That's at npr.org, just click on Talk of the Nation. But I'm happy to learn as much as I can every time I'm exposed to any of these observances. TURNER TRICE: Absolutely. This Black History Month is a painful reminder of how equality can often be merely an illusion. Over time, Negro History Week was adopted by education departments nationwide and, for that week, used literature and themes provided by the ASALH to incorporate instruction on the African diaspora. Black History Month is not only a time to focus on both well-known and lesser-known black Americans, but it's also a time to truly understand the racial inequalities that still exist in the U.S. “I think we need to understand history — black history, Latino history, women’s history, Native American history, LBGTQ history — because in order to understand where American is today, we have to understand where it has been,” Haggins said. Copyright © 2009 NPR. Instead, she thinks Black History Month should be seen as a "starting point" for a larger conversation about how to incorporate black history into American history as … They didn't write, "those people" or "them people," but "We the people." And I just - I think that there is value in all of them. Laurie Green, associate professor of History also at the University of Texas at Austin, believes what Woodson intended was historical engagement. Ignoring or belittling Black history creates a false national narrative that leads the nation to recreate oppression and never learn from its mistakes.”, RELATED: Black Gotham' Walking Tour Uncovers Black History of NYC. When you get down to it, the core of what it means to be American was written all those years ago by those imperfect men: "We the people." "I feel it's most beneficial in that way, that it's a time for white people to learn black history, because they don't learn it on their own.". Their lives began more than 20 years after Martin Luther King was assassinated, and just 20 years before the nation elected the first black president. Le mois de l'histoire des Noirs (anglais : Black History Month) est une commémoration annuelle de l'histoire de la diaspora africaine. Yet, in the face of that hardship, black people did what Americans do. But I do believe that there is still some validity in separating and every now and then kind of highlighting or illuminating some parts of - whether it's black history or Hispanic heritage month or Asian-American history. Marcus Stephens, 23, a senior at Georgia Regents University in Augusta, says Black History Month "is a good thing," although he got only a "surface understanding" of African-American history during February observances. Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. And to see a black president, to see their mom graduate and get a college degree, it's just no - they have shot for the sky.
“We need to have Black History Month because we need to know our history, and our history is the history of all Americans,” Haggins said. JOEL (Caller): Hi, Neal. When is Gay History Month, Mexican History Month, Chinese History Month? Other events and workshops for Black History Month are occurring all over the valley and on ASU’s four valley campuses. “Many of them are students who had teachers that were great and they wanted to know more. I'd love to know that. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. And let's go now to - this is Gwen, Gwen with us from Fort Wayne, Indiana. And I think that there should be a push for all of it. And it's almost like - because we don't highlight it, maybe we don't think about it. And you're very right. CONAN: There's an argument, James, that some people make that, in fact, by having Black History Month, it allows educators to segregate out that part of the history books and keep it separate from the regular text books, because they know they're going to teach it in the syllabus come February. I see black history as American history. And this whole idea that blacks need something separate in order to continue to go forward is very jarring to a lot of readers. TURNER TRICE: They were fair - there was enough readers who were just very disturbed at the whole notion that we still have a Black History Month. But Scott says there's a compelling reason to keep the February observance: "You need a Black History Month because it's getting to be the case that it's the only American history you're going … Dr. Bambi Haggins, associate professor of film and media studies in the department of English, covers American films and television in the lens of race, class, gender and sexuality. And I think it's incredibly relevant, because even taking GT classes, we didn't learn about - we learned about three black people basically - Martin Luther King, Nat Turner and briefly, Malcolm X. It felt like a victory when President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, but now I propose getting rid of the whole thing. We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. "I Am..." is a mural focused on the ideas of James Baldwin's unpublished manuscript that was made into the movie "I Am Not Your Negro" and the ideas surrounding racial stereotypes, intersectionality and reclaiming identity, Trent said. For many of them, the very notion of Black History Month is a trite anachronism. Martin Luther King Elementary school fifth graders during their interpretative reading of the children's book "Jazz on a Saturday night" during Reading Is Fundamental event in honor of Black History Month on February 19 2010 in Washington DC.
", Like others, Lezama says she learned most of the black history she knows from her parents and from seeking it out on her own. But I'm not certain that we're that - that we've moved that far ahead, as a country, when it comes to race. Il est célébré en février aux États-Unis et au Canada et en octobre au Royaume-Uni. But what we have to keep in mind and sometimes maybe what we don't think of is that the mainstream or white history or the larger American history - I mean, that's something that is still the norm. No one proposes that January be white history month -- I mean, "Euro-American History Month" (my bad, Rep. Scalise and Mr. Duke). ", But Scott says there's a compelling reason to keep the February observance: "You need a Black History Month because it's getting to be the case that it's the only American history you're going to get in this society," he says.
GWEN (Caller): Yes, I am.
Muralist Kyra Trent, an interdisciplinary studies senior with concentrations in social transformation and African-American studies, helped the Black Student Union on ASU's West campus to create “I Am….” On Feb. 22, the mural will be featured at the Art Space West gallery during the Spoken Word Night Collections Closing Reception. It is the history of the American people. Well, it is simple. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.
“We need to have Black History Month because we need to know our history, and our history is the history of all Americans,” Haggins said. JOEL (Caller): Hi, Neal. When is Gay History Month, Mexican History Month, Chinese History Month? Other events and workshops for Black History Month are occurring all over the valley and on ASU’s four valley campuses. “Many of them are students who had teachers that were great and they wanted to know more. I'd love to know that. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. And let's go now to - this is Gwen, Gwen with us from Fort Wayne, Indiana. And I think that there should be a push for all of it. And it's almost like - because we don't highlight it, maybe we don't think about it. And you're very right. CONAN: There's an argument, James, that some people make that, in fact, by having Black History Month, it allows educators to segregate out that part of the history books and keep it separate from the regular text books, because they know they're going to teach it in the syllabus come February. I see black history as American history. And this whole idea that blacks need something separate in order to continue to go forward is very jarring to a lot of readers. TURNER TRICE: They were fair - there was enough readers who were just very disturbed at the whole notion that we still have a Black History Month. But Scott says there's a compelling reason to keep the February observance: "You need a Black History Month because it's getting to be the case that it's the only American history you're going … Dr. Bambi Haggins, associate professor of film and media studies in the department of English, covers American films and television in the lens of race, class, gender and sexuality. And I think it's incredibly relevant, because even taking GT classes, we didn't learn about - we learned about three black people basically - Martin Luther King, Nat Turner and briefly, Malcolm X. It felt like a victory when President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, but now I propose getting rid of the whole thing. We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. "I Am..." is a mural focused on the ideas of James Baldwin's unpublished manuscript that was made into the movie "I Am Not Your Negro" and the ideas surrounding racial stereotypes, intersectionality and reclaiming identity, Trent said. For many of them, the very notion of Black History Month is a trite anachronism. Martin Luther King Elementary school fifth graders during their interpretative reading of the children's book "Jazz on a Saturday night" during Reading Is Fundamental event in honor of Black History Month on February 19 2010 in Washington DC.
", Like others, Lezama says she learned most of the black history she knows from her parents and from seeking it out on her own. But I'm not certain that we're that - that we've moved that far ahead, as a country, when it comes to race. Il est célébré en février aux États-Unis et au Canada et en octobre au Royaume-Uni. But what we have to keep in mind and sometimes maybe what we don't think of is that the mainstream or white history or the larger American history - I mean, that's something that is still the norm. No one proposes that January be white history month -- I mean, "Euro-American History Month" (my bad, Rep. Scalise and Mr. Duke). ", But Scott says there's a compelling reason to keep the February observance: "You need a Black History Month because it's getting to be the case that it's the only American history you're going to get in this society," he says.
GWEN (Caller): Yes, I am.
Muralist Kyra Trent, an interdisciplinary studies senior with concentrations in social transformation and African-American studies, helped the Black Student Union on ASU's West campus to create “I Am….” On Feb. 22, the mural will be featured at the Art Space West gallery during the Spoken Word Night Collections Closing Reception. It is the history of the American people. Well, it is simple. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.