Posted on 04/26/2002 10:11:33 PM PDT by Teacher317
Every so often an organization, special interest group, or corporation will come up with an advertising campaign that is worthy of winning eternal fame as the Orange and Blue Observer's Loony Leftist Flyer of the Month. This month the honor goes to the McDonald's Corporation for their "365 Black" initiative.
As you may already know, February was Black History Month (or African-American History Month depending on whom you ask). The second week of February, originally established as "Negro History Week" in the mid-1920s to celebrate the week that marks the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, has grown into a month-long celebration and reflection of the influence of blacks on American history. In recent years, however, there has been a push among several interest groups to move away from celebrating black history only in February, but throughout the year. McDonald's has joined this push to celebrate black history throughout the year with their "365 Black" initiative.
The "365 Black" campaign is yearlong effort that began on February 1, 2002, with the intended goal of encouraging the celebration of black history. The advertisements for this program that you will find on the posters in the restaurants and in magazines aimed to African-American readers ask the viewer "What month do you celebrate black history?" Near the bottom of each ad states, "McDonald's celebrates black history all year long." While it is important to value one's cultural roots and one's history, unfortunately, for members of all races, programs like the McDonald's "365 Black" initiative may also have the side effect of self-segregation.
To better illustrate the concept of self-segregation, one only needs to look at the dozens of award shows geared toward African American audiences and awardees each year. Examples include the Essence Awards, the Trumpet Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the National Black Arts Festival, the Miss Black USA Pageant, and the Ms. Black International Pageant. By the way, I wonder how many young children wonder why there isn't a Miss Asian USA Pageant, a Ms. Hispanic International Pageant, or a National White Arts Festival?
In addition, a quick search on the Internet yields over 50 print magazines, several dozen newspapers, and even a few television networks dedicated primarily to African-Americans. Events and publications such as this are typically justified as a means to encourage pride in one's heritage and provide education and information that does not receive much focus in the schools. Instead of spreading awareness to people of mixed cultural backgrounds, these programs like "365 Black" focus their efforts mainly on African-Americans themselves.
In order for any real change to occur, the efforts of those truly interested in spreading knowledge about the history of African-Americans should be directed to changing school curricula. By side-stepping the inherent diversity in most of the nation's schools, and the many fertile young minds which are open to new ideas, proponents of programs such as "365 Black" do little to achieve their stated goals and do more harm to current race relations in America.
It is my opinion that McDonalds is not actually celebrating black history at all. Instead, they only seem concerned with serving you hamburgers, fries and chicken nuggets.
At least Jimi Hendrix served as an Airbourne Ranger and did an awesome Star Spangled Banner but doesn't get any recognition from the Black Community.I guess you have to be a thug like Tupac for them to claim you.
Who was Dred Scott? Uhhh, the guy who started the dread-locks hairstyle?
Who was Rosa Parks? Wasn't she that old lady who video-taped the Rodney King beating?
Who was George Washington Carver? Umm, wasn't he the first President?
How did the 3/5 count of blacks in the census affect the South? Those racist pigs passed that to keep the black man down!
Which party passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act? The DEMOCRATS, of course!
Who was Crispus Attucks? Didn't Col. Sanders steal the idea for KFC from him?
Name anything written by Maya Angelou. Ummmm, are you gonna order, or what?
They do have good Fries, though.
Hehe...ROTFLMAO!
Here's the history. First we were over there and free. Then we were captured and brought over here and made free...and now we're doing better...period end of history.
I was raised in a school system where black history was emphasized not only during "black history month," but all year 'round.
Moreover, one of the things that my parents forced me to learn in addition, is the contributions that blacks made to this country, along with the contributions of all Americans. The key is that we are all Americans first.
I happen to be black, but I'm an American. You might notice that I refuse (in general) to use the term "African" American. There are several reasons. First, and formost, I've never been to Africa. I was born and raised in Indiana. The only place I've even visited outside the borders of this country is Canada. I'm proud to be an American. This is my home.
In addition, Jesse Jackson came up with the term African American. I never asked him to determine what I should be referred to as. I have no problem being referred to as black. Doesn't offend me, that's what I am. But I digress.
As I mentioned in another thread last week, there are many people of color whose contributions to this society are largely ignored by many, most notably by the "poverty pimps" simply because their work and their lives do not serve the greedy ends of the Jesse Jacksons and Cynthia McKinneys of the world.
There are inventors, businessmen, politicians, doctors, entertainers, authors, engineers, and people of many other walks of life whose work needs to be seen not only by blacks but by everyone, simply because their work contributed to the makeup and lifeblood of the United States.
All people together created this country, and all people together need to know of the roles of everyone who participated, where possible. The McDonald's calendar, while noble in concept, fails in one light - that it was created simply to appease those who would blackmail a company like it to begin with. (read "Operation PUSH & Rev. Jackson)
I'm not advocating ramming this knowledge down someone's throat. But it is certainly my responsibility to make sure that my children know of the contributions of people of all walks of life to the lifeblood of this country, and certainly of the roles played by people of color in it.
The term "African-American" annoys me as well. My ancestors came from Ireland but I would never refer to myself as an "Irish-American" and St. Patrick's Day means absolutely nothing to me. I am simply an American.
I looked this up after going through the drive-thru one morning and seeing a poster for Black History 365...
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