As everyone knows, February is Black History Month. Black History Month grew out of Negro History Week. Historian, Carter G. Woodson and several other prominent African Americans started Negro History Week in the 1920s on the second week in February between the birthdays of Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, Negro History Week evolved into Black History Month in 1976. Since then, every U.S. president has designated the month of February as Black History Month.
Black History Month is most definitely a time to learn about the many notable achievements of African Americans throughout the years. It is a time to celebrate the men, women and children who, all too often, get overlooked. There are so many great things about Black History Month. This is a time that has been set aside to celebrate black history, for a reason, but that doesn’t mean that it is the only time that black history is talked about or that African American history has been boiled down to the shortest month in the year. There is no reason for people to complain about the fact that the month is February, which is the shortest month in the year. This month was chosen for a very specific reason, which was mentioned previously. There are people who complain that black history isn’t taught enough throughout the year. Those people clearly haven’t had access to a quality history course, like the ones here at UTM and should probably sign up for one of the many African American history courses offered throughout this country. Yes, there have been times that things relating to black history have been overlooked, but the notion that society owes anyone, including African Americans, anything has got to stop. It doesn’t help that this generation of millennials feels that the world owes them something. Most times, we have the ability to work together without caring about our differences, but for some reason, things like Black History Month or Women’s History Month, tend to bring out the side of us that wants to be coddled. It’s not just black people, either. At the first mention of Black History Month, many white people begin the age-old argument that “there is no White History Month, that’s racist!” That entire statement is ridiculous. Black history is absolutely not anti-white history. It is simply an extension of a week in February that started over 90 years ago.
So, with that being said, we the editorial board of The Pacer, encourage everyone to be proud of whoever it is that they are. More love, less hate and Happy Black History Month.
