Black History Month…what is it good for?

Absolutely nothing…(so says the cynical blogger)

I’ve been posting my (un)important opinions on (un)important issues on different websites for awhile now. I don’t claim to be perfect, I don’t claim to know it all, I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong, and sometimes, due to conversations online, my opinion may change. On most issues I’ve stayed pretty consistent, and there’s one in particular I doubt will ever change…

…I don’t give a fuck about a “Black” History Month!

First of all, I understand that the intentions of “Black” History Month were good. Secondly, I understand that when it was created, (originally as Negro Achievement Week in 1924) it was damn near necessary, since black history normally wasn’t discussed, leaving young African-American youth without the sense of pride which is oh-so prevalent in the African-American youth of today <sarcasm>, and leaving the misinformed non African-American’s with nothing but negative stereotypes as representations for African-Americans. Carter G Woodson, credited as the driving force behind Negro Achievement Week, believed that spreading the word about the achievements of Africans and people of African dissent would help race relations, and help to  kill off negative stereotypes. Carter told students at the Hampton Institute that they were “…going back to that beautiful history, and it would inspire us to greater achievements,” While I believe Mr. Woodson did indeed have a great idea, I have two major complaints in regards to “Black” History Month, as it exists in modern times.

First of all, the handling of “Black” History Month is absolutely terrible. While as of late, the celebration of “Black” History Month seems to be somewhat subdued, normally, every February we’re bombarded with the same black figures and the same stories. Martin Luther King and his dream, Jackie Robinson and his bat, Rosie Parks and her seat, George Washington Carver and peanuts…oh yea, and Fredrick Douglas could read. While these individuals do play major roles in the history of African-Americans, their stories are much deeper than the kindergarten picture book versions we’re presented with. Martin Luther King’s life is reduced to non-violent protests, one speech, and getting shot. George Washington Carver is presented to us as “the nigga who created peanut butter”, ignoring the fact that products he created from the peanut (including peanut butter) and soybean were instrumental in freeing the South’s economy from it’s dependence on cotton. G.W. Carter’s products created from the Sweet Potato, including flour, starch, and also synthetic rubber are also ignored. Peanut butter is all we get.

To get mentioned in “Black” History Month, people’s records have to damn near be spotless. While Martin Luther King’s personal issues are pardoned and he gets praised, Malcolm X is damn near ignored. I often wonder how much I would know of Malcolm had it not been for my forced reading of his autobiography, and Spike Lee’s movie based on  Alex Haley’s writing. Jackie Robinson is worshiped, Muhammad Ali is occasionally acknowledged, and Jack Johnson is ignored. The Black Panthers….who? No mention.  While of course the Black Panther Party had some imperfections, I’m willing to wager there are a lot more imperfections amongst either the Democratic or Republican parties.

My biggest issue with the handling of Black History Month, is the misinterpretation of the name. It’s “Black” history month, not “African-American” history month. Black history didn’t begin once niggas got out of chains. No matter how hard some try to deny it, we all descend from Africa.  The history of Africa itself, or it’s people is NOT discussed in “Black” history month. While we are force fed the history of Greece and Rome all year long, Egypt, which is in Africa, get’s no where near the recognition it deserves. You figure it could at least get it’s shine during “Black” history month, considering the people of Egypt were black. If Egypt get’s no love, you better believe NOWHERE in Africa will.

My second MAJOR problem with “Black” History Month is that while it’s meant for good, it’s actually counter-productive. Often, when reviewing possible lesson plans, teachers will “adjust” their schedule and put anything “black” in February. Moving all “black” studies to February, removes them from the other 11 months of the year. We don’t study all presidents in one month…we study those dead white mothafuckas all year long. No race, sexuality, or any form of group should be restricted to a month.  You may ask yourself…how do YOU know what teachers do…because I’ve actually heard teachers state that they were pushing back studying a black figure until February. That’s where my whole “no love for black history month” began.

This year, Black History Month was hella subdued. My guess is that after Obama being elected as president people feel Black History Month is no longer necessary. It’s not, as long as black people . Fuck it, let’s transition it to “African History Month” study Africa all February (since it is where we’re all from), and study “black” people all year long.