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There's the true rub.

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.

You say it far better than I ever could. Notable Americans such as Dred Scott and Harriet Tubman should not be confined to "black history" books. They are part of American history in general and should be treated as such. Such misguided liberal programs like "Black history month" really infuriate me because they are such transparent and meaningless attempts to pander and make them (white liberals) feel good about themselves and pat themselves on the back.

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.

Well said. I don't really care if Earhart, Tubman, Curie, Barton and Mother Teresa had Y chromosomes or not. I wouldn't change my admiration for Jefferson, King, Patton, Lindbergh, and Edison if they were red/blue/green/orange. We ought to be judged by our actions, and theirs were all great. The details of skin color, reproductive organs, and/or age do not change that.

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.

Like contented, hard working black people, who just want to be left alone, get an education, take after their children, maintain a job, and don't feel like everyone in society is out to get them becasue of their skin color?