by Breana Staten, Contributing Writer
The month of February is widely recognized as Black History Month in the U.S. and Canada. According to an article published in Time, this celebration of black history, which originated in 1926, has always intentionally been celebrated in February because it includes both Frederick Douglass’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays. Now, almost 100 years later, there is debate over the necessity of continuing Black History Month.
This month-long celebration of black history began as a week-long event entitled “Negro History Week,” which was started by Carter G. Woodson, an African American historian, scholar and writer, and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).
Woodson and the ASALH hoped to create an event that paid tribute and brought awareness to the achievements of black people, especially concerning the various contributions black people had in the shaping of American history.
However, it was not until 1976 that President Gerald Ford declared the national observation of Black History Month. In explanation, Ford said, “In celebrating Black History Month we can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Nowadays, some people believe that we should do away with Black History Month. “We have to make up our minds. Either we want to have segregation or integration. If it were the other way around, we would be up in arms. It’s a double standard,” said Stacey Dash, a black actress and talk show host. “Just like there shouldn’t be a Black History Month… We’re Americans, period.”
“You’re going to relegate my history to a month?” actor Morgan Freeman said during a 60 Minutes interview in 2005. “I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history.”
Unfortunately, according to a study done by the Southern Poverty Law Center when grading “all 50 states and the District of Columbia on how well their public schools taught the civil-rights era to students, twenty states received a failing grade, and in five states—Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Oregon and Wyoming—civil-rights education was totally absent from state standards.”
This study demonstrates that there are people who are unaware of a vital portion of black history and that there are educators who don’t find black history to be an integral part of American history. Ultimately, black history should not have to be relegated to one month; however, the original intent of Black History month—to educate and to bring awareness— is still necessary in today’s society.
Therefore, I believe that focusing on whether or not we should have Black History Month is pointless. Instead, we should use the abundance of panels and events that occur during the month of February to help strengthen our understanding of black people and culture. The things we learn and come to understand during this month can be utilized throughout the other 11 months of the year.
Perhaps one day Black History Month won’t be a necessity, but until then Esther Jadhav, the associate dean of intercultural affairs says, “In trying to understand each other we can only hope to find the solutions.”
