Black Heritage Month

[Bound High]

What did you do for Black Heritage Month? You only have 5 days left to do something. Some of you might think you can get out of it because you are white, latino, asian, or other. Participation in Black Heritage Month is mandatory for all.

[Tienshin]

Um...okay? :confused:

Other then watching a few specials on TV I didn't do anything. But of course observational type events tend not to be events of "doing" versus reflection.

[Lucky Bob]

What did you do for Black Heritage Month? You only have 5 days left to do something. Some of you might think you can get out of it because you are white, latino, asian, or other. Participation in Black Heritage Month is mandatory for all.
But I don't want to watch Barbershop 2...

[Chad Bonin]

Personally?

I wondered why there's not a Caucasian Heritage Month, Asian Heritage Month, Irish Heritage Month, Italian Heritage Month...

Also, why there's a Black History Month, why the NAACP still stands for "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People"... and why we haven't heard much about a NAASP (National Association for the Advancement of Spanish People), being that it's the largest minority now...

[Psycho Fox]

Other then watching a few specials on TV I didn't do anything.I watched them specials too but I haven't seen one paying tribute to Jimi Hendrix, I've seen it in the ad for black history but not a special for him. Where is the special? the guy was a rock god.

[Delthayre]

I really haven't done anything particular to Black History Month. Umm...I have listened to a lot of Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderely, and Charlie Mingus...but I do that in normal months.

I guess I'll go look up the names of the first black legislators and maybe their initial struggles in congress...or something.

Personally? ...eh?

I wondered why there's not a Caucasian Heritage Month, Asian Heritage Month, Irish Heritage Month, Italian Heritage Month...You want one? Go campaign for it and quit complaining.

The problem is you're trying to draw standards where they don't exist. The Black situation in American is different than any of the others stated.

That being said I don't really like Black History Month, it seems uneccessary.

Also, why there's a Black History Month, why the NAACP still stands for "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People"... and why we haven't heard much about a NAASP (National Association for the Advancement of Spanish People), being that it's the largest minority now...It's just retaining an antiquated term out of tradition, I do imagine they'll change or disband eventually. T'ain't no thang...

[Nightflower]

The problem with Black Heritage Month is that you always inevitably get a bunch of people *****ing about why there isn't a Caucasian Heritage Month. I'm certainly not the person to say whether they're right or not, but it does get tiring right quick.

I think there is an Asian Month... I just have no idea when it is.

[Chad Bonin]

Oh, I'm not clamoring for a Caucasian History Month; just think if one group gets one, all others should. Ya know, equality and junk.

[creeper]

Aren't Caucasian accomplishments and heritages taught all year? Why dedicate a month to something that is already taught all year round? I thought Black History month was just to bring light to all the accomplishments that were over looked because of rascism and such.

The only reason i want things like Black History and Affirmative Action to go away is, because as a black person it's painful to watch others complain about it. It's like they don't respect why it was started so they whine and complain that it's not fair. Those two things were started because life wasn't fair if you were a different race, black being a big example.

In today's society, depending on where you live it's easy forget that a lot other races had it hard and we've come a long way. Black History Month and Affirmative action are an example of how the world isn't fair and sometimes to get any recognition or an honest chance you have to change the bell curve or force feed people into understanding.

I think eventually things like Black History month and Affirmative action will go away cause less of us actually need them. But I know my history to an extent and respect why things are in place. I'm not one of those whiners who don't respect the past.

As for me doing anything for Black History month. Yeah I'm a hard working black person paving the way and creating my own history. I think that's enough.

[Tienshin]

I think there is an Asian Month... I just have no idea when it is.There is an Asian Pacific American month, celebrated in May.

And Psycho Fox, I agree...not too much on Jimi. Most musical tributes tend to focus on early jazz musicians, older bebop groups, etc. Shameful really.

As for the question of Blask Heritage Month as an institution...it's been around since 1926 and in those times, when Black history was an afterthought or nonexistent, it meant a great deal to blacks who only as of 1863 (on paper anyway) were granted emancipation. Keeping in mind that basic education was denied to blacks during slavery for the most part and the net result is a void in terms of American history concerning african americans. This is where Black Heritage Month comes from, an effort to gather missing historical elements of a large segment of American society that up until that point had been largely ignored and make it available for AMERICA to observe and recognize.

Oh, I'm not clamoring for a Caucasian History Month; just think if one group gets one, all others should. Ya know, equality and junk.The celebration isn't some attempt to force feed a black history lesson but rather an acknowledgement of one part of the United States history. This no different then Asian Pacific Month, Women's History month, National Italian American Heritage Month (October), Irish-American Heritage Month (March) etc...where the country can celebrate for a time the fact that as a whole the United States is the sum of many different parts.

[okendri]

I just want to add that Jewish History Month will be this September. Also there are many Hispanic civil rights organizations.

http://quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/bp/Qus-jews-politics.Rkxn_DOG.html

[Psycho Fox]

And Psycho Fox, I agree...not too much on Jimi. Most musical tributes tend to focus on early jazz musicians, older bebop groups, etc. Shameful really.
Yhea but Jimi Hendrix is STILL the ONLY black rock god and Jimi Hendrix at the time was THE god of rock nobody played like him back then

[Chad Bonin]

This no different then Asian Pacific Month, Women's History month, National Italian American Heritage Month (October), Irish-American Heritage Month (March) And... uh... how often do you see these promoted during commercial breaks on all broadcast stations? Hell, I had never HEARD of those months.

[Mynd Hed]

I wondered why there's not a Caucasian Heritage Month, Asian Heritage Month, Irish Heritage Month, Italian Heritage Month...
My high school had an African-American Culture Club which dealt with African-American history and issues. Well, a German friend of mine was so impressed by the idea that he decided he wanted to start an Aryan Culture Club that would do the same thing for Aryan folks, and he approached a faculty advisor with the idea.
She said, "No, the school can't sponsor any hate groups."
Confused, he said, "I don't understand. This group would not hate or exclude anyone. We'd model ourselves after the AACC."
She said, "Well, you could call it the German Culture Club."
He said, "No, that would be too exclusive. The word Aryan refers to all speakers of Indo-European languages."
Of course, she still said no.

(-:

[Liger Zero]

Personally?

I wondered why there's not a Caucasian Heritage Month, Asian Heritage Month, Irish Heritage Month, Italian Heritage Month...

Also, why there's a Black History Month, why the NAACP still stands for "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People"... and why we haven't heard much about a NAASP (National Association for the Advancement of Spanish People), being that it's the largest minority now...
Because the racial apologists still hold much political clout, even if their relevance has dissolved in recent years...

What'd I do for Black Heritage Month? Absolutely nothing. Lemme know when there's a "Caucasian Heritage Month" to even things out.

[okendri]

Because the racial apologists still hold much political clout, even if their relevance has dissolved in recent years...

What'd I do for Black Heritage Month? Absolutely nothing. Lemme know when there's a "Caucasian Heritage Month" to even things out.
Did you even read Tienshin's posts?
As to the question why we don't hear about those months is because the groups don't promote them as much or they haven't been around as long as others.

[creeper]

But aren't caucasian accomplishments taught all year round? Why dedicate a month to it?

[Romanesque]

For some reason, I find the whole concept of distinguishing "ethnic accomplishments" to be rather silly.

--Romey

[Clayface]

For some reason, I find the whole concept of distinguishing "ethnic accomplishments" to be rather silly.

--Romey

So do I. Especialy since we're supposedly a society that is working toward being "color blind".

[Chad Bonin]

If we're going for all equality... I want to see women to be able to be drafted in time of war, the stereotype of white people being completely goofy and idiotic to be thrown out the window...

[Senbei Norimaki]

I bought and watched a bootleg copy of Song of the South. I also enjoyed a good laugh at that Spoonge Bob valentine/Black history card.:bosko: I also watched Roots.

[Chad Bonin]

My mom got a copy of Song of the South... not sure of it's relevance, but someone mentioned the movie.

[Tienshin]

Color Blind is nice. As an ideal. We do not, however, live in an ideal world. Otherwise this discussion would be moot. We would all be color "X" and an understanding of other races and how they have played apart in history would be neither relevant nor existent. The fact that the United States is an aggrergate of many types of people in and of itself deserves recognition. Don't think so? Then read the world news. Of course, the good ol' USA isn't perfect in matters of race/ethnicity/religious/whatever else relations. But I'd like to think that we have constantly worked towards a better formula. (as have many other countries)

Still, that doesn't take away from the fact that this country is the sum of many parts...so why is recognizing those parts tantamount to bucking an ideal of a "colorblind" society? It isn't. Facts can never be changed, and at the end of the day the USA is more similar to a box of generic neopolitan ice cream then it is to a box of Breyer's vanilla. Yet, folks cry foul over an observational period that in spirit represents and seeks to acknowledge an integral part of the COUNTRY'S own history. Misconceptions about what Black Heritage Month is abound through this thread...especially the "OMG, call me when Whites have a month" backasswards nonsense.

Call me crazy...but I think recognizing our parts is better then assuming they don't exist.

[Clayface]

Still, that doesn't take away from the fact that this country is the sum of many parts...so why is recognizing those parts tantamount to bucking an ideal of a "colorblind" society? It isn't.

Sure it is, in the context of an "Race-X History Month". The entire point of these types of things is to segegrate accomplishments by "color" - last I checked, segregation doesn't work toward making us a color blind society. If we were truely working toward a color blind society, no one would care what color the person was, they'd only care about the accomplishment. You certainly can (and IMO should) recognize the "parts" that made up this country without bringing race into it. The race of the historical figure is, in a large number of cases, completely unrelated to his/her accomplishment, so why point it out or make it an issue at all? When I was in school, we were taught great historical moments that involved a huge variety of races - not just "white" accomplishments. And the issue of the participants' race was never brought up unless it was pertinent (obviously you can't have a discussion of why MLK was so important without bringing up race). These Race-X History Months seem like nothing but a step backwards to me.

[Psycho Fox]

Sure it is, in the context of an "Race-X History Month". The entire point of these types of things is to segegrate accomplishments by "color" - last I checked, segregation doesn't work toward making us a color blind society. If we were truely working toward a color blind society, no one would care what color the person was, they'd only care about the accomplishment. You certainly can (and IMO should) recognize the "parts" that made up this country without bringing race into it. The race of the historical figure is, in a large number of cases, completely unrelated to his/her accomplishment, so why point it out or make it an issue at all?
Simple name be ONE black Pres of USA , can't well name me one black vice Pres of USA.

Name ONE black rock god other then Jimi Hendrix.

Going color blind BEFORE there is equal oppertunity just keeps unequality.

[okendri]

The thing is that not every school is like your school. Highlighting a particular groups' accomplishments can go a long way in breaking negative stereotypes. The breaking of those stereotypes will help in moving us closer to achieving a color blind society.

[Clayface]

Simple name be ONE black Pres of USA , can't well name me one black vice Pres of USA.

Name ONE black rock god other then Jimi Hendrix.

Going color blind BEFORE there is equal oppertunity just keeps unequality.

But how does having a Black History month change that at all? It doesn't, as far as I can see. It seems more condescending than anything else to me - its like saing, "oh, sorry you didn't get a president yet, but here's the consolation prize - some other good things your 'people' did". I just don't see the point.

And of course, your point of there being no black president could circle us back around to the same question: if we shouldn't/don't care about skin color, what does it matter if we've had a black president or not? Its not the color of the skin of the man in office, but his actions.

You say there isn't equal opportunity for a black man to become president? I don't agree. There are plenty of black politicians, several of whom have attempted to make bids for the presidency. Now you could say that racism held them back from getting the nominations or the votes, but I suspect it was more the quality of the candidates that prevented them from going further.

The thing is that not every school is like your school.

Then should we not be focusing our time, money, and efforts in improving the educational system, rather than pooring it into naming months? :shrug:

Highlighting a particular groups' accomplishments can go a long way in breaking negative stereotypes. The breaking of those stereotypes will help in moving us closer to achieving a color blind society.

Certainly. But is having a "Black History Month" really doing that? Its like the anit-drug commercials - studies have shown that they don't really have much of an impact. They don't convince anyone of anything - people that want to try drugs are going to try them regardless of what information is fed to them. In the same way, racist jerks are going to continue to be racist jerks, no matter how many achievements and accomplishments you show them.

[Mynd Hed]

Name ONE black rock god other then Jimi Hendrix.Turn on MTV very late at night or early in the morning when they're actually playing music videos. Count the number of black artists whose videos you see. Then count the number of white artists whose videos you see. Then compare that ratio to the ratio of black folks to white folks in the general population. You'll find that black folks have more than their share of the musical success pie.

The fact that none of them could be as GOOD as Jimi Hendrix if they sold their souls to a thousand devils doesn't enter into it. (-:

But for the record, BB King.

[Psycho Fox]

Turn on MTV very late at night or early in the morning when they're actually playing music videos. Count the number of black artists whose videos you see. Then count the number of white artists whose videos you see. Then compare that ratio to the ratio of black folks to white folks in the general population. You'll find that black folks have more than their share of the musical success pie
I'm talking ROCK you know AC/DC, KISS, ect. Who cares about non-rock conserts there is no pot to enhance the experince :cool:

The fact that none of them could be as GOOD as Jimi Hendrix if they sold their souls to a thousand devils doesn't enter into it. (-:
But the point is other rock gods came after Hendrix and none of them are black.

But for the record, BB King.
BB King? Hendrix is compaired to Eddie Van Halen and there is still debate of who is the better , I never heard anyone compaire BB King to other rock gods.

But how does having a Black History month change that at all? It doesn't, as far as I can see. It seems more condescending than anything else to me - its like saing, "oh, sorry you didn't get a president yet, but here's the consolation prize - some other good things your 'people' did". I just don't see the point.

And of course, your point of there being no black president could circle us back around to the same question: if we shouldn't/don't care about skin color, what does it matter if we've had a black president or not? Its not the color of the skin of the man in office, but his actions.
Well lets take rock have you ever thought that IF there were black rock gods there may be more intrest from blacks to be rock gods.

[okendri]

But how does having a Black History month change that at all? It doesn't, as far as I can see. It seems more condescending than anything else to me - its like saing, "oh, sorry you didn't get a president yet, but here's the consolation prize - some other good things your 'people' did". I just don't see the point.

And of course, your point of there being no black president could circle us back around to the same question: if we shouldn't/don't care about skin color, what does it matter if we've had a black president or not? Its not the color of the skin of the man in office, but his actions.

You say there isn't equal opportunity for a black man to become president? I don't agree. There are plenty of black politicians, several of whom have attempted to make bids for the presidency. Now you could say that racism held them back from getting the nominations or the votes, but I suspect it was more the quality of the candidates that prevented them from going further.



Then should we not be focusing our time, money, and efforts in improving the educational system, rather than pooring it into naming months? :shrug:



Certainly. But is having a "Black History Month" really doing that? Its like the anit-drug commercials - studies have shown that they don't really have much of an impact. They don't convince anyone of anything - people that want to try drugs are going to try them regardless of what information is fed to them. In the same way, racist jerks are going to continue to be racist jerks, no matter how many achievements and accomplishments you show them.
Problem is that it doesn't take that much money to name a month as compared to improving the school system. I would at least like some kind of attempt at it then just throwing your hands up and saying well there will always be racists.

[Clayface]

Problem is that it doesn't take that much money to name a month as compared to improving the school system.

Very true. But there's a lot more money spent on it than just naming it. How many times have you seen commercials on TV for it, or programs celebrating the month that only adults would be interested in? Seems like a waste to me. Most adults have their mind made up. There's not a lot you're going to do to change their minds - if they're willing to look at the subject objectively, they probably have already, and if they aren't it doesn't matter what you say to them. In my opinion, the only way to make changes is to teach the new generations as they come up. And what's the most effective way to do that? Teach it in school.

[The Old Maid]

Presentation has as much to do with it as perspective. Let's say that people woke up one day to find a thread celebrating Purim but tagged with the line "Participation is mandatory!" In spite of the fact that any day a bad man fails to wipe out a whole race is something to celebrate, the knee-jerk reaction from the peanut gallery would be, "I don't want to and you can't make me." It's the presentation. Now a lovely thread posted by someone who's happy about Purim (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=70906) and just wants to share that story, makes me want to learn about it too.

In the same way, a few BHM-related ramblings about a story I enjoyed (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=20368) or a museum I visited (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=68799) or even about Juneteenth (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=37894) may be on a topic that supposedly doesn't affect anyone else, but I don't get uncomfortable reactions by sharing them. This thread just may have started out on the wrong foot, that's all. The better question would be, what did each person who observes a special day or time do to observe it?

Well, for Black History Month I read the collection In Montgomery and Other Poems by Gwendolyn Brooks. I also mentioned to an acquaintance at church that the Davidic line (from which Jesus descended) had several individuals believed to be Black, or at least according to I Chronicles they came from Black nations. This woman promptly turned to her nine-year-old daughter and said, "Did you know that Jesus was part African-American?" Um, no, they were Black but they weren't African and they weren't American. So I observed Black History Month by banging my head on a desk. :p

[Clayface]

Presentation has as much to do with it as perspective. Let's say that people woke up one day to find a thread celebrating Purim but tagged with the line "Participation is mandatory!" In spite of the fact that any day a bad man fails to wipe out a whole race is something to celebrate, the knee-jerk reaction from the peanut gallery would be, "I don't want to and you can't make me." It's the presentation. Now a lovely thread posted by someone who's happy about Purim (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=70906) and just wants to share that story, makes me want to learn about it too.

I couldn't agree more. For the record, I'm actually not opposed to Black History/Heritage Month, or any other "History/Heritage Month". My reaction is more in relation to the opening post of this thread, and the idea that its "mandatory" for everyone. That, and I wanted to stir up some conversation. ;) :p

[Tienshin]

I couldn't agree more. For the record, I'm actually not opposed to Black History Month, or any other "History Month". My reaction is more in relation to the opening post of this thread, and the idea that its "mandatory" for everyone. That, and I wanted to stir up some conversation. ;) :pThe original post was mild flame bait and nothing more. I was initially kind of annoyed by it for that reason. (see second post)

[Caffeine King]

But aren't caucasian accomplishments taught all year round? Why dedicate a month to it?
I agree.

White people's accomplishments are in the news everyday.

I never see any black people's accomplishments on TV.

I didn't really do nothing for black history month. What am I supposed to do?

I did watch an intresting video on Africa in school, and did a report on Esther Rolle for extra credit in school. I wish I did one on Red Foxx instead. :shrug:

I think it's disrespectful to give black people the shortest month of the year to celebrate their history. :shrug:

[Bound High]

I think it's disrespectful to give black people the shortest month of the year to celebrate their history.
They probably picked it for a reason.

[Tienshin]

February was chosen because of the birthdays of Frederick Douglas (February 14) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12).

[Nightflower]

It's been in my experience that even if someone started the thread with "This is how I enjoyed/celebrated Black History Month!", there would still be people complaining, "Okay, now when's White History Month?"

[Bound High]

And that is because of what I like to call a heritage of conflict.

[Psycho Fox]

It's been in my experience that even if someone started the thread with "This is how I enjoyed/celebrated Black History Month!", there would still be people complaining, "Okay, now when's White History Month?"Naa, I wanta know when there is gona be a "Rock History Month";). Tons of youth are growing up without listening to any good rock like KISS and actully instead liking fad bands that no one will remeber 5 years later.

[creeper]

But why do they want a month if they have a whole year?

I'm referring to the people complaining about wanting a white history month

[JohnCrichton]

So do I. Especialy since we're supposedly a society that is working toward being "color blind".
Might look like that from your point of view, but it's actually really nice from mine.

Sorry, but growing up black and whatnot, you don't get to hear about anybody black in history except for Martin Luther King Jr.......... and that's it.

And when I was a kid, any hero worth talking about in cartoons or live action was white. And as color blind as society is.... as a little kid you do end up feeling left out. All you know growing up is that in history, people like me were slaves, then free people who got beat up a lot and the Martin Luther King came and then everything was alright.

You don't get to hear pretty much ever what people of a similar background as you have accomplished and what you have the potential to be, which is pretty much anything.

Trust me guys, it's necessary.

And asking for a White History Month is very funny. Put on your thinking caps, give thought to what it's like being a different color(and yes, I am MORE than aware we're all human... but no, we don't all grow up the same way with the same lessons and same outlook on life) and you'll figure out why it's needed and why there doesn't need to be one dedicated month to something kids study all year 'round anyway.

[Kury Wagner]

First, I want to say that I am white.

Second, what happened to the days when black people were called "colored people" or even "African-Americans"? When did that get reduced to "black people" maybe it's just me, but I think thats kind of disrespectful.

Third, the neighborhood where I live isn't perfect. But it's my home. My neighborhood is largely populated by hispanic people. And, I really don't care! As long as everyone is polite to everyone, I couldn't care less what race they are. Underneath it all, people are just people.

Fourth, I feel kind of bad because I didn't do anything for Black history month. But even if I did read a book, or watched a movie about their history, what would it do? Nothing. I might learn a fact or two, but beside that, what would it do? (this question is rhetorical)

Sometimes, I can't stand thinking about this world in which we live in. Where there is racism and hate. :sad: I love reading comic books, mainly the X-Men. And because they are different, they are teased and discriminated against. And, yet I think if the X-Men were real I would fear them. Or tease them ... I would be their friend.


Later,

[JohnCrichton]

To me, "colored" harkens back to days best left in the past... "African American" was too PC and we kept meeting actual Africans who'd say, "LOL! You're not African!" "Black..." it's a simple term, knows what it means and gets to the point. Nothing wrong with it.


And I don't think anyone really has to do anything for Black History Month. To me it's there so little kids know that among the great ones in American history, some of them grew up just like they did and for older folk, it's in honor of what they had to go through so I could have nights and friends like this:

http://www.ryanjpeters.com/images/madsn012504/0104_52.JPG

Without getting lynched.

And for black people in my age group, it's to remind us that those before us did great things in terrible times so that I could live a good life and succeed. To not take for granted what they fought hard to earn and to remember the hard work they put into it so that I may do the same and help make a better future as well.

That's what Black History Month is for...

[Chad Bonin]

No black heroes, JC?

Look at TJ. Zach. Tanya. Aisha...

[JohnCrichton]

I said when I was a kid. Outside of Roadblock and Alpine, there were almost zero to none worth mentioning who didn't adhere to some embarassing stereotype.

Times are definately different now and getting better.

Still, minority heroes in entertainment's a different discussion than real black heroes of history being acknowledged and honored.

[cowboyardee]

Participation in Black Heritage Month is mandatory for all.
Nobody had to tell me to respect black people's heritage, I've been doing it all my life. I've been vocal and active about social change for over thirty years.

But I've never been told that participation in Black Heritage Month was mandatory for all. Simple human decency and mutual respect should be considered mandatory. Or are you intentionally trying to irritate and inflame?

[Tienshin]

But I've never been told that participation in Black Heritage Month was mandatory for all. Simple human decency and mutual respect should be considered mandatory. Or are you intentionally trying to irritate and inflame?
The initial post IS flamebait.

[wonderfly]

Oh yeah, it's Black History Month....the month where white people have been told by the media to repeat the following mantra all month long:



*must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty*

[Delthayre]

Oh yeah, it's Black History Month....the month where white people have been told by the media to repeat the following mantra all month long:



*must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty*
Wow, I must have gotten a really godawful education, because I never got that lesson.

[Nick Biped]

Oh yeah, it's Black History Month....the month where white people have been told by the media to repeat the following mantra all month long:



*must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty, must feel guilty*Gee whiz, and here I thought the point of Black History Month was to recognize the accomplishments of black people in history and to respect their heritage. How foolish of me.

:rolleyes:

[MattThomasM2B]

Some light reading...

Subject: The Blackin' Out of Black History

De-fanging a Black Panther: the blacking out of Black History

Min. Paul Scott

There was a time when I would look forward to Black History Month. February was the one time when the happy -go- lucky white families on the sitcoms got bumped by the Martin Luther King Story. Also, Ms. Crabtree would take a break from talking about Christopher Columbus long enough to remind me and my 4th grade homies that if we worked hard and stayed out of trouble we could invent the next formula for Soul Glo Afro Sheen and become rich and famous. Yeah, those were the good ole days but as BB King would say, 'the thrill is gone.'

Black History Month has become a corporate sponsored Black Hypocrisy Month. What was supposed to be a celebration to give Black folks a sense of pride and purpose now reinforces the idea that our Black ancestors had no history, culture or civilization until the good white man rescued our triflin', backwards behinds from dark Africa.

It is also an attempt to show us that the days of slavery and Jim Crowism weren't really that bad. To hear white America tell it, the enslaved Africans were perfectly happy rappin' 'Jimmy crack corn and I don't care' to the beat of the swinging of a whip. And the whippings would not even had been necessary if it wasn't for a few rebel rousers like Nat Turner, who made it hard for everybody else. In the mind of mainstream America the slave ship was a virtual Love Boat, complete with jacuzzis and Promenade deck with Shaka Isaac serving cocktails at the bar.

If you believe the sugar coated version of his-story, there was never a real resistance movement during the Civil Rights Era. After all, the March on Washington was really just a group of friends who decided to get together for a little stroll. Malcolm X was only doing a stand up comedy routine when he said 'the ballot or the bullet' and although the so called Black militants said 'burn baby burn' it was only in a symbolic sense.

Even as uncompromisingly 'gangsta' as Hip Hop is supposed to be, it to has become a victim of white de-radicalization. While at the height of the Pro Black Rap Era, it was said that it would take a nation of millions to hold us back, today an elderly white man with a check book can make a whole movement come to a complete stop. The sound of urban unrest has disintegrated into some multi cultural, party all the time-ish, mumbo jumbo, so much so that a blond haired white boy (Eminem) could become a symbol of class resistance in 2004.

The TRUTH is that no one can tell our story but us. I wonder how proud the president of the white corporation that is the 'proud sponsor of Black History Month' would be if he thought that the company's black history program was inspiring the entry level brotha's in the mailroom to start a rebellion. Or inspiring the sista's in the secretarial pool to march on the board room and demand equal opportunity.

We must be clear that Black History is more than a play or a television program. It is the realization that there has never been, in the history of mankind, an atrocity worst than the Afrikan Holocaust. It must serve as a constant reminder that we must carry on the struggle of our ancestors to LIBERATE our people and anything less is a complete mockery of their sacrifices of blood, sweat and tears.

Unfortunately, the sole purpose of commercialized Black History Month seems to be to establish 'reconciliation' among the races (as if we were ever 'conciliated' in the first place) and to promote racial understand. It seems that we are forever having to prove ourselves worthy to live on the same planet with white folks. The dominant sentiment seems to be, if they understood us they would like us. As the front of my 1990 throwback black Bart Simpson t-shirt says, sometimes it is ' a Black Thing You Wouldn't Understand' and I ,for one, do not intend to spend another month trying to beg white America to understand me.

So, this month I will not be celebrating Black History Month but Black Resurrection Month, with the hope that we will begin to resurrect our TRUE history from the grave in which white America has buried it.

No, I won't be singing any ole negro spirituals this year but I will be singing the 2004 remix, 'We Shall Overcome, by any means necessary.'

[BrendaBat]

Origionally posted by Bound High
What did you do for Black Heritage Month?I celebrated Black History Month by going on a date with my black boyfriend on Valentine’s Day :D
Unfortunately, we learned that trying to go out to dinner on Valentine’s Day is a VERY stupid thing to do. All the good restaurants we taken and we had to settle for Denny’s :P

INTERESTING FACT: Did you guys know that February is also ‘Condom Awareness Month’ (it said so in my college newspaper). It’s a little disturbing to see a "Free condoms at Student Health Services" poster sitting next to a poster of Martin Luther King jr. when I walk to class. O_o



Hey JohnCrichton, nice picture. You’re pretty cute ;)

[Squall]

I agree with Clayface 100%. Having cultural segregation like this does nothing but aggravate the process of moving towards being a color blind society.

Why not just have a History month? Then we can celebrate the history of every race, culture, and nation at the same time. Besides, everyone can celebrate their history whenever they want; why do we need some sort of symbolic month to tell us when to celebrate it?

The first step to having a color blind society is to recognize people for who they are and what they've accomplished, not because of the color of their skin. If you want to celebrate people because they're "a great black man", "a great white man", or whatever, then go right ahead, it's your perrogative. But I choose to celebrate great people for who they are and what they've done instead...

[JohnCrichton]

Squall.... read what I wrote above. That's the point of Black History Month, not to segregate.

Also, change the education system in how and what it teaches in history. If you make history a study that covers all cultures year round, then eventually Black History Month would be rendered irrelevant.

I don't know what they're teaching in schools now, but like I said... all I knew of Black History growing up and the accomplishments that people of a similar background as me could do was be in jungle tribes in Africa, get beat up, be slaves, be freed by Lincoln, then treated like crap, then Martin Luther King Jr. and after that everything was fine.

Black History Month has jack to do with how white people feel about themselves. It's to honor the past generations and the struggles they went through to create a new culture in America that respected itself, remind kids like me that what I have came from strong spirit and hard work and to let little kids know that people of similar background have gone on to do great things and so can they.

[JohnCrichton]

Hey JohnCrichton, nice picture. You’re pretty cute ;)



Heh.... thanks, BB. :D