WHY BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The family above is a continuing line of living history.
I had never heard of Evelyn Smith before coming across her article online. Her name and her legacy appeared when I googled Black History Month. I thought her past was interesting, thought provoking, a moving story of another American who rose to be exceptional in her own right. Most certainly, as Dr. Cornel West would describe her, a courageous example. In learning of her story, in seeking to know her story I came to the crux of Black History Month, what I believe is at its core, and what defines its meaning in the wider context. To me, Black History Month is a celebration of that which is exceptional in all of us. It represents a doorway to something more, the powerful history of a unique ethnic group of Americans who are a significant part of a greater whole. It is the stories and events of a people, vital information that can and should inform the decisions of today. For it is from history that we best learn to chart a course for the future.
However, my feelings about Black History Month are personal. They are mine. I choose to share them with those who feel the same, or those who are willing to listen. As with so many things in life it is important that we consider critically the power to choose. With regard to Black History Month, one can choose to participate, or not participate. At its most basic, it really is that simple.
Unfortunately, many choose to take the time to engage in disparaging this month, to question the need for its existence. Many people, of many different ethnicities, question why we have a Black History Month at all. Consider some of these concerns.
Why should we let the government tell us when to celebrate our history?
Why should we relegate our history to one month?
We don’t celebrate White History Month. Why should we celebrate Black History Month?
Why must we always set aside a month to talk about slavery?
I can do without a Black History Month thank you very much. No one ever talks about anything really important anyway. It’s just some wanna-be-special uppity black folks getting together to talk about blood plasma, stop lights, and President Lincoln. I don’t care about any of that, why should I?
It is up to us to choose, as we are free to do. We can choose to walk though an open door that will expose us to the bright light of wisdom and understanding, and please do know that said light is indeed bright, often bright enough to be painful. Far too many of us have become accustomed to ignoring the light of wisdom. We shield ourselves from knowledge. We bat at it, pushing it away. We turn and run away from it with strength and passion. I want you to take a moment to truly consider this, for it is a common recurring theme within the thread of human existence. There are many of us that wallow in ignorance, and celebrate stupidity. Think about it … for just a minute, and wonder in fascination at it, our shared reality.
Yes, we can choose to ignore the bright light of wisdom shining through the doorway. We can yell at the doorway in righteous indignation, screaming at it with hate filled vitriol and scorn. However, for a moment clear your mind and grab hold of the concept. If we choose the perspective that demands we consider Black History as simply a doorway, a metaphor for the quest for knowledge, a path for those seeking edification. Then, we understand that this perspective is imminently applicable. It more then feels right. It is empirically accurate.
Please allow me to clarify.
With regard to the question of why should we let the government tell us when to celebrate our history … who said anything about allow? Honestly, for those of you that hold this perspective, I want you to think about it. Where did you pick up this peculiar piece of knowledge? Where did you first hear that the United States of America allows people to celebrate Black History in February? Where did you hear that the United States of America allows you to celebrate Black History in February to the exclusion of all other months? Where did you hear this? And now, consider it. Does it make any sense? Who is preventing you from celebrating Black History in August? Who’s preventing you from celebrating Black History in December? Is there a government agent waiting to arrest and prosecute you for celebrating Black History 365 days a year? If not, then why have this perspective? Why think in terms of permission? Black History Month or African American Heritage Month is nationally recognized.
Recognition is not permission.
Going back to the doorway metaphor, I would like all of you who actively work to achieve critical success to take a moment and consider when you would celebrate Black History, or any history for that matter. Consider that perhaps by acknowledging when such a thing is nationally recognized, you are providing yourself an opportunity to take a pause from the arduous and daily work of succeeding. For a moment, you’re taking a break for a little bit of historical introspection. By walking through the doorway you’re indulging in historical examination, you’re taking a look into the past, and by looking into Black History, you readily walk into the illuminating light of human history, peering just a bit closer at the ties that bind us all together, and form the story of our humanity in the aggregate. This introspection into ourselves provides enlightenment, and when done with passion and sincerity, effectively informs and dictates the decision we make for ourselves today and our posterity tomorrow.
When we ask the question why should we relegate ourselves, our very history to one month, again I must ask the question, considering it critically, who’s doing this? Who says Black History Month has to fit into the month of February? Some people are even asinine enough to argue THEY gave us the shortest month of the year, that’s how they be doin’ us? This shows a fundamental lack of critical thinking. No, not even critical thinking, it shows a lack of simple on the surface common sense thinking.
Who are they?
Are some people referring to the White man? Really? So, is the White man keeping Black History month squished into the month of February? Is the government’s RECOGNITION, which is not PERMISSION, equating to RELEGATION and LIMITATION? Stop … just for a moment … and consider. Is some arbitrary white man really doing this to you? Is he really keeping Black History caged within a month? Must I answer this question? Really? Must I?
The answer is no. No, the White man is not keeping your Black History confined to a single month of the year. He does not possess such power. Only one person does. In terms of your ability to seek, take hold of, internalize, and own the knowledge that is uniquely your cultural ethnic history as African-Americans, the only person who can limit your exposure, narrow your focus, relegate your history, and limit your access to knowledge in today’s world … is you.
Let’s next consider the question of celebrating White History Month. Many say if we don’t celebrate White History Month, then why should we celebrate Black History Month. It’s a fair question based on a stupid premise. Let’s just focus on my country, The United States of America. The overwhelming majority of history, action, discussion, does NOT revolve around Black Americans. Now, understand this is not something over which one should get angry. Consider, Blacks comprise less then a quarter of this country’s population. We’re somewhere around 13%. Of course, given the amount of media coverage afforded to us you would think the country was half and half. However, this is simply not the case. Understanding this simple statistic allows us to understand much with regard to my country’s written history.
History has been, and still is, being made by all of America’s sons and daughters. However, written history was being created by educated White men. They wrote about other White men, their thoughts, their actions, their intrigues. White History Month is a non-thing, because our entire written history has arisen within the confines of White minds, and white perspective. Can we complain about this? Sure. Should we? Only to a certain degree.
What do I mean? I think the complaint should include the demand that we continuously work to bring balance to our written history. This effort is not about a quid pro quo, the need to detail as much Black history as there is White history, or even proportional amounts based on population percentages. My friends, the effort should tie to none of these propositions. Speaking of such efforts shows a lack of critical thinking skills, and common sense. It is not about finding something black to mirror that which is white. No, the work of expanding all our written history should be about the work itself, and the knowledge and wisdom the work provides. The goal is not in the quantity, but rather the quality, the enlightenment provided through national introspection along ethnic cultural lines, which is a far more expansive enterprise than just Black History. The effort includes seeking historical knowledge about all of America’s children, no matter their ethnic origins.
If one considers such an effort to be a mandate, something necessary for the progress of all our people, then it stands to reason that we might want to do something to celebrate such an effort, to call out such a need, to on occasion shine a light on this mandate and remind us that the need is real, the need is here, and that we all can choose to make an effort towards expanding our collective knowledge. We can do this kind of recognition, such that it would serve as a doorway one could choose to step through and acquire knowledge. Interestingly enough, we have such a doorway, do we not? I believe it’s called Black History Month.
All of us, every last one of us can benefit from studying our collective history, be it African-American, Asian-American, Latin-American, Indian-American, Native- American, or European-American. Each of these can be viewed as a distinctive group that should be given recognition, doorways of light if you will, through which we can choose to walk for a time, and benefit from enlightenment.
Well, you know what? The United States of America has seen fit to provide just such recognition. Remember, permission is not recognition. Note some of the following nationally recognized Months:
March: Women’s History Month, Irish American Heritage Month,
May: Asian/Pacific Heritage Month
June: Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
September: Hispanic Heritage Month
October: German American Heritage Month, Polish American Heritage Month
November: Native American Heritage Month
Look over this list. See anything interesting with regard to the original complaint about White History Month? I bet you do. Some may think all this celebrating is overdone and unnecessary. It is truly a matter of perspective. As I said, we are free to choose. One can choose to participate and celebrate seeking knowledge for one’s own education. Or, one can choose not to and remain ignorant.
Some people think about Black History month and get angry. They ask, why must we always spend a month talking about slavery? They want to know why we can’t just put it behind us and forget about it.
This is a very illuminating perspective with regard to how we as human beings choose to view the world around us, our connections to each other, how we’ve formed the world we live in, and how our antecedents formed the world before us. It seems to me that a person who chooses to view African-American history solely through the prism of slavery is lacking in critical cognition (no insult intended … much). They are narrow in thought and must strive to be more expansive. Honestly, this does not require too much thought and really no debate. Black History Month is not solely about slavery. Again, we can choose to view it as we see fit, but if slavery is your personal prism of choice, then why complain? You chose it.
Each individual must stop and consider. They must decide for themselves what this celebration, this recognition will be. If you choose to view it as a month to remember slavery … well, who can you blame for this? Whose responsibility is it? Is someone telling you to remember slavery? Is someone telling you to remember the Emancipation Proclamation? Is someone telling you to be so narrow in thought as to consider Black American History in its whole as simply the story of American slavery, and nothing more?
Only you can make this choice … for yourself. You decide.
However, even as many of us shake our heads sadly and strive to remind others that Black History Month is so much more then a remembrance of whippings, cotton fields, chains, broken backs, and decimated families, we also take pause to remind each other that forgetting cannot, must not be an option. One may not want to remind oneself every year in February about America’s peculiar institution, but it would be the doom of us all to forget it even occurred.
One may not be able to fathom an America that somehow continues to move forward in the world, while at the same time moving backward, devolving into reviving slavery. However, let me assure you, it can happen. The study of history and the rich tapestry of human life provides us with lessons for how we must carry ourselves, how we must interact, how we must strive to avoid making the same mistakes again, and again. This is an exercise that we often do not utilize. It is human nature to strive to forget, and trip over the same mistake several times. Still, we must embrace the better part of ourselves, and maintain the memory within our collective consciousness as something real and concrete. Even if it’s distasteful, we must all strive to continuously understand the lessons of the world in which our society was born and flourished, the interactions between human being and human being, the hows and whys of our shared history, the reconciliation with faith and religion, and the unfathomable mystery of acceptance. We must always remember, and never forget, for it can happen again.
For those that believe Black History Month is celebrated by people who think they’re special, remembering other people who thought they were special, when all of them are nothing more than completely and totally boring … well, I personally believe such a person should take some time to get deeply involved in Step 3 of my Ten Point Plan for achieving Critical Success: Look in the Mirror and Paint the Picture. First, we’re all special. Second, you must believe you are special, and discover what about you is core, what is distinctive below the surface. Third, take that distinction, which should be your passion, and spark a fire, light it and let it burn bright. Fourth, study it further, dive deep into introspection, to better be able to realize your full worth.
What does this have to do with thinking Black History is a waste of time? Here’s the kicker, in order to do the above effectively, overturning personal issues and looking at them wholistically requires the realization and development of a skill many in our country no longer value, Critical Thinking.
I’ll make this really simple. Embracing critical thinking expands your mental horizons. You begin to question the suppositions of others, but more importantly you’re willing to question your own. Remember, the hallmark of a critical thinker is a person who readily considers and internalizes the perspective of others, even when that perspective is diametrically, even violently opposed to your own. This questioning beckons, no requires study. You nurture your natural curiosity. At our best, utilizing the gifts we are given, we want to know. We need to know. It is how we grow.
So simply, the aspiring critical thinker who has looked deeply within himself readily realizes the importance of all history. She puts emphasis on Black History, then she may shift and place emphasis on Native American History, or Hawaiian History, still later she may focus on Inuit History. It is all special. It is all connected. It is worthy of consideration. And an introduction to one, may very well lead the curious to look deeply into another. When did the first encounter between Native American and African take place? I don’t know. It’s a grand question to ask. Then, once answered what about the environment in which the meeting took place? What other people were involved. How long did it last? What was the outcome? What were the perspectives of others who were there to witness it? What did they think? Is any of the testimony reliable? Critical questions asked by aspiring critical thinkers, who don’t say silly simple-minded things like, I don’t care who invented the stop light, so what? Of course, it’s worth our time to know who invented the Traffic Signal. It’s worth knowing the circumstances in which it was invented. It’s worth looking into the life of the man who created it, his challenges, his passion. It’s worth seeking to understand what drove such a man. Such investigation provides illumination for ourselves and our world.
It seems to me there are two things we must consider with regard to Black History Month. One is choice, the other is attitude. Despite all that I’ve written it really comes down to your ability to choose, and your attitude with regard to the choice you’ve made.
For those that look upon Black History Month with disdain and ask why, why celebrate? My question is why do you do so? Why do you ask such a question? What part of your thinking has led you down the path which is clearly negative? Why not simply look upon it as a month to take pause, celebrate this unique portion of our shared history, and perhaps use it as a doorway to further exploration into the past. All our history is a rich, wondrous thing. It’s not just about pivotal dates and empire. It’s about the living history we’re creating now, and the ties that bind us to the history that was made before us. It is the tale of loves found and lost, joy, passion, desire, invention, and enlightenment. It is the story of the people, and the world they inhabited. It is truly an amazing thing.
This negativity, these hateful hurtful words that some people use to describe the celebration are the outward expression of one’s attitude. You don’t have to be negative. You can have a positive attitude with regard to Black History Month, and while we’re at it let’s just say you can have a positive attitude in general. We can choose to be more wholistic about how we consider Black History, questioning both the things we consider negative as well as those we consider positive. We can view the celebration, or doorway, whichever you prefer, with a discerning eye. We can be positive or we can be negative. We are free to choose.
The proof of the Black History Month as a doorway metaphor is simple. It only requires observation, looking at those who choose to walk through, as opposed to those who do not. Those that walk through are often enlightened and pleasantly surprised at learning something new. Often, it leads them to make connections, to search out more information, to expand their horizons. In this effort, this action, they feel good. Their attitudes are positive. The converse appears to be true as well. Those that choose to not walk through the door for whatever reason seem to carry a negative attitude. They don’t seem to be as happy. They complain. They grouse. If pressed even in the slightest, they become angry.
It is about choice and attitude. My personal desire is that we all choose to engage, and walk through the doorway, and every other doorway that presents itself as an opportunity for personal growth and enlightenment. Celebrate Black History Month, and every other nationally recognized month. Expand your horizons. Don’t be limited. Be expansive. Be positive. Grow and through growth and the acquiring of knowledge, achieve Critical Success.
March: Women’s History Month, Irish American Heritage Month,
May: Asian/Pacific Heritage Month
June: Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
September: Hispanic Heritage Month
October: German American Heritage Month, Polish American Heritage Month
November: Native American Heritage Month
Notice anything interesting? Well, how many of those are set aside for special studies in most public schools? I don't remember hearing about Irish-, German-, or Polish-American Heritage month being studied in schools.
However, I don't begrudge African-American Heritage Month being celebrated. I just wish that all the hypenations could be dropped and everyone just celebrate _American_ heritage month . . . or, at the verry least, put "American" first and hyphenate it with the others as trailing descriptors. But, then, I tend to think of myself as an American above all things.
Very fair perspective, and thanks for commenting. You're right, I don't recall celebrating the other recognized cultures in school either. However, when I was in school we didn't celebrate any of them, including Black History Month. But your point is understood. In my opinion a better question would be why not? When choosing what to focus on, a really old-school classical education (like the kind they used to give nobles) would benefit everyone. A wholistic approach that introduces various cultural aspects of people around the world that impact the here and now and where would be very relavant and quite justified.
I agree, it would be nice to drop the hyphenations. I'm an American first and foremost. I think we should do that, as soon as we are able to move beyond tolerance and acceptance of cultural differences and really love our differences, seeing them clearly without the need for labels, or the education necessary to understand them. When it becomes innate, we can and should remove. Until then, we need the benefit of something that fosters that education, highlights learning, and seeks to promote it as a passionate journey towards enlightenment. Just my opinion of course.