Rafael Cordero
English 101
18401
18, November 2015
Why Black History Month Shouldn’t Exist
African American culture has been a part of American way of life since days as early as the Middle Passage. Ever since then, Black Americans have gradually overcome national racism, fought to achieve all rights entitled to all Americans, and even made significant contributions to the musical and artistic forms of creativity. So much so that it is ludicrous to even suggest that, especially given the racial history of America, the black race’s achievements and inventions can and should be watered down to only be celebrated for one month throughout year, Black History Month. The answer to this problem isn’t simple either. Black History Month shouldn’t be elongated or jam packed with activities, no, it shouldn’t exist at all. Black Americans have helped carry the weight of this country’s industrialization and success, so to deny the black race a role in American History, by explaining that they have “their own” history is wrong and discriminatory.
African Americans have collectively made as much contributions to the U.S, if not, even more so than other ethnic groups in the
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U.S have. Despite this, Black History Month is almost never seen through rose-colored glasses as students and citizens alike here of the famed Rosa Parks, whose heroic attempts at claiming her own right sit on a “white only” seat were thwarted by the white man. Or how Martin Luther King stood against racial oppression and believed in love unification, who was again killed and thwarted by a white man. That isn’t to say that these events aren’t important it’s that “Even if February wasn’t one long wound-licking festival, it’s a true contradiction of liberal and progressive thought” (Buhls). Black History Month actually operates in detriment to its purpose, which should be to unify Americans through culture. However when there is a month that focuses on the achievements and talents of Black “Heroes” the purpose of the group seems to shift toward ethnocentrism and it places too much emphasis on black Americans actions, racial history, harsh treatment. Black Americans are aware that they were treated worse than second-class citizens, they have known that their people have been enslaved, despite this the Black Leaders in their communities should question themselves this: “Whatever problems that the Black community feels is pertinent to their identity in America, they aren’t going to solve it with a Black History Month” (Buhls.) The intention and incentive behind Black History Month is not what is so wrong about it, but rather how it is taught and how it is celebrated.
Black History is taught very similarly to White-American History except there are far more specific and obscure dates to remember and there is little focus on conflicts and experiences and more focus on oppression and heroism-you know- the way the hero found a way to overcome insurmountable odds. Which is great, and definitely true, however Black History shouldn’t be marginalized to a few success stories because “while leaders and their biographies could inspire us, the real study of history involved looking at trends and tensions across time and place, rather than the de-contextualized trivia and quotes that Black History looks like in many classrooms”
(Chiariello). Conclusively, Black American culture and genius will forever be engraved into America, however it is up to the intelligent to decide how they wish to convey Black Culture in America. When doing so they should be cautious because the issue is so sensitive, and it raises the question: Why would you want to eliminate a commemorative festival in honor of one of the most underappreciated races in the world. The obvious answer would be but another question: Why would you want to limit the success, achievements, and ongoing struggle of one race to the duration of one month, February, the shortest month in the year? This is why Black History Month shouldn’t exist anymore. In the words of famed African-American actor Morgan Freeman: “Black History is American History.” Works Cited Buhls, Thomas. "Black History Month: Bad For Blacks- Bad For Americans." Www.tradeyouth.org. Tradeyouth.org, 10 Feb. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. Chiariello, Emily. "Mining the Jewel of Black History Month." Mining the Jewel of Black History Month. Teaching Tolerance, 3 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Most public schools in the United States kept it simple and straight to the point. They taught, what we know as, “Black History” from the media’s standpoint. This concept neglects the true meaning of black history in the educational system, making it hard for African Americans to be prideful in who they are. Knowing history other than what the school systems tells us African Americans would not only give us more knowledge, but would allow us to stand up against others when try to put down our history. Media gives us mainly negative perspectives with very little positives of our
Although an effort is made in connecting with the blacks, the idea behind it is not in understanding the blacks and their culture but rather is an exploitative one. It had an adverse impact on the black community by degrading their esteem and status in the community. For many years, the political process also had been influenced by the same ideas and had ignored the black population in the political process (Belk, 1990). America loves appropriating black culture — even when black people themselves, at times, don’t receive much love from America.
Imagine this; the year is 1836. You are a 17-year-old student interested in learning more about the world around you; however, such an opportunity won’t come your way because you are black. Due to this fact you have no hope of furthering your education past the reading, writing, and arithmetic their slave masters taught your parents. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. The minds of many African American’s go to waste due to individual ignorance of their people and thus of themselves. Historically Black Colleges and Universities were put into effect to educate the black mind and eliminate the ignorance. The discussion of whether Historically Black Colleges and Universities are still necessary in the 21st century has taken place in recent years. Within the discussion many debate that due to the fact that the world is no longer like it was in the 1800’s, the time period in which Historically Black Colleges and Universities were created, the purpose of them no longer exists. However, the cultural significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities seems to be overlooked by those who argue their importance and relevance in a time where blacks have the option of attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs). The purpose and grounds on which Historically Black Colleges and Universities were developed are still being served. The need to increase efforts to not only rouse, but support Historically Black Colleges and Universities is necessary now more than ever in order to preserve our past, fulfill the purpose of our present, and ensure our future.
The first text is a column called “Black is being seen in a whole new light” and it was written by the lawyer and columnist Yolanda Young. According to the text the African Americans has gained more acceptances from the American citizens after Barack Obama has become the president of the United States. Furthermore it
Black history month is an observance in the United States that is celebrated in the month of February to remember all of the important African Americans in history. This observance is still celebrated annually and brings forth a debatable question such as is there still a need to celebrate black history month. I strongly believe that Black history month still should be celebrated for several reasons one being that children need to know how African Americans contributed to society. Young African American children need to know their ethnicity background. The legendary icons who fought for whom was considered “colored” people need to be acknowledged. If were not for them the children in today's society would still be faced to deal with segregation. They need to have an understanding of what our ancestors and important African Americans had to go through to get us where we are today. We should celebrate black history month because it represents African Americans as a whole. By celebrating this month it shows that we fought for our rights and never gave up. It shows that we went through ...
African American history plays a huge role in history today. From decades of research we can see the process that this culture went through and how they were depressed and deculturalized. In school, we take the time to learn about African American History but, we fail to see the aspects that African Americans had to overcome to be where they are today. We also fail to view life in their shoes and fundamentally understand the hardships and processes that they went through. African Americans were treated so terribly and poor in the last century and, they still are today. As a subordinate race to the American White race, African Americans were not treated equal, fair, human, or right under any circumstances. Being in the subordinate position African Americans are controlled by the higher white group in everything that they do.
The aspect of African-American Studies is key to the lives of African-Americans and those involved with the welfare of the race. African-American Studies is the systematic and critical study of the multidimensional aspects of Black thought and practice in their current and historical unfolding (Karenga, 21). African-American Studies exposes students to the experiences of African-American people and others of African descent. It allows the promotion and sharing of the African-American culture. However, the concept of African-American Studies, like many other studies that focus on a specific group, gender, and/or creed, poses problems. Therefore, African-American Studies must overcome the obstacles in order to improve the state of being for African-Americans.
Throughout American history many African Americans have been overlooked in the field of science. Some powerful minds and great inventors haven’t been re-introduced to new generations. African Americans have contributed a great deal to the advancements of our country and one of the major fields they have made contributions to is in the field of science. Many successful African Americans have been overshadowed by their Caucasian counterparts. More of our children should be aware of these great historians. African Americans that have made major contributions in the field of science that should be discussed, studied and taught to our society to educate new generations of the vast majority of these great scientists.
Throughout American history, African Americans have had to decide whether they belonged in the United States or if they should go elsewhere. Slavery no doubtfully had a great impact upon their decisions. However, despite their troubles African Americans made a grand contribution and a great impact on both armed forces of the Colonies and British. "The American Negro was a participant as well as a symbol."; (Quarles 7) African Americans were active on and off the battlefield, they personified the goal freedom, the reason for the war being fought by the Colonies and British. The African Americans were stuck in the middle of a war between white people. Their loyalty was not to one side or another, but to a principle, the principle of liberty. Benjamin Quarles' book, The Negro in the American Revolution, is very detailed in explaining the importance of the African American in the pre America days, he shows the steps African Americans took in order to insure better lives for generations to come.
The time has come again to celebrate the achievements of all black men and women who have chipped in to form the Black society. There are television programs about the African Queens and Kings who never set sail for America, but are acknowledged as the pillars of our identity. In addition, our black school children finally get to hear about the history of their ancestors instead of hearing about Columbus and the founding of America. The great founding of America briefly includes the slavery period and the Antebellum south, but readily excludes both black men and women, such as George Washington Carver, Langston Hughes, and Mary Bethune. These men and women have contributed greatly to American society. However, many of us only know brief histories regarding these excellent black men and women, because many of our teachers have posters with brief synopses describing the achievements of such men and women. The Black students at this University need to realize that the accomplishments of African Americans cannot be limited to one month per year, but should be recognized everyday of every year both in our schools and in our homes.
...can Americans. To conclude, due to the lack of education and clichéd thought, African Americans didn’t receive the same respect and opportunity as compared to Whites.
...on American soil, they were treated with disrespect and forced into a life of servitude and pain. However, they were able to change adapt and find hope even when it didn’t seem as though there was any to be found. The African American culture has been greatly shaped around what their ancestors were put through and the struggles that they endured. The pain and suffering that was inflicted among them will never be forgotten and will forever be apart of the African American culture.
In From Slavery to Freedom (2007), it was said that “the transition from slavery to freedom represents one of the major themes in the history of African Diaspora in the Americas” (para. 1). African American history plays an important role in American history not only because the Civil Rights Movement, but because of the strength and courage of Afro-Americans struggling to live a good life in America. Afro-Americans have been present in this country since the early 1600’s, and have been making history since. We as Americans have studied American history all throughout school, and took one Month out of the year to studied African American history. Of course we learn some things about the important people and events in African American history, but some of the most important things remain untold which will take more than a month to learn about.
The entire of history of America has always been tied with African Americans. These people took part in sparking the Civil War, shaping the development in the process, and the consequences of the war through reconstruction socially and physically.
One conscious effort I have made trying to “buy black”. Keeping our own dollars in the black community is one of the biggest contributions we can make to the betterment of our own people. It was found in 2010 that there is $850 billion moving through black consumers’ hands each year, but 90% of that amount goes to non-black controlled businesses. Spending money in our own community can stimulate the economy, lower unemployment, and improve the conditions of black neighborhoods by having our money be put into our own communities. I also have made it a mission to educate myself in African American history and help to spread my knowledge to all I can. Knowing our history can help change our future so that the past doesn’t repeat itself and our conditions can be better than those that came before us.