February

Professors and scholars have long stressed the importance of history education in a society. History provides a sense of pride, an answer to where we come from, and a warning to not make the same blunders in our own lives. We have longed showed our reverence by setting aside time to celebrate certain people, groups, or events in history. February has been a time in America to turn our eyes toward black history and celebrate it primarily. The continuing conversation of whether this allotted celebration further divides America is echoed by a successful African American actor, Morgan Freeman, when he says, “I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.” This sentiment is shared by many across the United States but is unfounded and misinterpreting the point of February being allocated for honoring black history. The year is filled with holidays celebrating people or groups that are not separated or segregated from all of history. The Fourth of July celebrates our founding fathers’ hard work. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is to honor Dr. King’s advancements in civil rights. Memorial Day is to recognize the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers. Not a single moment should pass by that we do not acknowledge the heroism of George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Rosa Parks, Dr. King, Malcolm X, every single veteran, and the fallen servicemen and woman. But we set aside time to turn our focus to one titan of our history. Black history month is in place to commemorate the hard work of black men, women, and children. The common question is why we use the term “black” and not African American. The reason is simple, and it is because we seek to include the impact of every slave, “ni**er”, and “boy” that never achieved the title of American even though their contributions were felt all throughout the United States. No one is discounting that “black history is American history”; we as a nation have chosen that in February, we will solely focus on our black ancestors that have shaped America into this great nation. Skin color should not determine any aspect of our life including how history is presented. I understand that removing a specific race from history and designating it a separate time is repulsive. America as a nation has taken great strides to celebrate all walks of life, and black history month is a time to remember all the slaves, abolitionists, protestors, politicians, athletes, scientist, fathers, and mothers of African descent that built this country. So stop fighting and celebrate such a major key to our nations’ ancestry. Just a thought.