month_N.htm

Should Black History Month itself fade into history?
Many have long argued that African-American history should be incorporated into year-round education. Now, claims that Black History Month is outdated are gaining a new potency, as schools diversify their curricula and President Barack Obama's election opens a new chapter in the nation's racial journey.

"If Obama's election means anything, it means that African-American history IS American history and should be remembered and recognized every day of the year," says Stephen Donovan, a 41-year-old lawyer.

Ending "paternalistic" observances like Black History Month, Donovan believes, would lead to "not only a reduction in racism, but whites more ready and willing and able to celebrate our difference, enjoy our traditions, without feeling the stain of guilt that stifles frank dialogue and acceptance across cultures."

Yemesi Oyeniyi, a 40-year-old stay-at-home mother, says that Black History Month feels like it's only for blacks, "and therefore fails to educate the masses of non-blacks."

 

[Jory]

*walks into thread turns around and walks right out*

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

*walks into thread turns around and walks right out*

I don't understand why topics like this make people run for the hills. Wait, I do understand, it's fragile sensibilities and a lack of understanding.

ANYWHO, I think ending BHM is long overdue, there's simply too much history to compress into one month, that's why you have all these niggas who think blacks have done nothing but consume welfare dollars, it pains me how many don't know the accomplishments and contributions of our diverse community, people of all colors seem to be painfully unaware of how blacks have contributed to science, medicine, technology, and especially the arts.

 

[MetaKnight]

I never really enjoyed any race-centric days. But that's only because I'm a younger black guy that probably didn't live in the harder days of discrimination.

But I think we are in better days now. We should go on from there and not look back.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

I know you're only joking but there are many people, right here in America that couldn't tell you the difference between Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman. While I think Black History Month is a very overlooked and laughed at tradition, I think just for the sake of exposure to facts and knowledge that it should continue to stay around.

The black community in general is treated like a joke, a punchline, nobody wants to discuss anything unless they're ranting about welfare dollars and prison statistics, baby mamas and absentee fathers. They cream their pants at the chance to discuss those things but when you try to combat that, they get ghost.

I think compacting it to one month, treating it like a novelty is part of the reason people are so ignorant about our history, including it into the regular historics curriculum would promote the idea that it's worthy of paying attention.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

No. It's because if anyone has an alternative view to the PC norm, they are called racist and chased out of the thread.

I haven't seen that happen as much as people claim it happens. On the opposite end, people can write mile long rants about the black community full of perjoratives, and calling them racist would result in being flamed. It's tit for tat.

Yes, and there are also many Americans who can't say who the first US President was, when the revolution happened or point to where they live on a map.

I'm aware, and this troubles me. A country that prides itself on being a superpower is full of idiots. NOTHING is more dangerous than a large group of idiots with power.

It deserves much more than that, but also it shouldn't be singled out as separate or unique.

I agree, I see BMH as an archaic compromise, one that has passed it's expiration date, like affirmative action.

they should also include native american, latin american, asian american etc. into US history as well.

Woah, nelly, you're gonna scare 'em off. One group of brownies at a time my friend.

 

[ColorSlaughter]

I very much agree with the ghetto one on this one. While they were excellent for their time, they are quite outdated now.

I'm sure most people know why BHM was created in the first place. I think.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Which is shocking since schools delicate the month to studying Black History.

Segregating the study perpetuates the notion that it's special, reducing it to one month "proves" that it's not really worthy of attention, just remember the major names and dates and you can breeze through February without really paying attention. If all it gets is a month, it must not be that important.

I'm sure most people know why BHM was created in the first place. I think.

I wouldn't bet money on it, people don't remember the Civil Rights era, they're not even aware that lynchings were happening well into the 70s and have evolved into police brutality which is more easily disguisable.

 

[Kurn]

Every Black History Month I purchase a book. Usually some volume of African-American Literature. I might buy these any other part of the year. But during February I make a point of it. It's what Americans should do because we get so distracted by unimportant things that we leave out the important things. And African-American History is a very important part of American History.
If you don't know that, you need to adopt my practice and start reading. Have you not read, for example, Frederick Douglass's autobiographical account of his early years? If you haven't it's like -- I'm not exaggerating -- not knowing what the Statue of Liberty is. You need to connect with this reality that is expressed in FD's little book which you can find for cheap at any used book store or for $7 or less new. It's a reality that's expressed by many other authors, many other classics, both fiction and non-fiction. You need to connect with this reality, I'm saying, because it's gonna tell you about being human and you need to connect with that. Especially if you're an American.

 

[Kurn]

That really disappoints me. I don't believe it's like that here. I even learnt about Dr. King and Frederick Douglass in Canada! It was just part of everyday American history....it wasn't part of 'black history'.

I don't know if anyone can help me, but is there a specific black history month in schools in Canada? I don't remember there being one... I remember it being incorporated into American history.

I keep editing my posts..oops.
I made comments about how it is up here, but it is by no means the greatest. I know much about American history and black history in the US, but I know very little about black history in Canada. There should be more incorporation here. Maybe its not as prominent as black history is in the US...Canadian history is more boring anyways, but it doesn't hurt to teach students more about black Canadian history. History here does focus on other minorities quite a bit, aboriginal, and asian, but I dont really remember black Canadian history in highschool. I suppose this is why in Toronto there was the creation of a black focused school...which I don't agree with at all.Like I've said all along, separation and singling out only makes things worse.

Hey Ryder,
I know that Canadian Black History could definitely make up a very interesting Week (maybe even two).
..."The African Diaspora in Northern North America" I don't know if that's a book but it could be.

 

[LilBit]

Segregating the study perpetuates the notion that it's special, reducing it to one month "proves" that it's not really worthy of attention, just remember the major names and dates and you can breeze through February without really paying attention. If all it gets is a month, it must not be that important.

Besides that, it provides an excuse for not integrating AfAm history into the history curriculum, AfAm literature into literature classes, AfAm music into music classes, etc.

I'm not that old, but the children in my mother's kindergarten class are clearly from a generation far removed from mine. I remember when MLK Day was first celebrated, and it was a big deal. Nowadays, kindergarteners are surprised that such a thing as racism could possibly exist. In my AP English class (1996-97 school year), Toni Morrison was our token writer of color. I had never heard of her before that class. Nor had I heard of Chinua Achebe. My baby brother (eight years younger than I) read Things Fall Apart in one of his high school English classes. When I taught the text last year, many of my students had not only heard about it, but they had read it before.

Education is diversifying. BHM helped start this. At this point, I'm not sure if it's helping or hurting. I wish that there were some way to guarantee that the history of all ethnic groups is properly represented in curricula nationwide. Barring national standards (of which I'm somewhat leery), there are two places where change can be made. First, the textbook publishers need to ensure that their textbook fairly represent all aspects of American history. (Given the small number of companies that control the vast majority of textbook publishing and distribution in this country, that should be a good place to start.) Second, teachers need to be educated on diverse aspects of American history and culture, and they need to be trained to respect diversity in the classroom.

 

[LilBit]

I wouldn't bet money on it, people don't remember the Civil Rights era, they're not even aware that lynchings were happening well into the 70s and have evolved into police brutality which is more easily disguisable.

Bitch, please! Lynchings are still taking place. I read of one just a few years ago. And we had a cross burning in Durham two or three years ago.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Bitch, please! Lynchings are still taking place. I read of one just a few years ago. And we had a cross burning in Durham two or three years ago.

If I referred to modern killings of blacks as lynchings I would be called a race-card playing Al Sharpton clone that's trying to get free welfare vouchers. It's no longer politically correct to refer to racist acts by their common titles, you have to give them colorful, less threatening (read=guilt inducing) terms. Those weren't "lynchings," they were "circumstantial murders of people of color."

 

[Yooper]

Besides that, it provides an excuse for not integrating AfAm history into the history curriculum, AfAm literature into literature classes, AfAm music into music classes, etc.

I'm not that old, but the children in my mother's kindergarten class are clearly from a generation far removed from mine. I remember when MLK Day was first celebrated, and it was a big deal. Nowadays, kindergarteners are surprised that such a thing as racism could possibly exist. In my AP English class (1996-97 school year), Toni Morrison was our token writer of color. I had never heard of her before that class. Nor had I heard of Chinua Achebe. My baby brother (eight years younger than I) read Things Fall Apart in one of his high school English classes. When I taught the text last year, many of my students had not only heard about it, but they had read it before.

Education is diversifying. BHM helped start this. At this point, I'm not sure if it's helping or hurting. I wish that there were some way to guarantee that the history of all ethnic groups is properly represented in curricula nationwide. Barring national standards (of which I'm somewhat leery), there are two places where change can be made. First, the textbook publishers need to ensure that their textbook fairly represent all aspects of American history. (Given the small number of companies that control the vast majority of textbook publishing and distribution in this country, that should be a good place to start.) Second, teachers need to be educated on diverse aspects of American history and culture, and they need to be trained to respect diversity in the classroom.

Very sensible argument!

FWIW, here's my two cents: BHM was a great idea, but it is time to call it quits.

I AM an older person. I'm also incredibly White. Sorry. I'm a product of private education, circa 1970's. The American History I got was a whitewashed, sanitized version history told from a strictly Euro-centric view. As I grew older, I began to realize what WASN'T being taught.

If we are to have a Black History Month, we need to add a Native American History Month, a Chinese History Month, etc. I was talking to a 16 year old a couple of weeks ago (daughter of a very good friend), and she had never heard of the Great American Genocide (The Trail of Tears); the contribution of Chinese immigrants to Western Expansion (without that contribution, we never would have completed the Transcontinental Railroad). Most Americans don't know there were incredibly bloody race riots in Western cities (Denver and San Francisco come immediately to mind) between Whites and Asians less than a hundred years ago.

This young lady, on the Honor Roll (albeit in a dubious school district) shares her classes with a roughly 50% Hispanic population. They get BHM big time, but what ISN'T taught is the story of the National Guard in this state (Colorado) actually closing the southern border in the 1930's, no, that's not a typo, to anyone 'not of the Caucasian Race' (yes, that is in the Executive Order!!!). This story was a total surprise!

We've done an OK job--certainly not stellar--in integrating the Black history into a bit more enlightened view of US/North American history; but have a long, long way to go in presenting the FULL story.

So yeah, BHM, although useful and helpful, might have to go. Or at least modified. Or something.

Ok, I'm done. Carry on.

 

[tonyboy]

Yep... time to end it.

There was a time for it I suppose... I think it was something created by Congress in the 1970's.. not sure about that.

But it's run it's course. Just as I think Black Studies that were (or are) offered as college degrees have run their course.

The history of African Americans is entertwined with the history of the USA... let's just study it all as US history.
If you study the history of Latin America or South America you will find that there is as much African history involved in those places as there is in the US.

Time to rethink it all.... we are all American citizens... everyone living in the USA is a citizen of our country. The skin color doesn't matter anymore, right?

Italians, Jews, Poles, etc..... anyone living here legally is just the same as anyone else.

 

[connermt]

I would like it if it were over (ended). I'm tired of hearing about it. Although, I haven't heard much about it this year (thankfully).

 

[Yuki Sohma]

I think February should be called "American History Month" celebrating the true diversity of our great nation..........

 

[gsdx]

Personally, I think it should be eradicated only because of what it does. When you have a 'Black History Month', it makes it sound like 'Heart & Stroke Month'. In other words, most people only think about it and hear about it one month of the year and totally forget about it for the other 11 months.

By giving Black History its own month actually centres it out and makes it little more than a casual, annual event which (at least in my eyes) feeds racism rather than educating people about it.

 

[PabloZed]

There are good arguments on both sides of this proposition, but I think keeping BHM has the better of the argument because we all know its dangerous to prematurely declare "Mission Accomplished." I love to rag on my jesuit boarding school because it was so lilly white and taught a lilly white history. With all seriousness, if all you knew about history was what some US schools teach, you would not know anything about the contributions of other peoples (not just blacks, but Asians, Arabs, Hispanics. Hell, they don't even teach about Slavs). Just for example, would you believe that no class I took in high school said anything about China, India, South Africa or Brazil?

BHM is really just a pinch to remind folks every now and then to think more broadly. Not to exalt anyone over anyone else. In America we still need that reminder.

 

[PabloZed]

What about Irish-American and St Patrick's Day? Divisive? (I don't think so). What about Italian-American and Feasts of the Saints? What about Gay Pride Parades?

There are enough real boogeymen in the world. No need making any up.