Black History Month!!! (February)

[prophecygrrl]

I think they're suggesting we expand it, not condemn it 😉

Unless I'm misunderstanding her, Zobo said BHM was an example of "reverse racism", and her reasons for wanting to expand it are because she believes BHM is wrong.

 

[zobothehobo]

Unless I'm misunderstanding her, Zobo said BHM was an example of "reverse racism", and her reasons for wanting to expand it are because she believes BHM is wrong.

BHM as a mainstream celebration of JUST Black history IS reverse racism. My reasons for wanting to expand it are because I feel like if we're going to celebrate one minority in this setting, why not celebrating all of them? Why not give all minorities the reasons my friend cited for loving and appreciating black history month?

Celebrating all minorities is not reverse racism because it's not setting ONE race apart from the others. It's celebrating minorities. This is celebrating ONE race and their struggles over the others. Which is something I feel is wrong.

 

[NY State of Mind]

Exactly. As just black history month, I feel like it's restricting and over celebrates one race more than the others. Which I personally feel is wrong. I enjoy celebrating minorities and I respect the journey to equal rights every minority has and is going through.

My statement about Obama certainly didn't mean that he prove black people have achieved equality. I mean, I did say "the civil rights movement isn't even over." It's just like I said not nearly as bad as it was even 10 years ago.

I just feel like we should celebrate all minorities or none of them. I'm on the side of all minorities.

I get it....i'm just saying its cause they fought for it....Other races need to do something if they want something....its not like Blacks just sat around and white people said "You know they should have a month"....African Americans have fought very hard for all the rights they have.

 

[caitaintdead]

I'm not going to pretend to understand what Black History Month entails or means to Americans. I hadn't really heard of it before to be honest, apart from the occasional mention in a TV Show or movie.

Australia definitely has some pretty major problems of its own when it comes to race. Although the older I get the more jaded I get about racism towards Aboriginals, but I guess that's a topic for a whole other time!

Maybe the notion of Black History Month is a little outdated though, I don't think it's completely necessary and as other people have said what about other minorities that are being ignored? As time has gone by and more and more countries become more and more multicultural I think the importance of EVERYONES history is important. Obviously we can't be expected to learn everything though, so it poses a difficult choice.

I would have thought that America would study quite a bit of South American history in school though being so close by.

 

[zobothehobo]

I get it....i'm just saying its cause they fought for it....Other races need to do something if they want something....its not like Blacks just sat around and white people said "You know they should have a month"....African Americans have fought very hard for all the rights they have.

I know. And that irritates me as much as the fact that black people are singled out in this month.

 

[prophecygrrl]

Exactly. As just black history month, I feel like it's restricting and over celebrates one race more than the others. Which I personally feel is wrong. I enjoy celebrating minorities and I respect the journey to equal rights every minority has and is going through.

My statement about Obama certainly didn't mean that he prove black people have achieved equality. I mean, I did say "the civil rights movement isn't even over." It's just like I said not nearly as bad as it was even 10 years ago.

I just feel like we should celebrate all minorities or none of them. I'm on the side of all minorities.

I get you, but wouldn't a more reasonable response be to advocate increased visibility/discussion for all minorities in addition to BHM? Like I said, I don't believe BHM itself contributes to the marginalization of minorities. It celebrates one minority, but not above the rest per se. As someone who is actually of a racial minority that does not get discussed often enough, I still feel BHM is important. A lot of the advances made in the racial arena are precisely because of institutions like BHM, of the increased visibility and discussion it allows. Maybe the day will come when we don't need BHM anymore, but that day isn't here. Not yet.

 

[zobothehobo]

Maybe the notion of Black History Month is a little outdated though, I don't think it's completely necessary and as other people have said what about other minorities that are being ignored? As time has gone by and more and more countries become more and more multicultural I think the importance of EVERYONES history is important. Obviously we can't be expected to learn everything though, so it poses a difficult choice.

This is my point. Everyone's history is important. Therefore a minority month would be a great idea. And it can take February.

I would have thought that America would study quite a bit of South American history in school though being so close by.

Without History of the Americas I would know NOTHING about South American history.

 

[Buffy Summers]

There's Hispanic Heritage Month, now that I come to think of it. Though I couldn't tell you what month it is. *looks it up* Sept 15 to Oct 15 🙂

 

[zobothehobo]

I get you, but wouldn't a more reasonable response be to advocate increased visibility/discussion for all minorities in addition to BHM? Like I said, I don't believe BHM itself contributes to the marginalization of minorities. It celebrates one minority, but not above the rest per se. As someone who is actually of a racial minority that does not get discussed often enough, I still feel BHM is important. A lot of the advances made in the racial arena are precisely because of institutions like BHM, of the increased visibility and discussion it allows. Maybe the day will come when we don't need BHM anymore, but that day isn't here. Not yet.

It would still be Black people get this month, and the rest of the minorities get that month. What makes their history more important than other minority races so they get a whole month where the others are all grouped together?

---------- Post added at 11:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 PM ----------

There's Hispanic Heritage Month, now that I come to think of it. Though I couldn't tell you what month it is. *looks it up* Sept 15 to Oct 15 🙂

And as my friend pointed out in her comments on facebook, Native Americans have the month of November... but relatively no one celebrates these which is sad IMO. And regardless of those two other months, I'm still for the minority month instead. But if I'm going to get that, I'd really like to celebrate these too.

 

[NY State of Mind]

There's Hispanic Heritage Month, now that I come to think of it. Though I couldn't tell you what month it is. *looks it up* Sept 15 to Oct 15 🙂

I'm Puerto Rican and didn't know which month it exactly was lmao....well it's kind of a cop out for me anyways cause Hispanic is just a broud generalization....Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, etc. all have different cultures....and certain latinos including myself don't even like being called "Hispanic"...some of us just prefer Latino cause Hispanic just specifies are culture of Spain...but alot of us are mixed with other cultures like Indigenious Tribes (Native Americans) and Africans, and even some Asian backgrounds like Chinese, etc. So to just claim Spain over your other mixes is something we don't like while something like Latino just means by definition people of speaking latin languages.

 

[prophecygrrl]

It would still be Black people get this month, and the rest of the minorities get that month. What makes their history more important than other minority races so they get a whole month where the others are all grouped together?

Why do you assume the other minorities would be grouped together? I think it's quite possible to celebrate all minorities without doing so, and I don't believe I gave any indication of wanting to group the rest of them together. Over time, I think all of those histories would be integrated into the main curriculum itself. That's the goal, isn't it? To have the opportunity to learn more about these forgotten histories? Like I said before, maybe one day we won't need a month to help us recognize their importance. But as of now, maybe we still do.

 

[zobothehobo]

Why do you assume the other minorities would be grouped together? I think it's quite possible to celebrate all minorities without doing so, and I don't believe I gave any indication of wanting to group the rest of them together. Over time, I think all of those histories would be integrated into the main curriculum itself. That's the goal, isn't it? To have the opportunity to learn more about these forgotten histories? Like I said before, maybe one day we won't need a month to help us recognize their importance. But as of now, maybe we still do.

So you were suggesting have a month for each racial minority as heavily celebrated (at least in public schools) as BHM? I can see that. I'll concede if you can find a way to make it work, I'm all for it.

 

[caitaintdead]

It would be impossible to cover all minorities! Think of all the different cultures in the world!

 

[NY State of Mind]

In America and really the whole world Blacks have been the most set back...so for them to get privelages or achievements in the US doesn't hold any other culture back but embrace that they to can achieve. If the black man can do it then so can the Puerto Rican, etc. That's the way I view it...so I have no problem with them getting a month over anybody else, etc.

 

[prophecygrrl]

So you were suggesting have a month for each racial minority as heavily celebrated (at least in public schools) as BHM? I can see that. I'll concede if you can find a way to make it work, I'm all for it.

We do have months dedicated to different racial minorities already. I suppose the problem is that yes, they're not as well recognized as BHM. I just don't see that as the fault of BHM, but of other people's willful ignorance.

I think the goal is that one day all of these narratives will be integrated into the course curriculum at the start. I wouldn't say exactly that the solution is to have a month for every single minority, every single group, etc., because at some point that isn't very practical. But I still see celebration/history months as stepping stones to teaching truly comprehensive history.

I also don't think BHM is as exclusive as some would think. While the focus is on black history, there is certainly nothing stopping us from talking about racism in general, or the contributions of other races.

 

[NY State of Mind]

To carry on with my MALCOLM X post....here were personal quotes of his:

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.

Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery.

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

I am for violence if non-violence means we continue postponing a solution to the American black man's problem just to avoid violence.

I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that won't let me fight a battle for my people, I say to hell with that religion.

I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.

I don't even call it violence when it's in self defense; I call it intelligence.

I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it's for or against.

If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.

If you have no critics you'll likely have no success.

If you're not ready to die for it, put the word 'freedom' out of your vocabulary.

In all our deeds, the proper value and respect for time determines success or failure.

My Alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.

Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it.

Nonviolence is fine as long as it works.

Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression.

Power never takes a back step only in the face of more power.

Stumbling is not falling.

The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.

The Negro revolution is controlled by foxy white liberals, by the Government itself. But the Black Revolution is controlled only by God.

There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.

Truth is on the side of the oppressed.

Without education, you are not going anywhere in this world.

You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.

You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.

You don't have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.

You show me a capitalist, and I'll show you a bloodsucker.

You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.

....RIP Malcolm X

 

[Professor Walsh]

Threads like this are really interesting for a non-American like me. I had never heard of César Chà¡vez or Dolores Huerta until today, so at 09.06 in the morning I have already expanded my knowledge.

 

[Christopher]

I strongly disagree with this idea, much as I disagree with 'gay pride' and the like. People that are in the minority (be it their race, sexuality or anything else) need to stop identifying themselves by that minority and letting it control so much of their lives, this would increase their chances of being seen and accepted as people instead which is what they want after all. Morgan Freeman says it much more eloquently then I ever could.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2d2SzRZvsQ[/ame]

 

[Kean]

I strongly disagree with this idea, much as I disagree with 'gay pride' and the like. People that are in the minority (be it their race, sexuality or anything else) need to stop identifying themselves by that minority and letting it control so much of their lives, this would increase their chances of being seen and accepted as people instead which is what they want after all. Morgan Freeman says it much more eloquently then I ever could.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2d2SzRZvsQ

But why can't a minority (or any group) identify with its culture and be seen as people, too? Why should it be either/or? I think that is the point that Freeman is making, to him the mere concept of the month implies that he is less than American for his African roots. Furthermore, having African American history exist in the vacuum of the month of February suggests that it is somehow outside "real" American history and less important.

 

[prophecygrrl]

Morgan Freeman does not speak for all minorities. He doesn't even speak for his own racial group- no one person is qualified to be an authority on the oppression people suffer as a group.

Moreover, you are not qualified to be an authority on the subject of oppression. Please do not tell minorities what they are allowed to feel or identify as. It is extremely insensitive and ignorant, and is another display of some very ugly privilege.

There's a response from a black woman blogger to that Morgan Freeman video that is very relevant to this discussion:

http://www.womanist-musings.com/2009/07/no-more-race-talk-for-morgan-freeman.html

Freeman’s solution to ending racism is in a word naive. Simply avoiding race or failing to acknowledge that difference does exist will not end systemic racism. This colorblind world is very much what the white supremacist state would love oppressed people of color to believe, even as we must daily endure the humiliation and pain of being understood as lesser than beings.

Freeman is in the enviable position of having class privilege to mitigate his racial stigmatization, even if he is not able to completely escape the process of “othering”. Black celebrities have learned very quickly that should they run afoul of the law that the good graces of whiteness disappears. How quick was the media to darken images of OJ Simpson, their once beloved football hero?

Race is a social construction and from that point of view a false creation, however the value that we have assigned to difference is quite real. We don’t look at each other and see another human being because from birth we have been taught to think otherwise. .

We cannot just look at each other as individuals because racism is systemic. Race colors our views on must subjects whether or not we are conscious of its insidious nature. When we look at someone for the very first time, mentally we run through a checklist to assess them and in those initial moments race colors how we expect to be treated.

There is a power differential between Blacks and Whites and until it has dissipated, an African American cannot afford to let their guard down. Even in the closest relationships, the White party will always have the ability to fall back on their privilege and shame, exploit or otherwise demean a POC. We must forever be dependent on the ability of a white person to see past race to be understood as human whereas whiteness is automatically endowed with humanity.

Freeman can put on his colorblind glasses and dream about a world he wished existed, however I prefer to see the world as it is. I may carry my scars but a denial of the role that racism plays means a denial of the Blackness of my skin.

bolded emphasis is mine.

---------- Post added at 02:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:51 AM ----------

ApricotAngel agrees: I guess coming from a middle-class England where I have had no experiences of racism means I can't have as informed an opinion as you. I'm just basing my comments on what I've experienced and understand that things must be very different over there.

The question isn't who has the more informed opinion, but whether or not such opinions are appropriate to share. You're right in that your comments are based on what you have experienced. This is true of all of us. But as someone who is presumably white, you fundamentally lack the experiences of a person of color. You cannot speak as a person of color, and more importantly, you cannot presume to speak for a person of color. I personally had a problem with your comments because they did not include this caveat and statements like

People that are in the minority (be it their race, sexuality or anything else) need to stop identifying themselves by that minority and letting it control so much of their lives, this would increase their chances of being seen and accepted as people instead which is what they want after all.

carry an unnecessary authoritative tone. i've just reread your post, in fact, and I'm actually pretty alarmed that you imply that the concept of 'minorities' and 'people' are mutually exclusive.