Monday, February 28, 2011
Black History Month Passes
As Black History month passes without a sound I choose to raise my voice in frustration. Sadly, it seems that the contributions of black people to the American landscape has been relegated to the sidelines while symbolic progress pacifies the masses. It seems that we have become addicted to the post-racial syringe that America continually injects in us. This addiction is detrimental to the continual shaping of our collective identity. As we are unable to see the ways in which post-racial has it roots in white supremacy and thus the journey towards the absence of color leaves us continually in the midst of whiteness. We remain lost. So I REJECT the notion that my history does not need to be celebrated and recognized by a country that convenietly seeks to deny the impact of blackness on the collective soul of America. My pen is the basis for my opposition, my life is a testament to my history. Let's Get Free!
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You speak truth at usual.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been reading most of your blogs-spent a portion of this morning doing so. If you are in a place that historically has neglected a group of peoples historical contributions to its development and society in general, and confined an entire group of peoples history to a single month, then it would appear that time has not changed in many areas of “American” culture today. Moreover, what has been won by having a designated month? There has never been a sound to celebrate our historical contributions or our history integrated into American text, although we are a part of American history. The “whiteness” approved that month, so for me, its like another day-the struggle continues, and another day goes on to keep teaching. No rejoicing in February, even if I saw posters in every grade school celebrating the month. U.S. history is required in college (1&2), Anyone around the globe who attends college in the states has to take U.S. history, a block course, where an entire part of U.S. history is missing.
ReplyDeleteAnyone can disagree, but I’ve been done fighting for a single history month since high school, educating is everyday part of life, and the books that flood all of academia with the words “U.S. History” needs to accurately include us, who have been a part of U.S. History. It should be common place in our text, not people having to learn all contributions of African-Americans in a separate category or elective. A single month was not the end point or the final celebration for our historical contributions, it was only a single battle with a victory. I reject the notion my history is to be celebrated one month out of the year. Continue to fight for a month, you are kept in bay for a month, and the year directing energy at that month-they want you to do that, so you won't be writing about why are the “U.S. History” course books missing us.
Fight to remain separate in “all” text and for a single month the world won’t ever know our history unless its in a book that has the words “American History” or “U.S. History”. Grab a book on the conflict between over Kasmir, most fail to mention the people native to that area “Kasmirians”. If you are doing a paper on India, and the books don’t mention the ethnic minorities, then how would you become knowledgeable about the full scope of the history of the place without having traveling there? Ethnic minorities in many countries are never mentioned or heard of, not always through ignorance, or neglect, but due to lack of available information or required reading. I’ll accept a few billions globally knowing my history as oppose to a few million who keep my history to a month and don’t want to acknowledge it any day. Global reach. I don't want a black history month, but an accurate place in history text-or at least properly included. Certain U.S. History knowledge is required here, and we should be included in that-F%%k a month, want it constant.
Truth, Anonymous voice.
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