February has come around again, and you hear the same blatant racism you hear every year: “Why is there no white history month?” “This month is racist, and not fair to those who are not black.” “We should abolish black history month!”
Here is why Black history is important, and why their is not (and should never be) a white history month:
- At one point, white individuals owned a group of people on the basis of their race and tortured them for over 500 years. Then turned around and continued to treat them horribly after “setting them free”. No one would want to celebrate this aspect of history but of course you would have to if you have a White History Month. Racism is too prevalent in White culture for it to not be a part of the history.
- There are holidays for distinct countries white people come from such as St. Patrick’s Day and many others (Google any you like and start a trend by celebrating it). No one is saying do not celebrate your roots, go for it! But White History Month cannot be a thing because of racism that was put in place years ago. White History is not the same thing as Black History, and should never be compared.
- Literally everyday is White History Month. You would not give able bodied people a day to celebrate because that would be disrespectful to those who are disabled. That is exactly what having White History Month sounds like to every minority. White history is so prevalent, if there is not a month dedicated to specifically white people, it doesn’t feel right to certain White Americans. That is because it is always about white people (who are already the majority) and rarely ever about minorities.
- This will only make the point of white privilege even stronger because not only do white people get to celebrate their heritage everyday, they would have a month to throw in the face of minorities. This is starting to sound a lot like white supremacy which was of course founded upon racism and hate.
White history is a part of the main curriculum (without it having such an obvious name for itself), and usually the only thing taught throughout the year in most school systems. European History is always put over other people of color (specifically black history in this case), and it is leaves no room for others to present their history. So, if you still need convincing here is a short list of reasons why we need black history month:
- African Americans have been oppressed for years (such as slavery and the civil rights era), and getting a month to break the chains of oppression is needed. With all that is going on with police brutality, a month to shed light on African Americans and the good things happening in our culture is incredibly important.
- OUR achievements have been ignored for centuries or even taken and claimed by others. Black children need to know that our history is just as important. Learning about the achievements of black people definitely made ten year old me feel that I too could achieve the unachievable.
- The Father of Black History, Carter G Woodson, created this holiday solely on the fact that he wanted to preserve history of African Americans. He started of with a week and later expanded it to a month. He chose February to honor abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
- Due to the fact that Eurocentrism is the main thing being implanted in everyone’s brain, having a month to break the mold that white history is the only thing that matter is nice.
Because of Black History Month, our history is addressed but solely in this month. It would probably be glossed over in a normal curriculum if not for black history month. In an ideal world, African Americans would like to not have their history reduce to one month but racism is alive and our month counteracts the racist ideals present in the world.
If you are white and want to help Black History month be a success, stand to the side and let black people be great. Become an ally, and defend black people when someone is attacking the month. Point out the facts that I have addressed and use them to your advantage.
To my fellow black people, continue to celebrate this glorious month all year around. The first step to making black history month longer is by showing the world our culture is important everyday. Carter G. Woodson would be proud to see a nation of Black Americans who take their history into their own hands!