“Black History Month should be celebrated in a way that doesn’t reinforce whiteness. “
why we celebrate
It’s not enough to only acknowledge the accomplishments of African-Americans one month a year, and yet if we don’t intentionally acknowledge their achievements we are doing ourselves a disservice.
Black History Month is a chance to remember African Americans who’ve made a huge contribution to America. It is also an opportunity to remember that those contributions didn’t just come from popular Black figures that are known globally. Major contributions come from millions of Black folks whose names we will never know. (For example one of them, Bessie Blount, was a writer, nurse, physical therapist, inventor, and forensic scientist who made significant breakthroughs in technology).
By: Tahmia Dugger
Link to full article: Black History in the Eyes of White Fragility
The Origin of Black History Month
Black History Month started in 1915, when historian Carter G. Woodson, also known as “the Father of Black History,” attended an event to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation. Woodson had earned a Ph.D. in History from Harvard in 1912, and he traveled, along with thousands of others, to attend the event.
Inspired by the event Dr. Woodson and four of his friends founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Their intent was to promote the scientific study of black history and to celebrate the achievements of African Americans.
In 1926, the group launched a weeklong event meant to promote the contributions of black Americans to United States history. Negro History Week, as it was then called, was slated for the second week of February. This week coincided with the birthdays of two icons - Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
The month long celebration for all of February was made official in 1970.
the not so black and white issue
It’s pretty sad that in 2021 we still have to have conversations surrounding and regarding race- its construction and the overall treatment of African-Americans…
BUT the events that transpired in 2020 revealed that if we are not having conversations where people openly acknowledge their privilege, if we don’t properly educate everyone on the still existent global racial injustices, and if people refuse to actively practice antiracism change will never happen.
Being a person of color should never be something that is looked down upon. Yes, it’s important to recognize just how far we have come, but we must also be aware that we still have so much further to go.
the importance of Black culture
Debunking 4 stereotypes
Aunt Jemima is Everyone’s Black Aunt
Evolved out of the original Mammy stereotype image. She cooks and participates in various domestic tasks. Found on various kitchen ideas/supplies (specifically Pancake batter mix).
Turns out when acid is not placed in the pool black people can swim government sanctioned redlining and de-facto segregation limited Black Americans’ access to pools in the summertime. Due to these numerous racial practices, approximately 64% of black people can not swim. These practices created generations of African-Americans incapable of swimming.
This stereotype developed after slaves won their emancipation during the Civil War. Free black people grew, ate, and sold watermelons, and in doing so made the fruit a symbol of their freedom. Southern whites, threatened by blacks’ newfound freedom, responded by making the fruit a symbol of black people’s perceived uncleanliness, laziness, childishness, and unwanted public presence. This racist trope then exploded in American popular culture, becoming so pervasive that its historical origin became obscure.
All Black People Love Fried Chicken
Chicken is cheap and travels well. In the 20th century, black women would often travel to different train depots selling goods such as chicken dinners, and many black churches would hold chicken dinners. I soon became known as the typical lunch of train travelers.
Resources that can help:
Listen to the podcast series Seeing White produced by Scene on Radio
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Read A Promised Land by former US President Barack Obama
Listen to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream Speech
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