Black History Month/ and AA (parade, Brown, Kerry, Hispanic)

[Njrover0216]

Why do we celebrate Black History Month? What is black history? Isn't black history in America slavery and its reforms to try to get out of it? How come there is not a white history month? The abbreviation AA stands for African Americans...personally unless you are from Kenya or Zaire or another country in Africa, you should not call yourself African American. I do not call myself Italian American, white folks are just that white folks or Americans. There for you are also black folks or Americans. I am posting this because I really want to understand, remember negative reps are not to be given because you disagree with me, I really want to discuss this!

[burdell]

Originally Posted by Njrover0216

Why do we celebrate Black History Month? What is black history? Isn't black history in America slavery and its reforms to try to get out of it? How come there is not a white history month? The abbreviation AA stands for African Americans...personally unless you are from Kenya or Zaire or another country in Africa, you should not call yourself African American. I do not call myself Italian American, white folks are just that white folks or Americans. There for you are also black folks or Americans. I am posting this because I really want to understand, remember negative reps are not to be given because you disagree with me, I really want to discuss this!

I wonder about this myself. To me, when someone's place in history is relegated to a smaller portion of history, it somehow cheapens their standing.

I'm a great admirer of Rosa Parks and the Tuskeegee Airmen among others, I don't believe we should refer to them as having a place in Black History, I think we should refer to them as having a place in American History.

[oz in SC]

It is a way to make people feel better....little more.

As to why the term 'African-American', if groups aren't separated they might just realise they aren't different than others and we cannot have that.

[Rita Mordio]

I look at Black History month through rose colored lenses.

It's a month dedicated to looking at the trials and tribulations of a race of people who were sold as slaves by neighboring tribes and brought to an unknown country.

It's a month dedicated to honoring the men and women who were key in making equality.

Basically, my rose colored lenses show the history from the first slave brought to America... up until 1980 or so. Anything more recent, IMO, is just the race card being pulled out whenever handy.

Yes, many people who call themselves African American should really go back to Africa for a month or so and see how great they really have it here in the United States.

[Seatown206]

My experience, especially in school is that all the history classes we took focused on basically European history. We learned a little bit about slavery and that was about it. Than Black History month would come around and we would actually take the time to learn about the many positive contributions Black Americans made in this country. So, I don't see any problem with giving some extra recognition to a culture that has helped build this nation. Especially a culture that gets more negative attention than positive.

[414Milwaukee]

Seatown206 i was going to say the same thing. In school thats where we look at black people in history instead of white people.

How come there is not a white history month

Because every month is white histroy month.

[oz in SC]

It seems the issue is more about how 'unfair' it is that western history deals with a lot more white people than black(or yellow or brown)...

Of course it could simply be western history is centered around European achievements.

[TXboomerang]

I think its discrimination to make February black history month. Its the shortest month of the year. Obviously the man is trying to stick it again.

[Manigault]

Somehow I knew this was coming. Every year the whining starts. What people fail to credit is that Black History Month is an ethnic celebration. So its mirror image is Hispanic Heritage Month! There is also a Polish Heritage month in the city where I live.

So please spare me the indignant phrasing that "they'd scream if we had a white history month or a Miss White Tennessee pageant". There has been a Ms. Polish Chicago and an queen of the St. Patrick's Day parade in NY for decades and black folks have not complained about it yet. Being generic is one of the burdens which must be faced by people in the majority.

Black History Month was inaugurated by Carter G. Woodson because of the dearth of the mentions of black Americans in history texts. Few Americans over 40 can name a black American whose life they studied in history other than Dred Scott or Geo Washington Carver. So there is still a need for extra instruction in black history. And it is the shortest and coldest month.

Sure Teresa Heinz Kerry and Gary Player are African Americans. Others who admit to that status include Mariah Carey, Vin Diesel and Carol Channing. Actually, there was a discussion of if people should drop all this "African American" stuff. One guy didn't show up, though. It was Danny Glover. He couldn't get a cab.

[jlhct]

I think that's the key. White History month would make no sense in the context of Black History month because of the amount of European centered history taught in school (at least when I went to school which wasn't that long ago)

It's a way to recognize many other names who have places in history that may not be as mainstream as Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, etc.

IMO some people say it causes sepration but think about it. If the stories were told, there would be no need for it.

It shoud be seen as a learning experience for everyone. There is something brought up just about every Black History month that I didn't know about. The same can be said during St. Patrick's day, Cinco De Mayo (sp) and any other time of ethnic celebration.

One more thing...in the 70's it was only known as Black History Week!