Underneath the shine of every country’s polished exterior lies a dark and not-so-proud history, often defined by inequity. One way of contending with such injustice is to highlight the accomplishments of those who have been wronged. Enter Black History Month. What exactly is Black History Month? Here’s a quick take.
The History
The Black experience in America has its roots in slavery, an institution that required a Civil War to ultimately be eradicated. From there, inequalities in education, job opportunities, and criminal justice have plagued a country that prides itself on equality. Intertwined in such unjustness is the fact that important contributions from Black Americans have been overlooked or attributed to others.
In 1915, the 50th anniversary of the abolition of slavery (formalized by the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution), Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) to help promote the achievements of Black Americans. By 1926, the ASNLH began sponsoring Negro History Week in the second week of February, coinciding with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two central figures in the abolitionist movement.
In 1969, students and educators at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, proposed the idea of Black History Month, and after the university first observed the month in 1970, similar observances became commonplace across various educational institutions.
In 1976, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month, and all subsequent American presidents have made the same designation.
Several other countries now also officially recognize a month devoted to Black history, with examples including Canada (February), the United Kingdom (October), Ireland (October), and the Netherlands (October).
Observances
How exactly to engage with Black History Month is not a one-size-fits-all formula. A standard approach is to revere civil rights advocates, though many prefer instead to emphasize achievements in art, science, business, athletics, etc. While some take a celebratory approach, others highlight the atrocities that made such a month necessary in the first place. This latter group may use the platform to point out ongoing inequality with the hope that progress can be made in leveling the playing field.
Book readings, television specials, promotions of Black-owned businesses, and targeted charitable donations are typical. Cultural institutions often take the opportunity to broach relevant themes using their preferred medium(s).
Issues
Black History Month, as does everything, has its detractors. Here are some factors that prevent a unanimous embrace of the occasion, along with associated commentary written from the perspective of the dissenting party.
Traditional racism
I am evil.
The idea of a month
If a group’s contribution to a country’s history is truly valued, why relegate it to just one month? The recognition should be part of the country’s fabric, i.e. continuous, as it is for majority groups. Similarly, celebrating for one month and perpetuating inequity for the other eleven is counterproductive.
The length of the month
If we are going to devote a month to Black history, why does it have to be the shortest month of the year (in the US and Canada)?
Science
There’s no real genetic definition of Black, and trying to go by skin color is a slippery slope. Do we really want to continue to be guided by archaic and highly flawed social constructs?
Reinforcing the concept of other
By trying to compensate for the previous compartmentalization of society, are we actually reinforcing it, particularly to a younger generation that may not even have preexisting biases?
Exclusion by inclusion
By going out of our way to promote diversity, are we inadvertently creating a category of people that is not considered diverse?
Selective compensation
Why are we only recognizing the wrongs committed against one group of citizens? Shouldn’t all previously (or currently) marginalized groups be recognized?
Confusion
I genuinely want to participate, but it seems like no matter what I do or say, I’m wrong and/or privileged.
A lengthy and convoluted history will, of course, take a while to unwind. Something tells me that’ll be longer than a month.
2 Responses
Throughout history all over the world injustices have happened to numerous groups for one reason or the other. To make things right for the wrongs done by our ancestors is a mammoth task for the present generation however it is so encouraging to see how we are all striving for a better world.
It is indeed a mammoth task but one that must be undertaken (despite the inevitable friction that will be encountered along the way).