Last week I got an email from Google Play the subject line
was…..
”Hot New Games & Music to Celebrate Black History Month”
Later that week I got an advertisement from a car dealer
with a similar enticement….. Basically asking me to purchase a car in
celebration of Black History Month.
These encounters led me to think about Black History Month
in a more critical way, allowing me to ponder the very utility of it. So I asked myself the question; has Black
History Month outlived its usefulness?
The resulting YES, led me down a rabbit hole that eventually begged the
question… Was Black History Month a good idea in the first place?
Black History Month became an “official” national bookmark
in 1976. The idea germinated at Kent State University in 1970 from the seed of
“Negro Week” a Carter G. Woodson creation back in 1926. I understand the idea behind it; establishing
institutions so that the contributions and sacrifices of a people are not
forgotten. I get it. It’s the old adage “you can’t know where
you’re headed unless you know where you came from.” However, can we truly say that Black History
Month has yielded the results that were originally intended?
In 1976, when Black History Month was adopted, the country
was coming off the heels of the Civil Rights movement. The fact that it took a movement to highlight
human inequality was an embarrassment to the populous. In 1976, blacks were establishing pride,
whites were feeling guilty; probably not the best environment for rational thought.
The foundation wasn’t sure enough to start building institutions. The country should have waited for cooler
heads to prevail.
Today, Black History Month is a punch line… We all can
finish the joke of “Why is Black History Month in February?” Black History Month has become too
commercial. Why else would Google a multi-billion dollar company feel
comfortable sending me an email to buys games, and music in celebration of it. Keep in mind that Google Play sells books,
and movies that highlight the “black experience” in America, yet chose to
advertise games, and music to me. Interesting!!!
The first 300 years
of American history is distorted by slavery.
Blacks didn’t accomplish as much as they could/should have because of
VERY REAL limitations placed on our freedom. This eventually led to blacks in
the 1980’s wanting to be called African American in an attempt to connect dots
back to our greatness in the 1500’s. Blacks should have demanded that World
History be taught alongside American History in EVERY school instead requesting
a month to celebrate.
Strategically, Black History Month missed the mark. It asked for far too little. It’s reminiscent of the Indians selling
Manhattan for $24. The goal should have
been to change the way history is taught.
The thrust should have been to transform history curriculums. Less US-centric history and more
World-centric history. Why take 1 month
out of 12 when blacks from African descent were the original people…the very
FIRST human beings? BLACK HISTORY IS
AMERICAN HISTORY. THERE IS NO NEED TO PARSE IT.
Did you know that May is Jewish American Heritage Month, and
March is Irish American Heritage Month respectfully? You probably didn’t because Heritage is
personal. Heritage is family. Heritage is culture. Heritage is not institutionalized, branded,
commercialized.
I can’t wait until all the labels disappear. Until we live in a post-racial society, when
every person is brown. In less than 50
years, minorities become THE MAJORITY…THEN WHAT? There is a spiritual relevance
in living NOW, the way things will EVENTUALLY be. Some people know instantly what is right, and
change immediately, while others realize it and fight to maintain the status
quo, not understanding that history will only remember them as a road block. TIME NEVER GOES BACKWARDS. There will come a
day when there will be 43 consecutive brown Presidents. Ask yourself, when that day comes, should
whites petition for White History Month?
Also ask yourself, when that day comes, will Black History Month be
necessary? If not, is it necessary NOW?
