Tigers#1
01-21-2006, 03:49 AM
Time to dump Black History Month
Commentary By Joyce King
Actor Morgan Freeman hit the nail on its head when he rhetorically stated, “You're going to relegate my history to a month?”
With nine words, the Academy Award winner struck what is a growing nerve over a national celebration that was started 80 years ago by Carter G. Woodson. Then, it was Negro History Week, and it did fill a great void in a still too-racist country that wasn't eager to focus attention on the contributions of her darker citizens.
Do we really still need Black History Month?
I agree with Freeman, who made his comments in December on 60 Minutes, that black history is American history. It is past time to only relegate the struggles and sacrifices, the victories and accomplishments of colored people to one month. The same people who fought in every documented war, who discovered, who invented, who taught, who created, and who died loving this great country should be integrated into the larger tome that makes up American history.
And new chapters that have gotten scant attention need to be added. Last year, the U.S. Senate approved a resolution to apologize to descendants of lynching victims. Yet, few history books properly concentrate on this important part of America's racial journey. Feb. 28 shouldn't mark the end of learning about black people.
When a new white acquaintance recently said to me, “I have no understanding of the black culture,” I instantly went to work. We covered a range of issues: the Confederate Flag, interracial dating, affirmative action and stereotypes. We're not close to agreeing on everything, but I have been assured he will hang around past February for more lessons.
If people knew a little “black history,” no one would need a month to remind America how worthy of celebratory inclusion this phenomenon is year-round. February, I fear, is being wrongly perceived, like other things prefaced with the word “black.” Nothing could be more wrong. Our intertwined history, Americans with African, Native American, or European blood, (and I have all three) belong together on the pages of textbooks being used to teach our children all year.
If a similar poll on Black History Month were conducted like the recent AP/Ipsos survey of white Americans who planned to take part in the recent King holiday celebrations, I wouldn't be shocked if it were just as low as the 15% result.
There are two ways to make “black history” more accessible — teach it every month and stop calling it that. U.S. history is who we all are, what shaped us.
Joyce King is a freelance writer in Dallas.
Commentary By Joyce King
Actor Morgan Freeman hit the nail on its head when he rhetorically stated, “You're going to relegate my history to a month?”
With nine words, the Academy Award winner struck what is a growing nerve over a national celebration that was started 80 years ago by Carter G. Woodson. Then, it was Negro History Week, and it did fill a great void in a still too-racist country that wasn't eager to focus attention on the contributions of her darker citizens.
Do we really still need Black History Month?
I agree with Freeman, who made his comments in December on 60 Minutes, that black history is American history. It is past time to only relegate the struggles and sacrifices, the victories and accomplishments of colored people to one month. The same people who fought in every documented war, who discovered, who invented, who taught, who created, and who died loving this great country should be integrated into the larger tome that makes up American history.
And new chapters that have gotten scant attention need to be added. Last year, the U.S. Senate approved a resolution to apologize to descendants of lynching victims. Yet, few history books properly concentrate on this important part of America's racial journey. Feb. 28 shouldn't mark the end of learning about black people.
When a new white acquaintance recently said to me, “I have no understanding of the black culture,” I instantly went to work. We covered a range of issues: the Confederate Flag, interracial dating, affirmative action and stereotypes. We're not close to agreeing on everything, but I have been assured he will hang around past February for more lessons.
If people knew a little “black history,” no one would need a month to remind America how worthy of celebratory inclusion this phenomenon is year-round. February, I fear, is being wrongly perceived, like other things prefaced with the word “black.” Nothing could be more wrong. Our intertwined history, Americans with African, Native American, or European blood, (and I have all three) belong together on the pages of textbooks being used to teach our children all year.
If a similar poll on Black History Month were conducted like the recent AP/Ipsos survey of white Americans who planned to take part in the recent King holiday celebrations, I wouldn't be shocked if it were just as low as the 15% result.
There are two ways to make “black history” more accessible — teach it every month and stop calling it that. U.S. history is who we all are, what shaped us.
Joyce King is a freelance writer in Dallas.