Back when I was in school, American history was based on the "celebration of our greatness" model using textbooks with names like "The Making of American Democracy." Issues like slavery and Indian displacement were just a necessary phase we had to go through as we moved upward and westward. Then someone realized this isn't accurate history.

Black history month is still based on this old model. We put up pictures of famous blacks the way our history courses used to revere Thoman Jefferson, with just a whisper that he practiced slavery. No one wants to discuss any aspect of black history that isn't either a celebration of their greatness, or complaints about oppression.

Either make it a real historical examination or get rid of it.

I am inclined to agree with you to a degree. I however do not think that it should be forgotten. I make sure my children know "little known black history facts", the same way my parents did for me. Despite it not loudly being celebrated by the black community does not mean that we have forgotten anything. Most things done in February are not done by us, but for us, as an appeasement, in my opinion.
There are ways to open the eyes of people to recognize the month again.

Hey Lee, embarassed of your blackness?

I bet you're one of those black people, living a good life and think because the white people you associate with are nice to you,you think black americans don't need to celebrate who we are and our accomplishments to this country which is why Black History Month was created to remind black and white americans the many conributions blacks have made from the beginning to the now of america.

Why would you come up with such a subject and based on a survey done by MSN (White company), says, why didn't you use a black internet service. (Duh)

Bottom line, no one is questioning St. Patrick Day, and all americans aren't Irish, but we celebrate, so maybe one day this historical month will be a celebration for all, not just African Americans. What about the many white, jewish holidays blacks celebrate? Nobody is questioning why do we celebrate those holidays.

Mr. Lee, be proud of who you are and don't agree with your white counter parts just because you guys have a few beers together and eat dinner at each others house. And, while your there eating their food and drinking their wine, simply explain the history of Black America and why its important for them to know why we celebrate our heritage as they, and others.

For example, go back and discover where you received the name "Lee", now thats some conversation at a dinner.

Take care and thanks.

This isn't exactly the forum I was expecting for this conversation, but its an important one to have. I believe that celebrating the achievements of AfricanAmericans, past and present, is important, if for no other reason than the majority of Americans of all races are so woefully ignorant of them. Certainly there are critical observations to be made about historical figures and even the "state of the race", but I'd hate to limit those conversations to a single month.

From Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History Month:
"We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice."
Whatever your bias, for or against a month devoted to Black history, its very important that we all gain an understanding, appreciation, and respect for those who have so greatly enriched this country and this world.

Having studied Black history for most of my life, I say we should incorporate it more strongly within American history and strengthen Black History Month.

It's an excellent way to encourage all of us as Americans to learn about each other. (Now if we could learn about Hispanic, Asian and women's heritage as strongly, we'd really be doing something).

And since somebody's going to bring it up, we should not have a "White History Month" -- first, whiteness is the default in this country anyway.

Instead, let's make it what it is and celebrate the contributions of the English, Irish, Dutch, Scotch, French, Germans, Italians, Slavs, Poles and so on.

Well, there would be one problem with celebrating white history month.

A very large number of White Americans deny their heritage.

This was from a survey done some time ago with Time Magazine. They actually went around and ask white americans "do you know your heritage"...the majority didn't know and didn't want to know. They consider themselves only americans.

Can you imagine the teasing that would come if a white kid in school was of polish descent with all the polish jokes.

Talk about divide and concur....that would be very interesting to see, white americans identified by their heritage.

Just for mention, this discussion was regarding Black History month. Not asians, and women etc.

Everytime there is a discussion regarding the black race, somebody (mainly the gay community), always raises their flags wanting to be noticed.

Just as Gill Scott Heron said in one of his songs, first black people want freedom now everybody want freedom.

It's a different freedom.

I wish Black history was just a part of mainstream American history. Blacks have been here since 1607. But as long as American history is primarily White history, I think we need to keep Black history month.

Unfortunately, I do think that having the designated month relieves the educational system of the need for incorporating Black history into American history, because it all gets thrown into February. But I don't see an easy way around the problem.

Black History Month should continue, but when we have a Black President this will change the meaning of it. When it started it was critical since the achievements of African-Americans in American History were never talked about when I was in school prior to 1978 or so. Crispus Attucks was played in our bicentennial play as a white man! But like Columbus Day and St Patrick's Day as cultural touchstones for the once outsider-ethnic Irish and Italians, as African-Americans take the highest places of power and integration is not just the norm, but the historical norm, it will change and should change.

Just as Gill Scott Heron said in one of his songs, first black people want freedom now everybody want freedom.
-------

yeah, he was wrong.

To Bethesdan, people like to nothing but prove why we should keep Black History Month.

Bethesda, you people up there are so far from the truth....I bet you don't even know there's a part of dc called SE.

Black History month has become an annual 28 (29 leap year) days of unbalanced over-glorification of a few well known African Americans. How many times do we have to be reminded of MLK's dream? Most of the folks I have talked (Black and White) are just glad when it is over. In its place, how about an American History Month that recalls the good and bad heritage of people of Asian, African, Polish, Italian, Irish, German, etc. ancestry in this Country?

I'm not Black, but I consider Black History Month interesting. I suspect that those people who wish it was over haven't paid attention in a long time.

I am disappointed that so many the younger generations have no concept of what it was like for Martin Luther King Jr., Congressman Lewis, Rev. Lowery, A. Phillip Randolph, and all of the innumerable others; and know what a Bull Connors was like, and the culture that he represented; or that a George Wallace could have an enlightening and go from hate to at least something approaching hope.

If those who forget History are doomed to repeat it; let's not forget this History anytime soon.

Frankey, Black History doesn't have to be divisive in a Black Separatist way.

To DC, huh? What are you talking about?

Separtist? I never said anything about it being separtist but celebratory for everyone, go back and read my other comments.

You confirm exactly my point, why take away something that hasn't ever
been emphasized, teaching of history, why aren't more local schools making it mandatory for Black History to be taught. I was for sure taught White American History. Which by the way, is more separtist than any.

Guilt is a strange thing.

Oh please, don't make me out to be evil or some anti-white person, I am simply making a point of why we as americans should keep and learn how to celebrate together black history month.

Frankey: Can't tell you what specifically was the basis for the comment.

But I did go back and reread your posts.

You may not see it, but to me there is a decidely Us vs. Them tone to them. Not nasty (well maybe one comment to Bethesdan was), but still throwing verbal darts in the other direction.

You indicate that wasn't the intent, and I apologize.

Your points were good. Considering some the the blogs on this website, all of the posts on this thread were good, because they were all reasonably short, to the point and informative.

One good thing for me was that it caused me to go back and find out more about Dr. Woodson.

During my 23 years as a teacher, I included Black History Month in my English curriculum at both the middle and high school levels. My students learned about Amos Fortune, a respected slave who earned his freedom, eventually settled in New Hampshire and made signifcant contributions to a small community in the mid 1700's; they learned about Prudence Crandall, a young white woman who fought valiantly to allow young black girls to attend a private girl's school in Connecticut in the mid 1800's. They learned about the ordinary black person's struggles in a caucasian society. My students won state and national awards because of papers they wrote for contests. And they learned that all minorities have struggles and issues and gained an unprecedented depth of knowledge. Perhaps those against having Black History Month forget that the cause of our Civil War was really a black/white issue. That is enough reason for a designated month. We now have teaching units on the Holocaust. Read a history book from the 50's; there is little concerning the atrocities committed against Jews, gays/lesbians, Catholics, and gypsys during that time. Sadly, it is too common to identify people by race, color,religion, or politics. Frankey wrote
..."that it would be very interesting to see white americans identified by their heritage." ...happens all the time. I am the Jewish member[at a club or organization],
not the short woman with the curly hair and blue eyes! By the way, I do not celebrate St. Patick's Day, but I have respect for those who do.
In closing, March is Women in History month.