Rafael Cordero
English 101
18401
18, November 2015
Why Black History Month Shouldn’t Exist African American culture has been a part of American way of life since days as early as the Middle Passage. Ever since then, Black Americans have gradually overcome national racism, fought to achieve all rights entitled to all Americans, and even made significant contributions to the musical and artistic forms of creativity. So much so that it is ludicrous to even suggest that, especially given the racial history of America, the black race’s achievements and inventions can and should be watered down to only be celebrated for one month throughout year, Black History Month. The answer to this problem isn’t simple either. Black History Month shouldn’t be elongated or jam packed with activities, no, it shouldn’t exist at all. Black Americans have helped carry the weight of this country’s industrialization and success, so to deny the black race a role in American History, by explaining that they have “their own” history is wrong and discriminatory. African Americans have collectively made as much contributions to the U.S, if not, even more so than other ethnic groups in the
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Black History is taught very similarly to White-American History except there are far more specific and obscure dates to remember and there is little focus on conflicts and experiences and more focus on oppression and heroism-you know- the way the hero found a way to overcome insurmountable odds. Which is great, and definitely true, however Black History shouldn’t be marginalized to a few success stories because “while leaders and their biographies could inspire us, the real study of history involved looking at trends and tensions across time and place, rather than the de-contextualized trivia and quotes that Black History looks like in many classrooms”
...can Americans. To conclude, due to the lack of education and clichéd thought, African Americans didn’t receive the same respect and opportunity as compared to Whites.
Most public schools in the United States kept it simple and straight to the point. They taught, what we know as, “Black History” from the media’s standpoint. This concept neglects the true meaning of black history in the educational system, making it hard for African Americans to be prideful in who they are. Knowing history other than what the school systems tells us African Americans would not only give us more knowledge, but would allow us to stand up against others when try to put down our history. Media gives us mainly negative perspectives with very little positives of our
Throughout American history many African Americans have been overlooked in the field of science. Some powerful minds and great inventors haven’t been re-introduced to new generations. African Americans have contributed a great deal to the advancements of our country and one of the major fields they have made contributions to is in the field of science. Many successful African Americans have been overshadowed by their Caucasian counterparts. More of our children should be aware of these great historians. African Americans that have made major contributions in the field of science that should be discussed, studied and taught to our society to educate new generations of the vast majority of these great scientists.
Although an effort is made in connecting with the blacks, the idea behind it is not in understanding the blacks and their culture but rather is an exploitative one. It had an adverse impact on the black community by degrading their esteem and status in the community. For many years, the political process also had been influenced by the same ideas and had ignored the black population in the political process (Belk, 1990). America loves appropriating black culture — even when black people themselves, at times, don’t receive much love from America.
The first text is a column called “Black is being seen in a whole new light” and it was written by the lawyer and columnist Yolanda Young. According to the text the African Americans has gained more acceptances from the American citizens after Barack Obama has become the president of the United States. Furthermore it
African Americans who came to America to live the golden dream have been plagued with racism, discrimination and segregation throughout a long and complicated history of events that took place in the United States dating back to slavery to the civil rights movements. Today, African American history is celebrated annually in the United States during the month of February which is designated Black History Month. This paper will look back into history beginning in the late 1800’s through modern day America and describe specific events where African Americans have endured discrimination, segregation, racism and have progressively gained rights and freedoms by pushing civil rights movement across America.
Throughout American history, African Americans have had to decide whether they belonged in the United States or if they should go elsewhere. Slavery no doubtfully had a great impact upon their decisions. However, despite their troubles African Americans made a grand contribution and a great impact on both armed forces of the Colonies and British. "The American Negro was a participant as well as a symbol."; (Quarles 7) African Americans were active on and off the battlefield, they personified the goal freedom, the reason for the war being fought by the Colonies and British. The African Americans were stuck in the middle of a war between white people. Their loyalty was not to one side or another, but to a principle, the principle of liberty. Benjamin Quarles' book, The Negro in the American Revolution, is very detailed in explaining the importance of the African American in the pre America days, he shows the steps African Americans took in order to insure better lives for generations to come.
...on American soil, they were treated with disrespect and forced into a life of servitude and pain. However, they were able to change adapt and find hope even when it didn’t seem as though there was any to be found. The African American culture has been greatly shaped around what their ancestors were put through and the struggles that they endured. The pain and suffering that was inflicted among them will never be forgotten and will forever be apart of the African American culture.
The entire of history of America has always been tied with African Americans. These people took part in sparking the Civil War, shaping the development in the process, and the consequences of the war through reconstruction socially and physically.
Specifically, if all people in America are perceived as equal, why is there a month dedicated for a specific minority group? This is used to showcase inequality that is subjected to the black group since if all people were equal then they should act like it and stop dedicating a month to a single group. Essentially, the Black History Month teaches race history. This is direct inequality and would be eliminated through the celebration of something like American History Month that would be dedicated to teaching all races. In addition, whatever the contributions that the black population has made in the U.S should be labeled as American and not Black.
One conscious effort I have made trying to “buy black”. Keeping our own dollars in the black community is one of the biggest contributions we can make to the betterment of our own people. It was found in 2010 that there is $850 billion moving through black consumers’ hands each year, but 90% of that amount goes to non-black controlled businesses. Spending money in our own community can stimulate the economy, lower unemployment, and improve the conditions of black neighborhoods by having our money be put into our own communities. I also have made it a mission to educate myself in African American history and help to spread my knowledge to all I can. Knowing our history can help change our future so that the past doesn’t repeat itself and our conditions can be better than those that came before us.
Imagine this; the year is 1836. You are a 17-year-old student interested in learning more about the world around you; however, such an opportunity won’t come your way because you are black. Due to this fact you have no hope of furthering your education past the reading, writing, and arithmetic their slave masters taught your parents. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. The minds of many African American’s go to waste due to individual ignorance of their people and thus of themselves. Historically Black Colleges and Universities were put into effect to educate the black mind and eliminate the ignorance. The discussion of whether Historically Black Colleges and Universities are still necessary in the 21st century has taken place in recent years. Within the discussion many debate that due to the fact that the world is no longer like it was in the 1800’s, the time period in which Historically Black Colleges and Universities were created, the purpose of them no longer exists. However, the cultural significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities seems to be overlooked by those who argue their importance and relevance in a time where blacks have the option of attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs). The purpose and grounds on which Historically Black Colleges and Universities were developed are still being served. The need to increase efforts to not only rouse, but support Historically Black Colleges and Universities is necessary now more than ever in order to preserve our past, fulfill the purpose of our present, and ensure our future.
In From Slavery to Freedom (2007), it was said that “the transition from slavery to freedom represents one of the major themes in the history of African Diaspora in the Americas” (para. 1). African American history plays an important role in American history not only because the Civil Rights Movement, but because of the strength and courage of Afro-Americans struggling to live a good life in America. Afro-Americans have been present in this country since the early 1600’s, and have been making history since. We as Americans have studied American history all throughout school, and took one Month out of the year to studied African American history. Of course we learn some things about the important people and events in African American history, but some of the most important things remain untold which will take more than a month to learn about.
The aspect of African-American Studies is key to the lives of African-Americans and those involved with the welfare of the race. African-American Studies is the systematic and critical study of the multidimensional aspects of Black thought and practice in their current and historical unfolding (Karenga, 21). African-American Studies exposes students to the experiences of African-American people and others of African descent. It allows the promotion and sharing of the African-American culture. However, the concept of African-American Studies, like many other studies that focus on a specific group, gender, and/or creed, poses problems. Therefore, African-American Studies must overcome the obstacles in order to improve the state of being for African-Americans.
African-Americans’ lives are better. We have more opportunity and more equality. What we do not have, we fight for. Yet we still see the traces of the past sufferings of our people’s lives today. We still see those traces of racism they were subjected to being repeated in our kin’s lives.