Posted on 02/23/2002 9:02:02 AM PST by prman
Not many people know that what is now called Black History Month actually began as "Negro History Week," established by black educator Carter Godwin Woodson and other scholars in 1926 as way to combat the ignorance and deliberate distortion of black history in this country.
In those days, people of African descent were visibly missing from any scholarship or intellectual discourse that dealt with civilization, and were so dehumanized and their history so distorted, even in educated circles, that "slavery, peonage, segregation and lynching" were considered justifiable conditions.
Initially conceived as a weeklong series of meetings, exhibitions, lectures and symposia organized as the culmination of the scientific study of the African experience, it has in the years since the civil rights revolution expanded to the entire month of February. Many think it should even be a yearlong celebration.
Today, however, the question should be asked if the monthlong observance has outlived its usefulness. Or has it become simply divisive and counterproductive?
Black History Month was designed to be educational and informational in nature – a way to set the record straight about the achievements and contributions of black people in America. In doing so, it dispelled myths and misconceptions about African-Americans and their culture in a way that would promote racial understanding and healing.
In recent years, everyone seems to have jumped on board this monthlong "observance." Universities, magazines and newspapers, museums, concert halls, radio and television programs – virtually all the organs of popular and civic culture have made obeisance to Black History Month in their offerings. One cannot say, then, that not enough attention has been paid to these issues.
The danger is that the month that now celebrates the history of black achievement has not only become just another example of racial tokenism, but, in its worst manifestation, it has turned into a platform for political and ideological propaganda and sheer hucksterism.
Thus colleges and universities lard up their "celebrations" with events that are overtly designed to be politically provocative: lectures about Herrnstein and Murray's controversial 1994 study, "The Bell Curve," and black intelligence; films on female genital mutilation; papers that encourage the use of Black English; non-sequitur discussions on "Race, Gender and Economic Equality"; even student awards for artistic expression that "demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for diversity, equity, social justice and human rights."
Newspapers run multi-part stories that hector readers into feeling guilty about de facto segregation, or report about some incident of local discrimination, or feature puff pieces by marketers that want to cash in by repackaging video and DVD releases of movies and TV shows featuring black artists and subjects.
After having extolled the most prominent and well-known African Americans year after year in their stories, magazines and newspapers are now having to develop articles about black "unknowns," as yet unsung, who are also making contributions to their communities.
As praiseworthy as this idea might seem, it comes perilously close to a manufactured "feel-good" journalism in which everybody gets his or her 15 minutes' turn for fame.
And every February, numerous "studies" appear, usually by unknown and suspect institutions, that serve up astounding headlines like "Few Black Teachers in Nation's Classrooms." Their claims are reported uncritically and unchallenged in the papers as an example of a "lack of diversity" and "the lack of black role models," which need public attention, and that can only be remedied, according to these "experts," by increased education spending by government.
Ironically, the same newspapers that wring their hands about the lack of black role models spend many gallons of printer's ink throughout the year lionizing notables like Snoop Doggy Dog, P. Diddy, Suge Knight and other no-talents in the demimonde pop culture who leech off the disposable income of adolescents.
Regardless of its original good intentions, Black History Month has become in the eyes of many merely a ritualized, "say something nice about African Americans" event that agenda-driven organizations have co-opted for their own purposes, and that media are afraid to let go for fear of appearing not "demographic" enough.
In a society where Martin Luther King Jr. preached the ideals of integration and blindness to color, a month of publicity and propaganda devoted to those of only one hue - by emphasizing the hyphen in "hyphenated American" –seems stubbornly contrary to his inclusive vision.
If it's absolutely necessary for the country to have an annual Black History Month – as predictable as the spring rains – can Hispanic, Lithuanian, Oriental, Italian, Greek and Fill-In-The-Blank History months be far behind?
Barrett Kalellis is a commentator whose columns appear in The Detroit News, NewsMax.com, TownHall.com, National Review Online and other print and online publications.
Was Wankel a black German?
It's already here. Federal Government Agencies have observances for Women's History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Asian/Pacific Islander Month, etc. They get more extensive every year. Nothing for men of European ancestry of course, since we are the evil oppressors who are the targets of the all this propaganda. For anyone who has not worked in the Federal Government or Military in the last decade or so, you would be shocked at the money-wasting Diversity Bureaucracy that has now become entrenched.
Anymore, I'm just happy when it is not a Leap Year.
This year it was. I'm sure Jesse/Louis/Al/Kweisi plan on bringing it to the attention of the IOC.
Where have I made a statement in favor of affirmative action?
I don't know if you have expressed your specific support for affirmative action on this forum, but the fact that you do support the continued existence of black colleges is proof enough for me. Historically (or whatever they are called) black colleges ARE a form of affirmative action. I know you will disagree with my take on it, but that's my opinion.
BTW. has the period referred to as black history month outlived its usefulness?
It's illogical to assume that someone who supports historically black colleges would automatically support affirmative action. HBCUs are not affirmative action- they get little or no special money or programs just because they are black. HBCUs do not discriminate by race- white applicants to them (yes, there are some) get the same consideration as anyone else. Graduates of HBCUs get no special breaks in the job market compared to blacks who did not attend HBCUs.
As long as there are people who believe as you do, Black History Month will always have a usefulness. You need it much more than I do.
--Boris
Having stated my position, I have a two-part comment. The first is reinforcing what “Faraday” observed on CSPAN yesterday. The second part is aimed at just a few people who posted in this thread (not “ “Faraday”).
A. The CSPAN show consisted of several hours of 10-12 “Black Leaders” (Barbara Lee, Socialist Democrat from CA, Maya Angelou, poet, Al Sharpton and several others) talking about how other people have kept them down for years and now they were going to rise up and assert their pride. Fine, I have minimal problems with that. A large part of their rant was going back more than 140 years to discuss slavery and how it still effects them. All Al talked about was “the dogs and fire hoses of Selma” (early 1960’s). I watched more than “Faraday” did (probably an hour or two) and I have never been so insulted in my life. I guess one example of what was discussed would suffice:
One of the speakers (I don’t remember who it was) announced that the way for Blacks to thrive economically was to only do business with each other! At one point the woman said, “Right now we are supporting the business of a white person or Asian person by shopping at their store or place of business. We should be taking our business to Black-owned stores and spending there.” There was more, she went on describing the process but you get the idea. The whole Conference was like this! All the speakers (while I watched) did not talk about working with other races, but blamed all the other races for the problems in the Black Community.
B. Although I believe that Black History Month is divisive and counter-productive, a large minority of the postings on this thread are demeaning and bordering on racist (or at minimum were heavy-handed stereotyping of an entire race). This is supposed to be a conservative forum, not a place where just white conservatives can vent. Reflect on what a conservative Black person would think if they read through this thread. Do you think they would think they were welcome here? I’d be embarrassed to death if I had sent any Black people to this site and they stumbled across some of they stuff posted here…Flame me all you want…
Then its going to be around for a long, long time, because there ain't no way that I am going to change my belief that bhm is racist, counter-productive, devisive and just plain foolish.
.... Black History Month will always have a usefulness.
Useful in keeping blacks as victims rather than encouraging them, and everyone, to think for themselves and to just be an American.
You need it much more than I do
For what? To be taken on a perpetual guilt trip by the likes of you and other race baitors?
As long as there will never be an end to it, what month would you suggest be designated White History Month? Hopefully they'll get one of the more important 31-day months.
There are so many thoughts that come to mind when I read that. I'll give you just a couple.
1) Why would you be embarrassed?
2) Would you be embarrassed for blacks only?
3) Please be specific as to the stuff posted here....
Please be specific as to the stuff posted here....
Posts #9, 10, 12, 17, 19 and 21 were offensive, in my opinion.
I realized that but have always had the notion that anything on the forum was fair game.
(Not meant as a smarta** comment.)
Posts #9, 10, 12, 17, 19 and 21 were offensive, in my opinion.
All attempts at sarcasm, irony and/or humor. Some better than other, IMO.
I also watched and listened to parts of the Smiley thing on Saturday. Let's assume I am white. Should I have been embarrassed when I called my brother and told him to turn it on? When I hear someone say something that I disagree with, their statements become a reflection of them, not me. I hope that your friends; black, green, white or otherwise, would be strong enough in their beliefs to withstand any "embarrassing" or "offensive" speech that may show up on this one-of-a-kind site.
If folks had always treated Blacks this way there would never have been a need for BHM. If you don't like BHM then don't have anything to do with it.
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