Posted on 02/19/2007 9:22:51 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
A poll of almost 10,000 Americans conducted in January shows there is no consensus on the topic of Black History Month. The survey, conducted by MSN and Zogby International, found that 43 percent of Americans believe setting one month of the year to focus on a racially defined observance is a token gesture, while 39 percent say that is an opportunity to raise awareness of African-American history and accomplishments (18 percent are not sure).
Is it, as one scholar wrote in the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, "simply a guilt-driven public relations scam to pacify blacks who otherwise receive no attention on the bread and butter issues of education, jobs, and health care?"
African-Americans have varying opinions on the issue, too. The poll found that 28 percent feel that dedicating only February to black history is a token gesture. Celebrities Morgan Freeman and Bill Cosby have spoken out against it. "I don't want a black history month," Freeman said on 60 Minutes. "Black history is American history."
More and more, African-American scholars are beginning to resent the fact that in February "their opinions are sought out, and then they are ignored the rest of the year. … Some black scholars refuse to lecture in February because of that," Slater says.
(Excerpt) Read more at men.msn.com ...
alright...i'll say it.... a WHOLE month for the one or two things they did?
alright...let me have it:)
Hmmm...I do not see how you can believe that. Today's kids are taught such a multicultural version of history that it is nigh impossible to get too little black history. And great men like George Washington get largely ignored or ar given lip service as being dead white slave-owners.
Today's history classes and textbooks go so out of their way to be inclusive that it is almost impossible not to get enough black history. Unfortunately, Dr Carver and Booker T Washington get little mention or respect because so many American blacks deem them "Uncle Toms".
Yes! Agreed! Today's kids. I was referring to what happened before we had attention paid to black history, back in the Stone Age when I was a kid.
My kids have had black history jammed down their throats and now they're sick to death of hearing about it. This is counterproductive.
What I'm saying is, if kids had to study American history for two years in high school they could do a unit on black history once, and then they wouldn't have to go through this nuisance of studying the same thing every February.
Dude, back when I was in school they didn't even have "stoned." That was so long ago they didn't have blackboards. We just wrote in the dirt with our fingers. Heck, that was back before they had slavery!
Ah, I see you thumbed through your kid's American history book too. I thought a good bit of it was fair and well written especially on some unpleasant subjects. What got me was the little anecdotes and additions in side boxes that were invariably a minority or woman subject. Almost every time.
How about a good old "American History" YEAR.
Every year, all year, each month, every month. American History is white, black, latino, asian, hell even Alien (both types).
The idea of a melting pot in this country has devolved into sectarian tribes and it's getting old fast.
This may be shocking, but how about replacing all these special group commerorations with "American History Month" and devote each day to one of the Founding Fathers or patriots.
Black History Month should be replace by Personal Responsibility Month.
"Do We Need Black History Month? "
Sure. Let's make September White History month.
Introduce a bill into congress. Let's see what play it gets.
Very, very true. I was a child in the public school when this change was beginning in the late 50s and early 60s. I saw it happen. History and geography were turned into junk. Now everybody's acts surprised when Americans don't know any geography or history, and nobody can figure out why. It's because neither subject has been taught in the schools for years (especially geography), that's why. Such a mystery!
Sort of like why can't kids read nowadays, when the schools refuse to teach phonics. During the early years of my schooling, using phonics, virtually every kid learned to read. Over the same period I cited earlier, phonics was gradually phased out in my school except in the classes of the older teachers who kept their old materials and refused to stop using phonics because they knew how well it works. Over those same years, more and more students (those who weren't lucky enough to have the older teachers) had trouble learning to read. Another big mystery!
Very, very true. I was a child in the public school when this change was beginning in the late 50s and early 60s. I saw it happen. History and geography were turned into junk. Now everybody's acts surprised when Americans don't know any geography or history, and nobody can figure out why. It's because neither subject has been taught in the schools for years (especially geography), that's why. Such a mystery!
Sort of like why can't kids read nowadays, when the schools refuse to teach phonics. During the early years of my schooling, using phonics, virtually every kid learned to read. Over the same period I cited earlier, phonics was gradually phased out in my school except in the classes of the older teachers who kept their old materials and refused to stop using phonics because they knew how well it works. Over those same years, more and more students (those who weren't lucky enough to have the older teachers) had trouble learning to read. Another big mystery!
Irene! Irene! Irene! Do not hit post button twice!
What you say about phonics is very true. The loss of phonics instruction is the main element in our children's failing standardized reading tests.
And then the mathematics organizations (who tell our government which textbooks Title money may purchase) decided that memorizing addition and multiplication facts harmed students' psyches. So, this requirement had to be dropped from math classes.
National education organizations have systematically ensured that students fail in our public schools. The reason for the manipulated failure? Lower scores = hue and cry for more teachers = more teachers hired = more union dues and more union insurance policies sold. $imple arithmetic.
Just out of curiosity, Why is it such a big deal if an important person is black? I don't see many mentions of a white persons race. The race issue is nothing more than a way for our enemies to divide and destroy this nation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.