“The events which transpired five thousand years ago, five years ago or five minutes ago, have determined what will happen five minutes from now; five years from now or five thousand years from now. All history is a current event.”
- Dr John Henrik Clarke -
What do you think about Black History Month?
Personally, I don’t believe in it. In fact, I’m not ashamed to admit that for as long as I can remember- I’ve secretly hated it.
The preface of “Black” to “History” denotes that the history of Black people is not the same history as anyone else in America. Black history is American history. Our blood, sweat and tears are in every inch of its foundation.
By separating the accomplishments and contributions of Black people, those details become less important than all the other details of American history.
But rather than push for greater integration into mainstream textbooks, we have Black History Month- 28 days of highlighting “notable” African Americans.
Give me a break.
The official version of American history, particularly in how it is taught in schools, has always been Euro centric and “safe”, it has always been “comfortable”. As a child, American history didn’t seem all inclusive; I was never attached to it; never saw myself adequately reflected in it.
Black history however, was allllll mine, whether I wanted it or not. Every February, Black people, or those married to a Black person, or those who are parents to a Black child, suddenly become certified experts on Black people and their history- at least, that’s what everyone else seems to think. We all wake up February 1st to find unearned honorary doctorates we can’t shake, like a ball and chain or scarlet letter.
Teachers were always calling on me to educate my classmates on figures in Black history.
Black History Month never made me more curious about my “roots”. It gave me no appreciation for my ancestors or their accomplishments. Real life experiences and honest conversations and profound, life changing pieces of literature (and my own family) are what gave me a sense of pride, and love, for self, for people, for my ancestors and for “my” history.
When it comes to what I actually learned, well, Black History Month taught me about a select few. Soon they became the only Black people of prominence or worth of recognition. I’m sure you know them too; Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Cosby, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. DuBois and Malcolm X.
Black history isn’t taught, it’s brushed over. Some teachers take every short cut imaginable though the curriculum; projects, games, quizzes and even speeches for students to recite at “Black History Month Celebrations”, all printed from random websites. Without ever giving the information a critical second look for accuracy or age appropriateness. Without truly engaging the students or the information blindly passed to them.
Black History Month has become nothing more than a token. Something to have for the sake of being able to say we have something.
We Americans are strangers to America. We have treated her as fragmented, instead of whole- as one. What we as a country really need is to then reinvent how we see History- as one thread. We do not know enough about the details of who and what has made this country what it is today.
It is with all of this in mind, that I motion for the eradication of Black History Month, to be replaced by fully integrated American History.
A time when we consciously push to the deepest corners of knowledge and history to raise the people, experiences, and defining moments of the past, and the moments of the present, which carry us into a collective future tomorrow.
Is there a second?
Article by Sable Verity
Sable Verity is a reporter and commentator based in Seattle who covers social and political issues for KBCS Radio and a number of online and print news outlets. Her work can be found at sableverity.com
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I whole heartedly agree with you, I feel it’s way more “racist” to have such accomplishments in such an isolated bubble. It makes it seem even more like a last minute cast off, that men in shark suits said they’ll give “those people” the shortest month of the year to make them feel special. And theres just so much that isn’t said or taken seriously. For example many of my peers believe Martin Luther King might as well have been Jesus himself but they fail to realize that he was a human being and had many flaws. Very well written, thanks.