Black History Month

This practice made up for the time when important black historical figures weren't even mentioned in any school curriculum, much less in museums and in the media. I remember as a child never hearing about any of these people. But that has changed now. At this point it has become a herald of black contributions to the exclusion of others.

But I'm not holding my breath waiting for a German-American history month. That would do wonders for a much maligned people too. But of course it would be construed as anti-semitic just at the mere mention of the idea.

 

I learned about George Washington Carver when I was in grade school. Even did a book report on him. Didn't need a Black History month to recognize contributions to our world by black people, either.

To think, if it wasn't for GW Carver, kids wouldn't know the utter joy of PB&J sandwiches. (well, all except those who have allergies)

And boiled peanuts - what Southerner could live without those?

And who hasn't sung a Negro Spiritual at one time or another?

And who hasn't heard Ethel Waters sing "His Eye is on the Sparrow?"

Black History Month wasn't needed. Black History Month is liberal hype. We don't have an Irish Month (Shall that be March). We don't have an Italian Month. No English Month. No American Indian Month.

We should have had a Cherokee Trail of Tears Month before we had a black history month.

 

I have been a student at California Baptist University for the last five years (4 Undergrad. 1 Grad). What really makes me angry is that February is the only month that we have black people come and speak at chapel. All of the other chapels are middle aged white men. But in black history month we have the token two or three black preacher come and speak to the lily-white Cal Baptist chapel. This is truly sad for me.

 

Yes, they give us a political answer.

 

Black istory Month doesn't appear to get the same media attention it once did, which, imo, is a good thing.

I think both. For a while, the education system was notably silent about the contributions of black Americans. It seems wer only heard about them when we "had to". We only seem to hear about, for example, Frederick Douglas, when it was in regard to the topic of the civil war. Yet Mr Douglas was a great historic figure outside of that as well.

I think it had its place, and it's probably now a leftover issue. My guess is that in another ten or so years, recognition of Black History Month wil be mostly a thing of the past, and that important blacks in American history will be prominently recognized all year round, as with all other prominent Americans in history.

 

I do not think so. The issues that African Americans deal with run too deep.

 

I believe the conception of black history week (that's how it started) was originated by a blackman in the early 20th century to bring awareness to children and adults about the acheivements they had made. It was not part of the curriculm at that time seeing that most schools where overseen by white educators. This idea was not concieved to appeal to liberal whites as has been stated in some posts but to just enlighten or teach many that could not even read at the time the acheivements they as a people had made. At that time there was a need to esteem themselves as men and women and not boys,uncles and mammies. in high school I greatly bennefitted from both pages of black history acheivements taught. others may use this a platform to promote their own political agendas which is a great missuse of the time allocated. a student once said that in feb. he was a blackman and in march he was a ni--er!

I am trying to reconcile my personal experiences with your post and not draw my own conclusions on your persons as I disagree with you.

Once while waiting preaching down in sweet ole dixie in a SBc a woman approached me and asked when did they start letting "negras" preach to white folk, as I stared at her in amasement they called my name to approach the pulpit. I spoke that day on the Holiness of GOD. she later became a friend of my family. I was blessed to know who I was in Christ Jesus and not defeated because i don't have the physical characteristecs of the dominant culture, many black children and adults do not have this understanding. so pls understand that it is not time to discontinue the original objective of this time, no matter how others exploit the time.

luv u all in the Lord

 

What is the political answer they gave you?

Joseph Botwinick

 

Ben,

Do you have anything good to say about the university which you attend? I have yet to read one positive comment by you about California Baptist University, and yet, you chose to attend the college not for one degree, but two. I am curious as to why you would go somewhere that you seem to despise so much.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Clinton was President during the last few years that I was in the Coast Guard, and we were getting totally immersed in diversity awareness. I was part of a diversity committee of sorts, and during one meeting, volunteers were being sought to write an article during the month that each ethnic group was being recognized.

I volunteered to write for Hispanic week, which I think was in October. I wrote about the joy of dining in a Cuban restaurant. It never got printed, I guess because they were looking for a hero story about a Hispanic individual. BTW, if any of you are ever in Miami, don't leave until you have dined at a Cuban restaurant. You won't be sorry.

Roy

 

Speaking of Cuban restaurants, up here in NY we have Cuban-Chinese restaurants. I was told that a lot of Chinese people immigrated to Cuba to work the sugar plantations. That was news to me. Were the Chinese women allowed into Cuba? Were there intermarriages? Goes to show, laziness breeds ignorance!

As for German-Americans, New York & Philadelphia does have the Steuben Day Parade (other cities and towns may very well also have one). Again, I don't really know much about him. Texas history is full of German-Americans, but are they identified as such? That they are so integrated into American society that they are indistinguishable, for the most part, from "Americans" that they are and have been in school books so perhaps they don't need special recognition. They were always allowed to vote (as citizens), marry and hold office - they are totally mainstream. "They", I should say "we" as my father's side is largely German-American (Czech-Moravian-Bohemian on my mother's side).

Celebrating German-Americans would be considered anti-Semetic only if you ignored the Jews in the group.

Nevertheless, check this out (link).

The Cherokee Trail of Tears should be taught. 'Celebrate' is the wrong term, don't you think, for most Americans? How about teaching their contribution to America? And the Iroquois League of Nations, too - I've heard that they contributed to our form of government, but I know disgracefully little.

 

Australia is catching up in its attitudes to the Indiginous Folk finally. We have a way to go but there is a lot of angst with it all.

When I went to school, there was no history before Captain Cook landed. The aboriginal people are being lumped together as some sort of pseudo nation by many Australians. There were in fact hundreds of groupings or language groups.

ONe redneck at work said something along the lines of 50 000 years and the lazy beggars still had not invented the shovel before we got here. Well stone the crows how smart is that. .they got by without wrecking the country, had manageable populations, a complex spirituality and were probably the first philosphers under the sky.

 

I've tried and tried to keep my mouth shut but I no longer can. I'm sure I shall be vilified and am probably going to get banned from the board because I will not allow this to go on without saying something and I know that at least one of these offensive posters is a moderator on this board.

I have read numerous threads where posters do not even bother to try and hide their bigotry. I do believe that this board is filled with so many people who dislike my ancestors and yet proclaim they are a Christian. I will continue to read some of the posts on this board, because there are many who aren't so hate-filled, but I don't I'll stay at this board long. What's the point? I grew up in the south and never saw the amount of racism there that I have on this board. And I'm not exaggerating.

So that you can see where I'm coming from, my ancestry is African, Cherokee, and German. So I pretty much get hit from any side. And I don't feel that in this day and age, Black History Month is needed. My black culture is pretty much killing itself slowly and nobody really cares about us anyway so why bother? I say we should stop fighting the establishment and teach ourselves. But no one listens to me.

LadyEagele wrote

Well, well. I suppose I must take this point-by-point.

1. George Washington Carver - From the use of such products as sweet potatos, pecans, soybeans, cotton, cowpeas, and wild plums, and peanuts, he developed:

Adhesives, Axle Grease, Bleach, Dyes, Ink, Insulating Board, Linoleum, Rubbing Oils, Salve, Soil Conditioner, Shampoo, Shoe Polish, Shaving Cream, Synthetic Marble, Synthetic Rubber, Talcum Powder, Wood Stains, Wood Filler.

This is a VERY condensed list and I'm sure it is of no importance to you (although I'm pretty sure if you read the entire list, you'd find something you use everyday). If your paper reported that he gave us PB&J and boiled peanuts, I hope you received the "F" you deserved. And, I'm a Southerner currently (and unfortunately) transplanted and I never liked boiled peanuts.

2. Negro spirituals - not sure what this had to do what anything but here goes. During the days when the wonderful Europeans kept my ancestors as slaves, Negro spirituals were a way to keep their spirits up. Having someone rip you away from your family, culture and friends, beat you repeatedly, and treat you worse than they would treat their dogs has a way of wearing on a person. (imagine that) I'm not sure why anyone not of African ancestry would be taught about the meanings behind them, but since you brought it up, I suppose you were. However, when wondering how so many people could go through so much without rebelling (on a large scale) this helps to clarify. For it was their way of celebrating the life of Jesus and a way of expressing forgiveness, hope, faith, love, endurance, and the offer of eternal life.

3. Ethel Waters - now hmmm. Maybe you are correct and that song is the ONLY thing good about her. Or maybe I'm correct in stating that she made a lot of black people (or negro, colored, whatever you choose to call us) realize that we can accomplishment something good even if our beginnings were painful. For those who don't know, her mother was raped at age 12 by a white man (or Caucasian, European, whatever you choose to call him) named John Waters. She began working at age 13 and managed to overcome poverty. Now this is what I was taught about Ethel Waters. Not from school though. Schools in Montgomery, Alabama still listed me as "non-white" then so I didn't expect much. But it was a way to teach us that we can overcome any obstacle if we try hard enough.

4. Black History Month wasn't needed - now when, exactly, did you mean and who didn't need it? In 1926, when there were no blacks mentioned in the history books (except for slaves), Carter G. Woodson started the Negro History Week. In 1976, it was expanded to the Black History month. In the 1980s, my school characterized us as "whites and non-whites" and MY history class still didn't bother to include us in the history books. It isn't needed now because what's the point. No one takes the time to find out how it began or why it's even in February. It gets ridiculed (PB&J) to the where I'm embarrassed to even try to promote my history. Of course, there are plenty of avenues TODAY that we can use to learn about black history, but no one even bothers with it.

12 months out of year in 1926, focused pretty much on all of the accomplishments that whites made. 12 months out of year TODAY focus on the accomplishments that whites made. When I was in school (and just to let you know, I'm a lot younger than a lot of the people here) I was NEVER taught that blacks did anything significant, not even during Black History Month. I wouldn't have known anything had it not been for that one month a year when bookstores decided we were worth noting for that one month. Your mothers and fathers can tell you repeatedly how much your ancestors did, but if your own teacher refuses to acknowledge it, you tend to become a tad confused.

5. "We don't have an Irish Month" - actually, you're right and wrong. While not official, I get bombarded by Irish history throughout the month of March. But I don't mind because I like learning about other cultures.

"We don't have an Italian Month. No English Month. " Actually, 12 months out of the year, we are taught your Italian and English histories. But it is so incredibly benign that had I not had a time where people focused on "attempting" to teach us black history, I would have thought the sun rose and set with Christopher Columbus, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson (just to name a few). I actually believed the lie that there weren't that many Indians killed by the Europeans initially, they died because their weak immune systems couldn't handled the filthy diseases brought over from Europe. Isn't that how it happened? Isn't it just a myth, made up by people who promote Black History month, that the wonderful Christopher Columbus helped slaughter the Taino Indians that helped save his life?

"No American Indian Month. " But, to follow your logic, what did my Native American ancestors offer you but corn and a peace pipe (sorry, no PB&J)? Native Americans have tried so hard to be heard in this country, but Christopher Columbus decided their lives were worth squat (your wonderful Italian) that they deserve no day. And, to give them one would be bad because wouldn't that be "liberal hype"?


Dr. Bob Griffin wrote

My, my. You have the audacity to call racism? Have you gone back read over your posts (all throughout this board)? Including that one. Just for the record, I don't go "pant, pant" nor do I scramble for any scraps the politicians give me. There are a number of Blacks who go out of their way learn of their history 12 months out of the year.

FIRST - I know that 30 slaves means nothing to you, so I'll correct your "mistake". Try hundreds. Harriet Tubman did NOT help only 30 people and how dare you try and get away with a statement like this? She helped at least 300 people escape slavery. But of course, I'm sure you'll refute this because "my goodness" I don't think we're just that accomplished to help so many and your history cannot allow that a slave outsmarted those wonderful men of European history.

As for your other statement, I do not wish to repeat myself so I'll only say this. There was a time when Black History month was needed because no one else would give blacks the time of day. It was hard to go into a bookstore during any other month of the year and read about Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Martin Luther King Jr (oh wait, I'd better be careful mentioning that name in your presence), and many other Black people who at least tried to accomplish something.

Oh, and by the way:
quote by Dr. Griffin

February was chosen because a number of accomplishments took place during that month. Not because the other months were taken. And Hispanics know their heritage because they were stolen from their land and separated from their people. They were not taught (as a people) that being a Hispanic was bad and they were less than human because of their skin or ancestry. They know the accomplishments of their people. I will say one thing for them, they couldn't care less about being on such great terms with Whites, they want to keep their culture to themselves. Maybe if Blacks were more like Hispanics, so many wouldn't "pant and scramble" for your scraps.

And for those who want to be sarcastic later, no, I don't believe in Kwanzaa (don't even know what it is), no I don't speak or care for ebonics (not sure what that is anyway), and I don't like drums and dancing in my church. I do believe that Jesus wants me to love you all, and I will pray diligently that my anger subsides and I can once again feel free to read this board without worries of people posting sites from racist websites (sorry, different thread), claiming that my culture ruined their music (sorry, also different thread), saying that my culture deifies MLK because he tried to make us equal in the eyes of the law (sorry, ...) that's just hypocritical because your Europeans ancestors have official holidays, and that we are like sad little slave children panting and scrambling from the scraps you throw (definitely this thread).

And I apologize for the length of this thread.

Kim

 

"I've tried and tried to keep my mouth shut but I no longer can. I'm sure I shall be vilified and am probably going to get banned from the board because I will not allow this to go on without saying something and I know that at least one of these offensive posters is a moderator on this board."

Nobody's vilifying you, and you're not going to be banned. So please stop with the paranoia and self-pity.

"I have read numerous threads where posters do not even bother to try and hide their bigotry. I do believe that this board is filled with so many people who dislike my ancestors and yet proclaim they are a Christian. I will continue to read some of the posts on this board, because there are many who aren't so hate-filled, but I don't I'll stay at this board long. What's the point? I grew up in the south and never saw the amount of racism there that I have on this board. And I'm not exaggerating."

Sorry, but I don't think this board is "filled" with bigots, or that there are "numerous" threads espousing bigotry. And yes, you're exaggerating.

"So that you can see where I'm coming from, my ancestry is African, Cherokee, and German. So I pretty much get hit from any side. And I don't feel that in this day and age, Black History Month is needed. My black culture is pretty much killing itself slowly and nobody really cares about us anyway so why bother? I say we should stop fighting the establishment and teach ourselves. But no one listens to me."

You denounce some here as bigots for saying that black history month is unnecessary, but then you yourself agree with them that it isn't needed!

How do you know that nobody really cares? Have you spoken to everbody in the country and gotten their opinion? You're being very narrow-minded!

Most black folks aren't fighting the establishment at all. The vast majority have been staunch supporters of the big government establishment since the days of FDR.

"Well, well. I suppose I must take this point-by-point.

1. George Washington Carver - From the use of such products as sweet potatos, pecans, soybeans, cotton, cowpeas, and wild plums, and peanuts, he developed:

Adhesives, Axle Grease, Bleach, Dyes, Ink, Insulating Board, Linoleum, Rubbing Oils, Salve, Soil Conditioner, Shampoo, Shoe Polish, Shaving Cream, Synthetic Marble, Synthetic Rubber, Talcum Powder, Wood Stains, Wood Filler.

This is a VERY condensed list and I'm sure it is of no importance to you (although I'm pretty sure if you read the entire list, you'd find something you use everyday). If your paper reported that he gave us PB&J and boiled peanuts, I hope you received the "F" you deserved. And, I'm a Southerner currently (and unfortunately) transplanted and I never liked boiled peanuts."

Sorry, but I think you're being a bit prejudiced toward Lady Eagle. I don't think she was trying to slight Carver by not making an exhaustive list of his accomplishments. She merely mentioned what he was BEST known for--boiled peanuts!

"2. Negro spirituals - not sure what this had to do what anything but here goes. During the days when the wonderful Europeans kept my ancestors as slaves, Negro spirituals were a way to keep their spirits up. Having someone rip you away from your family, culture and friends, beat you repeatedly, and treat you worse than they would treat their dogs has a way of wearing on a person. (imagine that)"

Sorry, but you're being hyper-sensitive again. EagleLady wasn't criticizing black spirituals, she merely made the point that virtually everybody has heard them!

And your politically correct version of history is phony as a nine dollar bill. For your information, the institution of slavery was ORIGINATED by black Africans THOUSANDS of years before the Europeans EVER practiced it.

Black Africans (with help from the Arabs) built the institution of slavery from the ground up, and were responsible for spreading it to virtually every area of the then known world.

White Europeans were johnny-come-latelys, who learned everything they knew about the slave trade from black Africans and Arabs.

Thousands of years before Europeans ever owned slaves, black Africans and Arabs were brutally beating slaves of all races!

And it was black Africans who first sold black Africans to the Europeans! Blacks sold THEIR OWN into European slavery. Which they considered to be no big deal, since they had been enslaving and trading their fellow blacks for thousands of years before that!

The racist black fairy tale that all black Africans were happy folks who held each other's hands while singing "Kum ba yah", until big bad whitey came along and ruined their utopia--is nothing but hogwash.

"3. Ethel Waters - now hmmm. Maybe you are correct and that song is the ONLY thing good about her."

Please show us exactly where LadyEagle claimed that song was the only good thing about Ethel Waters! You're misinterpreting her words.

For your information, Ethel Waters sang that song for about 20 years at Billy Graham crusades--so countless thousands of big, bad whites have heard her stirring rendition of that classic--and many of us love it!

I don't believe that LadyEagle was criticizing Ethel at all.

"Or maybe I'm correct in stating that she made a lot of black people (or negro, colored, whatever you choose to call us) realize that we can accomplishment something good even if our beginnings were painful. For those who don't know, her mother was raped at age 12 by a white man (or Caucasian, European, whatever you choose to call him) named John Waters."

You're telling a racist lie. The man who raped Ethel Water's mother was MULATTO! So don't give us the lie that he was white. Shame on you!

"4. Black History Month wasn't needed - now when, exactly, did you mean and who didn't need it? In 1926, when there were no blacks mentioned in the history books (except for slaves), Carter G. Woodson started the Negro History Week. In 1976, it was expanded to the Black History month. In the 1980s, my school characterized us as "whites and non-whites" and MY history class still didn't bother to include us in the history books. It isn't needed now because what's the point. No one takes the time to find out how it began or why it's even in February. It gets ridiculed (PB&J) to the where I'm embarrassed to even try to promote my history. Of course, there are plenty of avenues TODAY that we can use to learn about black history, but no one even bothers with it."

The average white kid in public schools today doesn't give a rip about white history--so why do you expect them to be interested in black history?! Most black kids aren't interested in black history! They'd rather be doing something important, like listening to hip-hop!

"12 months out of year in 1926, focused pretty much on all of the accomplishments that whites made. 12 months out of year TODAY focus on the accomplishments that whites made. When I was in school (and just to let you know, I'm a lot younger than a lot of the people here) I was NEVER taught that blacks did anything significant, not even during Black History Month. I wouldn't have known anything had it not been for that one month a year when bookstores decided we were worth noting for that one month. Your mothers and fathers can tell you repeatedly how much your ancestors did, but if your own teacher refuses to acknowledge it, you tend to become a tad confused."

Stop with the propaganda. The average black parent doesn't teach their kids squat about black history. Why do you expect whites to care about black history, when most blacks don't really care about it!

"5. "We don't have an Irish Month" - actually, you're right and wrong. While not official, I get bombarded by Irish history throughout the month of March. But I don't mind because I like learning about other cultures."

I'd like to know exactly where you get bombarded with Irish history. I've lived in every part of the country--north, south, east, west and midwest. As a kid, I attended schools in half a dozen states. I was NEVER bombarded with Irish history. For your information, the Irish were greatly discriminated against when they first came to this country--and they're white! But they chose to work hard, rather than whine, and they eventually assimilated successfully.

""We don't have an Italian Month. No English Month. " Actually, 12 months out of the year, we are taught your Italian and English histories. But it is so incredibly benign that had I not had a time where people focused on "attempting" to teach us black history, I would have thought the sun rose and set with Christopher Columbus, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson (just to name a few)."

What do you mean by "your" Italian and English histories? I'm Jewish, not Italian or English.

And I hate to keep raining on your propaganda parade, but the truth must be told, since you're definitely NOT telling it.

Italians also faced substantial discrimination in this country for decades after they first immigrated. But like the Irish, they took the "work hard and don't whine" approach, and eventually assimilated into society.

"I actually believed the lie that there weren't that many Indians killed by the Europeans initially, they died because their weak immune systems couldn't handled the filthy diseases brought over from Europe. Isn't that how it happened? Isn't it just a myth, made up by people who promote Black History month, that the wonderful Christopher Columbus helped slaughter the Taino Indians that helped save his life?"

It's a cold, hard fact of history that many Indians died of venereal diseases they contracted from Europeans. Oh, but wait! That hard fact exposes another of your lies!

In order to contract venereal diseases from the white man, they had to be having sexual relations with the white man! People having sexual relations with each other is not an indicator of hatred in any known society on earth!

And why must you bring up alleged incidents hundreds of years old? If you want to look at numerous instances of man's inhumanity to man--you need look no further than the inner cities of America--where black "gangbangers" kill each other over such "important" things as Air Jordan tennis shoes and sports jackets!

Then of course, we can also look at the blood-stained continent of Africa today, where black African tribes mass murder each other to this day. Don't forget the Sudan, where black Islamists continue to murder black Christians in droves.

Throughout the course of history, the black race has been just as murderous and oppressive as any other.

""No American Indian Month. " But, to follow your logic, what did my Native American ancestors offer you but corn and a peace pipe (sorry, no PB&J)? Native Americans have tried so hard to be heard in this country, but Christopher Columbus decided their lives were worth squat (your wonderful Italian) that they deserve no day. And, to give them one would be bad because wouldn't that be "liberal hype"?"

Your anti-Italian bigotry is inexcusable. Oh, and you need to get a clue--Italians are of LATIN heritage. They're not "white", like the Angles and Saxons who migrated to England from the general area of Europe that is now known as Germany.

So you're inappropiately lumping differing races together--which is narrow-minded and bigoted. You obviously didn't have as much Italian and English history crammed down your throat as you claim, or you would be aware of those elementary facts!