Although February is well renowned for being the “Valentine’s Day” month, perhaps it would serve us better to recognize February for a more legitimate reason, rather than catering to an increasingly overly commercialized holiday that serves little purpose. Although no one seems to make a fuss about such a trivial holiday, there has been much controversy surrounding February serving as “Black History Month.” The most prevalent arguments in opposition to Black History Month include “Black history is American history,” “It’s 2016, no one is racist anymore,” and my personal favorite, “There’s no white history month, why should there be a black history month?” I’d like to take the time to refute each of these arguments for those who see black history month as an oppressive stance against his or her own racial background.
- “Black History is American History.”
- “It’s 2016 -- no one is racist anymore.”
- “There’s no White History Month -- why should there be a Black History Month?”
1. "Black History is American History."
Yes. This argument is true… to an extent. However, in my opinion, this argument should be rewritten as “Black history helped create American history.” I believe it is important to distinguish black history in an effort to prevent the declination of the all too often overlooked achievements and events of African Americans that have since become iconic moments in our nation’s history. The Civil Rights Era exemplified the extent to which African Americans would go in order to be seen as equal human beings, even in the darkest corners of the Jim Crow South. Through the leadership and teachings of prominent pioneers for equality such as Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela and others, African Americans were finally granted the rights to parity that they deserved. To write these efforts off as “part of American History” would not only lead to the devaluation of their teachings in an education system that already inherently caters to white students but ultimately serve as a contemptuous blow to the struggles African Americans had to go through to get to where they are now.
2. It's 2016 -- no one is racist anymore."
This argument is almost laughable due to its complete insensitivity as well as its blatant ignorance to modern societal circumstances. Anyone who claims racism is a thing of the past is simply uneducated, naïve, or simply stupid. Racism still exists, although it is much more understated than it once was. Nevertheless, in just the past few years, America has seen case after case involving in a vague situation, a white cop, a gun, and a dead African American adolescent. Although America has come a long way with the electoral success of President Barack Obama, this evidence is notwithstanding in proving that the illness of racism is now obsolete. Race, more than any other demographic factor, determines levels of health, wealth, and achievement in the United States. In essence, claiming that “No one is Racist Anymore” is simply not a valid argument.
3. "There's no White History Month -- why should there be a Black History Month?"
This argument almost underscores the previous notion that “No one is Racist Anymore.” Although this is arguably the most ridiculous of the three arguments I have listed in this article, it seems to be the most familiar. A number of Anti-White History Month responses already exist, including “every month is white history month,” as well as “White history has not been stolen or suppressed like black history has.” These are both accurate replies to the concept that white people are entitled to a month that celebrates their history, but I would like to concoct a few of my own reasons as to when it will ever be appropriate for there to be a White History month: When white people aren’t represented as a whole human being. When white people sit peacefully in restaurants surrounded by resentful eyes, knowing they will never be serviced. When white people get off of a bus knowing that they will be met with violence and perhaps even killed. When a white student attends a school that is 99.9 percent dominated by another race and has to be escorted in by a policeman, all the while dodging rocks and spit. When white people have to march for their equality. Then we can have a “White History Month.”
I hope that this article has provided a greater awareness and understanding of Black History Month and why it is important for us to reflect on the past in an effort to better the future. This Valentine’s Day, I encourage you to temporarily set aside the chocolates and flowers and think about the vast achievements of the African Americans who have helped make our country so great.
