Black History Month is still important

February marks the celebration in this country of Black History Month, which was established in 1926 by African-American historian, scholar, and educator Carter G. Woodson in honor of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. Since 1976 the celebration became the month-long event that we know today.

The month of February was chosen because it commemorates the birthdays of both Frederick Douglas who was one of the leaders of the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery in this country in the decades prior to the Civil War, and Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, remembered most for his Emancipation Proclamation, which ended slavery in this country and preserved the Union.

But the event today has grown into one that pays tribute to many and much more than just these two great Americans.  While most of us do recognize African American leader’s names like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, most don’t realize that there were many others that played a major role in shaping America and contributing to this great country of ours.

Along with well-known civil rights advocates there were many African American scientists, inventors, abolitionists, religious leaders, lawyers, politicians, artists, writers and musicians who all made rich contributions to America, and Black History Month focuses in on those whose special gifts have enriched our culture and improved our lives today.

But over the years there has been much controversy about whether or not Black History Month should be eliminated.  This debate has taken place among both white and black Americans.  There are always those who insist that a separate month of a celebration for the contributions of one race or gender, which would include Women’s History Month, is unfair to other races or the other gender.

Having lived through the time in our country when history books and literature were virtually devoid of mention of any contributions by African Americans or women, I beg to differ.  When textbooks were made available that included racial minorities and women, it resulted in an uproar due to the fact that the status quo was being questioned.  I remember very well a faculty meeting I was part of that broached this subject and the insulting question was raised, “Are any of these people (referring to minorities and women) worth reading, or worthy of inclusion?”

 It is true that there are some African Americans who have come out against Black History Month.  Actor Morgan Freeman stated on a 60 Minutes segment on CBS that, “I don’t want a Black History Month.  Black history is American history.”  The only problem with this statement is that African Americans were rarely mentioned in history until the founding of Black History Month, the Associated Press reported.

There are also other African American groups who have lodged criticisms of Black History Month over the years, but most African Americans are supportive of and see the importance of this yearly national celebration, as do the majority of all Americans.  All of our children need to be reminded of the extraordinary obstacles that African Americans in particular overcame in order to achieve all that they have.

Since the election of the first African American president, most would think that the significance of that event would improve everyone’s understanding of and appreciation of Black History Month.  But or course that has not been the case.  Many minimized his heritage by saying that he is not 100 percent black, or not black enough.  But President Obama of course can trace his roots back to Kenya and because of the painful history of slavery in this country his election should be recognized as monumental.

Black History Month is an important celebration and should be kept in place, even though we have come so far as to elect our first African American president. As long as a major cable “news” network spends the majority of its time attacking and denigrating the president of the United States of America by questioning his citizenship and equating his governing style and motives to Hitler’s and calling him a socialist, while getting huge ratings for doing so, we can only question whether or not this would be happening if Barack Obama were a white man.  

Would the New York Post get away with depicting the president as a gorilla if he were white? And when the most listened to right-wing talk-radio host makes millions of dollars per year for making racist remarks and jokes about the leader of the free world, it becomes so clear to so many that yes it is still important to celebrate Black History Month each year, so that America’s children will be reminded of our real history and not be misled by the right-wing media’s distortions.

ABOUT THE WRITER
Carol Jensen is a long-time Barstow resident, graduating from Kennedy High School and Barstow College, where she was an English instructor for many years. Much of her time now is spent writing political and social commentary. She may be contacted at cajensen49@msn.com.