And if you grew up in the American school system looking like me you know that you didn't get enough of your own history to fill your mind.
You just got the highlights.
Slavery, Lincoln, Civil War, Civil Rights and MLK.
All in very small doses, just enough to say "oh....yeah you were apart of this country too...yeah here it is on pages 22-24.".
Who is that supposed to teach?
Let's not kid ourselves history is written by the victors, it's their story, their lives they are documenting.
That's how it's done throughout time.
If you're the loser you are written down as how they see you, a passing note in their lives, and if they feel guilty about their relationship to you then you become a footnote.
That's why I like Black History Month, it is supposed to be the opportunity to learn something you didn't know before and most likely were not going to find out about ever.
So when other black people get indignant about BHM because they feel that their history should be given attention year round instead of a month (which it should) I give them the screw face.
Exactly what part of the year do you get to see, read, hear and feel black history on a national scale?
You have to get on your hands and knees to pray that Hollywood falls asleep and lets a few black cast members get on screen in a movie that doesn't demean somebody, somewhere.
YOU HEAR THAT MORGAN FREEMAN!
Think about that when you're looking for some work old man.
If I have a beef with BHM it's how it is executed.
I am sorry this may offend some but I have had enough of MLK, up to my ears about him.
Same goes for Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth, Dubois, and even Obama.
I am done with it.
That's my issue with BHM you get the same cast drilled into your head over and over again.
I want to see something new, people, places, events, we don't get to learn a lot about.
That's what I want to know about BHM and that's what I don't think we get enough of.
Doesn't matter how small or insignificant just something to shake things up.
So I put some info that you may have not known and provided links to some bloggers who did their own thing on something different or provided a different light on the same suspects.
But the question for today is does BHM even matter to you?
Do you feel like you're learning anything?
Is it irrelevant?
From the Haitian Internet.
Ebenezer Bassett, First Haitian Ambassador,
First Black Diplomat In U.S. History
Ebenezer Bassett was the first ever U.S. Ambassador to Haiti and, because there was finally a "Black Republic" to send black Ambassadors to, Ebenezer Bassett became very first Black diplomat in U.S. History.
1-Ebenezer Bassett becomes the First U.S. Ambassador to Haiti.
2-Ebenezer Bassett began service in Haiti 65 years after Haitian independence.
3-Ebenezer Bassett saved the life of Haitian President Boisrond Canal.
Read more here.
And here.
Here are some links from other bloggers.
-FROM MY BROWN EYED VIEW
PATTY JO AND GINGER:BY JACKIE ORMES - This is a cartoon by Jackie Ormes.
-Regina's Family Seasons
In Honor of Black History Month #3 W.E.B. DuBois
- Sojourner's Place
ain't i a woman? a sojourner's salute to elizabeth hobbs keckly
-Sagacious Rambling
Abraham Lincoln: Great man, victim of circumstance or both?
-Essential Presence
Uneven Fairways
11 comments:
Black History Month should always be relevant, up until the point where Black History simply becomes American History. We certainly aren't there yet, but I believe we're on our way.
One step in that process is recognizing the importance of the lesser-known but necessary characters. Gilbert King is writing a book about Thurgood Marshall and made a short film connecting Marshall to Barack Obama. Would we have a Black president today if we didn't have Marshall's influence on politics? Check out the video and message here: http://theharperstudio.com/2009/01/barack-obama-on-the-shoulders-of-thurgood-marshall/
I believe that "black" history is American history.
I have to agree with Morgan Freeman on his overall point and add that confining it to a month makes it seem overtly and intentionally separate from American culture.
We've changed dramatically in the course of a few decades. Measures given and taken for equality's sake were done so for the promotion of change and tolerance.
It was necessary to recognize what others may take for granted or refuse to acknowledge, but "black" people are no longer confined to certain roles in society or intentionally kept out of widespread American culture.
To designate something to one race in today's America is counterproductive. There was a time when history was "whites only," but that time certainly isn't now. I certainly wasn't inundated with "white only" history 11 months of the year while growing up.
I was also fed fairy tales in school instead of truth. But that goes for America's history in general, not simply a race's particular history.
If a person was instrumental in the course of American history, their history should be taught as such: America's history. I don't believe that it should be separated and included in a particular month nor kept out of certain cirriculum.
When it comes to BHM, its context is more symbolic than its contents are relevant. So I'm not advocating the month's dissolution.
I believe that teachers and parents should be making sure their children learn about all Americans who have helped to shape history.
CLNMIKE – A new cast? Sounds like you just had a great idea for a book. I have someone I’d like to nominate for consideration if that develops.
Kathryn and Josh – Yes, “black” history is American history. I have a sense I am quite a bit older than other posters here so, Josh, I was inundated with “white” history for 12 months out of a year. Black History Month and living in Birmingham motivated me to find out more than I was ever taught in school. Maybe it is time for an updated name, something like History of Black America Month?
Kathryn,
Thanks, i'll check it out.
Josh,
In a perfect world we would not need a BHM which is more symbolic than anything so I would agree if I thought that black contribution to history were given fair play in school.
Judi,
Lol.
Bassett is a typically "Haitian" last name. I'm gonna have to do some more research on him.
To be honest, I haven't paid much attention to BHM since I was in school(elementary, middle and high school). It just doesn't seem genuine. IDK.
Thank God for my high school Black History Teacher Mr. Moss! He was so conscious of educating us about our ancestors lives before the Mayflower. He started the annual Black Arts festival in our community and really made a difference in our lives.
Mr. Moss opened up the door to all sorts of possibilities and made us feel very special, important and blessed. With the Lerone Bennett book in hand, I knew we were much more than slaves. We have a legacy as old as time and place and I have Mr. Moss to thank for the education.
Hi,
I have added your blog to my directory. please add my blog too in your directory.
regards,
In a perfect world, there would be no need for BHM. Since we all know the world is anything but perfect, BHM does serve a purpose. I do think that there have been improvements over the last few years in exposing some of the lesser known black historical figures.
At my job, I headed a project where we put up a display of black "firsts" in a variety of fields. We made a concerted effort to provide a mix of the familiar with the less than familiar. We also decided not to include some of the obvious ones. For example, everyone knows about the firsts that Jackie Robinson and Sidney Poitier accomplished in their respective fields. However, many probably don't know about people such as Willie O'Ree and Dr. Clifford Wharton. Many of us who worked on the project said how educational it was for us.
Mimi,
No it does feel fake but I still feel it is necessary.
Pjazzypar,
You had a great teacher.
Malcolm,
Thats what I mean about BHM, it's not being used to it's fullest potential.
Yes you are soooo...right I think instead of just talking about B.H.M lets talk A.A.H.Y.(African American History Year) Because as Malcolm said before all that is taught in school is Rosa,Martin, etc. so lets start to plug in people like I watched the B.E.T.honors last week and there are the Magic Johnsons,Mary J. Bligh, Ms. B. Smiths etc. people who are currently making it happen to benefit our people. I have been expanding my library at home with all kinds of African American reading to the point that I need to get larger book cases ,books by Cornel West, Cheik Anta Diop,Alex Haley etc.books that I was`nt exposed to coming up some are so out of circulation that I have to special order them but enough of that boring you but I agree that we are on the way we just have to press on ok holla back.
I know that this is a late comment. But I saw your link on Technorati to my blog.
I write about Black History frequently. I also publish a blog titled:The Renaissance Gallery. It is filled with videos on the subject of our story in America.
I appreciate the mention of my post on cartoonist Jackie Ormes. She was my new discovery in our story.
Black History is really a 365 day course. We have to be responsible for educating ourselves about the past and the present story makers.
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