Black History Month is not a joke. I was mistaken to state the opposite. But, Black History Month should not exist. Its spirit merely should.The founders of Black History Month intended to increase education about black history. The best way to accomplish this is to educate society year-round.
I assure you that if black history were not to be studied year-round, then I would prefer to have Black History Month than nothing at all. But, integrating black history into history texts would be ideal.
Those who wrote letters in response to my initial article would contend that black history is celebrated all year. I believe this is only true for an elite group. Traveling to museums and festivals to learn about black history is not possible for too many individuals.
This can be attributed to the scarcity of places to honor it across the country (one would be hard-pressed to find a black history museum in the Midwest). Black History Month does not attract more interest because, by virtue of its name, it feels exclusive.
As a public school student in Baltimore City, I went to the Blacks in Wax Museum. This was a grand experience. Unfortunately, my school took the trip once a year, in February.
Education about black history should not be hindered by the month of February. Valentine’s Day celebrates love, but it breeds an environment in which people believe it is unnecessary to show appreciation to their love on any other day.
I don’t doubt that racism exists. I am not nave.
But I believe that the best way to quell racism is to teach about black history. People are afraid of what they do not understand. Learning black history’s awe-inspiring stories and lessons throughout the year might allow for white people to not feel excluded from black history, and allow blacks to not feel excluded from society.
I agree that Black History Month was not covered sufficiently in The Guilfordian. But I feel the making of a newsletter for black students makes matters worse. The writers in this newsletter would be very welcome to help The Guilfordian cover issues pertaining to Guilford’s black community. The newsletter, I am afraid, segregates the community further by saying that articles are somehow only relevant to one race or the other.
They remain separate.
“He should not speak from outside his experience,” Miss Weintraub said in her letter to the editor. It makes proceeding difficult when the black community complains that there is a lack of coverage, but protests that I should not talk about black issues because I am white.
Yes, I am white. But I have experienced Black History Month, so it is within my experience. I believe, as a white person, that it would be beneficial to all races to learn more about black history throughout the year instead of solely during the month of February.