Why it’s time to get rid of Black History Month
February 19, 2016
It’s time to get rid of Black History Month.
I know how that sounds. “Why would we ever want to get rid of Black History Month? Don’t you want to celebrate the triumphs and beauty of your culture?” Of course I do. Which is exactly why we need to put an end to Black History Month.
Why do we have to wait for one month in the year to celebrate Black History? This only defines the differences between races. Why can’t we learn about Malcolm X every other day of the year? What about Rosa Parks? Or the more unsung heroes of the civil rights movement – like Pauli Murray, or Ella Baker? The truth is, designating a month to an entire culture is segregationist. Why shouldn’t we celebrate all who contributed to society, regardless of race, sex, or religion?
This isn’t just exclusive to black history. We shouldn’t have to wait for Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate Joan Baez, or Cesar Chavez. Nor should we have to wait for Women’s History Month to celebrate Amelia Earhart or Helen Keller. These months only serve to segregate us further as a society.
Black history is American history. Why must we draw these lines between people of color and the rest of society?
Being a black female, this is a problem that resonates with me personally. My culture’s history should not be shrunk down to 28 or 29 days of the year. Black history is American history. Why must we draw these lines between people of color and the rest of society? There’s no such thing as “White History Month,” because that would be silly, right? By designating February as Black History Month, we are insinuating that Black History isn’t really American history.
In the 1970’s, my grandfather joined the Black Panthers. He fought for equality and supported black power. This movement struck change in society. My grandfather did not fight every day for two years for his history to be erased by one month.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe it’s a great idea to celebrate black culture. After all, our road to justice is a long and hard one, and I don’t mean to say that no one should enjoy our rich history. Black History should be celebrated year round – not confined to one month. If we really want to live in a “color blind” society, we must learn how to banish holidays like these that only separate all of us even more.