It is socially hazardous for one to not like Black History Month? Especially if they are "black". What is there not to like? Is it not a slither of the whole year where people have the opportunity to celebrate history, culture, and freedom of those that are black? Shouldn't someone like me be proud and grateful?

I am expected to, but honestly, that's not how I actually feel.

I have never really been fond of this time of the year. As I look back growing up and learning about black history, I would always duck down in the classroom, because I felt everyone's eyes on me...even if they were not staring. All of the attention felt like a million heat waves from the sun, directly lasered at my skin. The pressure I felt was indescribable. Mainly because I was the only one in class. When the teacher asked a question, I was obliged to know the answer and every route to get there. I wanted to hide, run away, and evaporate, but I knew that it was impossible to do those things, considering I am the Cocoa Puff in a bowl of Rice Crispies.

Have you noticed that we learned the same thing every time the topic of black history was mentioned? Here's a little refresher just in case you forgot "all" of their history:

1. Blacks were slaves

2. "They" came from Africa by ship

3. Blacks were tortured and abused

4. Jim Crow Laws segregated people

5. Martin Luther King Jr. is their savior

Awww, what a happy ending. I might cry. Everyone lives in harmony now and there's nothing else we need to know or do.

I am sure that we have all heard of that side of black history. Although this is sadly insufficient, inadequate, and superficial, this is what we are mainly taught. However, because this is all we are told we need to know, we are unfortunately satisfied with this amount of "knowledge". After my upperclassmen years of high school and being in college, I realize that we do not learn anything new or historic after the information of the Civil Rights Movement. While in actuality, black history is unfinished.

I don't like Black History Month because it's not like they tell us about the real background of those people. They don't give us information on what blacks did before coming to America (I will touch upon this topic in a different post of the real history of blacks. It is quite interesting and surprising on how they are the Tribe of Judah. Feel free to do some research beforehand if you want!). Honestly, we don't even take a moment out of our busy schedules -- in and out of class, to educate ourselves on cool facts. All we've learned is how they were in servitude all their lives and frankly, they still are. I wish they taught us about the nifty inventions they made or other prestigious accomplishments they obtained. For example:

1. Lewis Latimer (1848 – 1928) invented the carbon filament for the light bulb

2. Granville T. Woods (1856-1910) made the Multiplex Telegram

3. Gerald A. Lawson (1940 -2011) created and invented the first video game console

4. Marc Hannah ( 1956-Present) invented the 3-D graphics technology

5. Alexander Miles (1838-1918) made the modern-day elevator design. [1]

There are numerous amounts of other great things that we -- myself included, take advantage of and go a day without thinking a black person made them.

I don't want this to seem like I am attacking those who like Black History Month. I really do think that it is a nice attempt for people to show their appreciation to those specific people. I just don't feel appreciated as a black person. To be honest, I don't even like calling myself and others "black". When I look at my skin, I see the color brown but apparently, we have all forgotten the colors we learned back in preschool. Back to discussing this magical month, I could even go on a stretch and say that most of the "consideration" that is given during this time is forced. We feel like we have to make some kind of acknowledgment to brown people or you're considered a heartless, racist, which could not at all be the case. That's not fair to nonblacks. Let's be honest, black history is just not on the forefront of our lives. Every single day during the special month, I don't recognize that it's actually a time to celebrate black history. I usually am reminded when I remember what I look like. The level of awareness of my color is daily sitting on my brain. What about people who don't look like me? What's their personal and internal alarm clock to wake them up to reality? Sometimes it's in front of our face and we still refuse to confront it. Black History Month can be a time to put forth our deep concern and sympathy towards those who it's about. Yet frankly, I still feel in shackles before, during, and after February.

I know, I know. I should be happy. So thank you, for trying. Thank you, for giving us the shortest month of the year. I am sure people get super duper excited for that one extra day in February when it's a leap year; bonus! I know we didn't have to have a month at all, but I truly feel it was given to us as a handout to keep quiet. To hush our outrage and bombastic passion. It keeps us from revolting and it gives society an alibi from the crime scene of inequality. Sidenote: for those who are nonblack and complain about, "aww, why don't we get a white history month?", well maybe because of every month -- even including the month of February, is your month. It's always your month to be privileged. It's always your month to escape the duty of doing something about the issue of race. It's always your month to learn about your history. It's always your month to be free. However, it is not your fault. This is not to make anyone feel guilty, ashamed, or the bad guy. This is the way things are because the Bible says so. No joke, it actually explains why the importance of black history is not really a thing, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children," [2]. This happens because the black people have chosen to disobey God. We forget Him, He forgets us; seems fair. "And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever," [3]. Dang, this seems harsh. However, our ancestors brought it amongst themselves and generations of brown people to come (again, I will touch deeper upon this topic another time). This is just to illustrate why there is no one to directly blame in our modern time for why things are the way they are. Yes, we can try to change things, however, we are only made free on the Most High God's timing.

My almost-optimistic closing remarks on this topic stem from a place of deep hope. I know that truth will come out after myths and lies are exposed. I am sure that we, as a country and we as a collective people, will come together in solidarity and watch over each other. We will stand up against injustice that occurs right in front of our face, no matter what color that might be. People are sick of witnessing others getting mistreated for the dumbest reasons. While on the other hand, people are tired of being victimized and discriminated against. Additionally, people who are not brown or black should NOT be automatically thrown into the category of being racist, inconsiderate, or evil, if they haven't proven such. I do not tolerate false accusations of one's character on both sides of this issue. As the human race, we can continue to place as many band-aids over this gushing wound, and hold each other's hands until God decides to stitch it up, close it, and heal it completely. Hold on sisters and brothers, it's going to sting.

Sources:

[1]: "20 Black Inventions Over The Last 100 Years You May Not Know - Page 2 of 10." Atlanta Black Star. N.p., 07 Nov. 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2017. http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/10/23/100-black-i...

[2]: King James Version, Holy Bible - Hosea 4:6

[3]: King James Version, Holy Bible - Jeremiah 17:4