Okay, stop me if you’ve heard this one before. “Why do you guys need a ‘Black History Month’? What would you say if we wanted a ‘White History Month’?”
Well, in an interesting twist on this question, The Nation’s Gary Younge ponders a White History Month in which a true racial reconciliation occurs from dealing with the history of racism by whites against non-whites.
For example, consider the following:
(James) Blake was the Montgomery driver who told a row of black passengers: “Y’all better make it light on yourselves and let me have those seats.” Rosa Parks was one of those passengers. She made her stand and kept her seat. The rest, as they say, is history.
…
There is no month when we get to talk about Blake; no opportunity to learn the fates of J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant, who murdered Emmett Till; no time set aside to keep track of Victoria Price and Ruby Bates, whose false accusations of rape against the Scottsboro Boys sent five innocent young black men to jail.
Wouldn’t everyone — particularly white people — benefit from becoming better acquainted with these histories? What we need, in short, is a White History Month.
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The purpose here is not to explore individual guilt — there are therapists for that — but collective responsibility. When it comes to excelling at military conflict, everyone lays claim to their national identity; people will say, “We won World War II.” By contrast, those who say “we” raped black slaves, massacred Indians or excluded Jews from higher education are hard to come by. You cannot, it appears, hold anyone responsible for what their ancestors did that was bad or the privileges they enjoy as a result. Whoever it was, it definitely wasn’t “us.” This is one more version of white flight — a dash from the inconveniences bequeathed by inequality.
An interesting take, to say the least. I wonder if America is up for the challenge.
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Of course not. There is no way this would happen. If presented with this idea most whites use the “If we have to do that so should you” argument. They would use whatever weak logic argument they could formulate to rid them of the responsibility or reminder that we are still dealing with the biproduct of their reckless colonialism.
Here’s something to ponder. Whatever happened to equal rights for all. Martin Luther King jr. preached about civil rights for all people not just for the black vote. People should be measured by thier behavior and charactor not by thier color. Yet, Still today the black man feels victimised over the so-called white supremacy. Has anyone ever watched most of the comedy sitcoms on T.V. that there are more black comedies that fill the airways then ever. There are more black prominent music artists, and actors and actresses and politicians that seem to govern the way things should be. Even now, we could have our first BLACK president to lead our country to its demise or victory over the world’s problems. Yet, the Black vote is never satisfied. In Phila alone, blacks have killed more of each other over drug wars and stupid attitude problems brought upon themselves of which throughout the whole country, Phila has the highest murder rate. Somehow, I am weary of the example the black communities and the message it boasts of how they still seem victimised. They bring it upon themselves. God sees Men and Women the same. In the bible it states God created man in his image there was no color mentioned. Yet, among White,Black Hispanic, Asian or Native American, Jewish, or Christian, Hindu etc. etc. What have we done to our basic humanity? How do we define the image of God today? How do we define Human history? As for having a White history moment it would at least make things equal for once. Then again, what we should have is a month recognition for all races. We should call it Human History Month. Thereby, all races in the so- called “Free world” will be given equal opportunity to express thier cultural similarities and differences in a peacful civilised manner. Even in the job and educational market no one race should get extra credit just because. People should be measured by thier charactor,talents and what they know and what they are skilled to do. It’s time to stop pulling the race card to justify one’s cause. It’s time to make a new historical moment to say ” One nation under God for it stands” We harp about illegal immigration yet, this country has been founded by Legal European immigration. If anyone has any beef about racism and who belongs where in this country; are the Native Americans who were massacred in the early 19th century. What they got in return was an opportunity to have tax-free gambling at thier reservations. It took them over 200 years to accomplish that yet, no one hears them complaining about being victimised of modern day racism. As we step onto a public bus or train in our travels today, do take in consideration that what really matters is not so much what color one is, for the bus or train seat cannot judge or decide who gets to sit on it. However, where we as a nation sit in our beliefs and values will determine the shape of our future. As we go to the election booths this year we must take in consideration of where our loyalties and values lie. For whoever we decide to lead us, if they make a bad call then we must consider who put them in the most powerful bus seat on the planet in the first place!!
CN,
I normally wouldn’t respond to a comment on a year-old post but, let me make this exception.
First, I can’t believe that you first cite black sitcoms as a measure of progress. Black people have always been allowed to be jokers or clowns. Show me the all-black dramas. Show me the black prime-time news anchors. Show me the black political commentators or black economic analysts hosting cable shows. When you do that, we can cite real progress in the field of entertainment.
Secondly, you go into this lame, dichotomous thought process that shows me that the political right and/or white supremacy have trained you well. If your read among the various posts I have here, it is clear that I cite responsibility where responsibility lies but, it’s not an either/or situation. The problems in some black communities are, in part, internal but, also, in part, due to racism & class warfare. You can’t suck the economic core out of a community and expect the vacuum left behind to not be filled with something. So, for example, if you ship jobs out of the country, those that can afford to go elsewhere do but, those left behind will be facing some difficult moral choices. Often, it is not them but, their children, who grow up in communities where crime and violence are all too prevalent and, sadly, some succumb to it.
Finally, the whole “we are the world” line of thought to me is tired because of the flawed logic that people like you espouse. If you have a problem with “Black History Month”, you don’t replace it with a “Human History Month”, you fight to make sure that the general curriculum is so inclusive that it renders the need for specific celebrations moot. Also, if we were the “one nation”, as you claim, you wouldn’t have just pointed fingers at black people and, basically, stated that our issues are black problems. Instead, you would have seen this as a problem for Americans or “humans”, as you stated, and would be joining it to help you “family”. However, we both know that you seem to like flowery language and empty rhetoric. In other words, you were betrayed by you own words.
So, what you’ve offered is an excuse for white inaction instead of a call for unity.
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