The Argument Against Black History Month
Critics of Black History Month argue that the celebration is shallow, racist and "ghettoizes" black contributions to America in one 28-day period. For instance, Black History Month is a time when children learn about black inventors and pioneers such as Benjamin Banneker, an astronomer; or Madame C.J. Walker, the first self-made female millionaire. While those studying Black History Month are grilled on the names of African American pioneers, they receive little background on the historical context these heroes lived and prospered in despite deep-seated racism. Moreover, students learning about Black History Month may not understand the significance of Dr. Charles Drew reportedly inventing blood plasma. Without proper perspective, a student learning about Black History Month is armed with a list of names and inventions and little else.
Another reason Black History Month has come under fire is because some consider it to be racist. But is it? Perhaps Black History Month would be racist if its aim was to point out that blacks were superior to other groups. However, Black History Month functions to highlight the oft-overlooked accomplishments of African Americans. The reason there's no White History Month is because the accomplishments of whites and their contributions to society are showcased all year long. In short, Black History Month's goal is to raise awareness.
"Thus, it works in exactly the same way as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October or Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in June," Kelley writes.
Some critics argue that Black History Month isn't racist because it singles out a particular racial group but because it seems to relegate celebration of African Americans to a mere 28 days. While Black History Month founder Carter G. Woodson designated February as a time to honor blacks (the month contains the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and former President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation), he believed that the need to have such a month would one day prove unnecessary. He hoped that African Americans would be so thoroughly integrated into U.S. society that their contributions would no longer require singling out as the years passed.
Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman has taken to task the fact that the U.S. still celebrates Black History Month. In a 2005 "60 Minutes" interview, Freeman called Black History Month ridiculous. "You're going to relegate my history to a month?" he asked. "I don't want a Black History Month. Black history is American history."
Historians such as the late Ronald Takaki and the late Howard Zinn tried to include the history of African Americans and other racial minority groups in their revisionist writings about American history. While the works of Takaki and Zinn are popular, especially in college courses, the standard history books continue to prominently feature whites while relegating racial minorities to the margins. Until the contributions of minority groups are the focal points of history books rather than footnotes, the need for Black History Month, Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month and the like will remain strong.
