2007-01-27 13:22:17 · 14 answers · asked by poetic_lala 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
When I was in school the influence of southern school boards on text book publishers excluded blacks from history and any information about slavery (except for a short appearance for the civil war) from text books. After the civil rights movement of the 60's black history month was instituted to correct the lack of information in text books and knowledge of the adult population. My question is do American history text now include the roll of blacks in US history and is the information taught during black history month available in the standard US history course?
2007-01-27 21:04:12 · answer #1 · answered by meg 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As an Englishman living in the US I really can't understand it. History is usually taught relative to the country you're in, not the colour of your skin. The role of black Americans should certainly be reflected in the history classes in school, but there should NOT be a seperate day for it! There are plenty of blacks in the UK but no "African-Englishmen" - we're all English! Why does the US have to emphasise the differance by creating labels and calling people "African-Americans" or "Irish-Americans" - why not just be realistic and call everyone American, which is after all what they are! My Great Grandparents were German, but I'm English, not German-English. Most blacks in the US are less African than I am German!
2007-01-28 19:50:19 · answer #2 · answered by bevl78 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason for black history month is because of the absence of black history minus slavery in most history classes. I think it is a great idea in theory, but it has not been as impactful as it should have be. People of all races should be able to reflect, learn from the lessons of the past, be inspired by the great achievements and work towards a positive future. Pretty disheartening.
2007-01-27 21:31:36 · answer #3 · answered by Roc 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Black history month is a poor attempt to appease African Americans for not teaching Black history all year round. African Americans have made remarkable contributions to the world. If you were to research some of their contributions you would truly be amazed. Unfortunately, in most cases, they don't receive the recognition they deserve. Blacks are mostly equated to the, "Civil Rights Movement" and little more. If you think about it, when was the last time you learned something/anything about an African American in school, besides Black history month?????
2007-01-27 21:36:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am not questioning the need for a Black History Month, nor criticizing it. However, why is there not a White History Month? Or a Jew History Month? Or a Muslim History Month? Or an Indian History Month?
I don't mean to come off as ignorant, I am aware of the hardships black slaves endured, but every people or race has undergone some sort of tragedy from the hands of others. Indians had to suffer through western expansion, the trail of tears, etc. Jews had to fight for freedom, endure 40 years in the desert and they are still fighting for Israel today (not to mention the Holocaust, which killed 6 million Jews).
I was merely pondering aloud. I think it is unfair to dedicate a whole month to a race that has undergone just as much as almost any other race or religion has.
2007-01-27 21:30:08 · answer #5 · answered by Aly 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The sad fact is that blacks have not played as big a role in the United States as other groups have. The percentage of blacks in America has always been around 12%-15%. No higher. It is ridiculous to hear black spokesholes claim that blacks have been as integral in American history as whites have. They haven't. True there have been great black inventors, black leaders, black politicians, and black scientists, but not nearly as many as those that were white. It would be ridiculous if I lived in Nigeria to attempt to support the argument that whites should be given equal treatment in Nigerian history books as blacks do. Maybe its time to face the facts that whites have done more, been more integral, have invented more things, been more politically influential, and probably done more to establish the United States than blacks have. To admit this is not biased, nor racist, nor prejudicial. It is accurate and factual.
2007-01-27 23:22:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
instead of celebrating this month for blacks, why don't we treat blacks as equals? i'm sure they'll like that MUCH more and like that more. I know you'd say that 'they are treated equal nowadays', but discrimination against them is still prevalent. I mean, when you're in high school, you don't actually take into account that it's black history month. I forgot that Feb. was black history month during my freshman and sophmore years -.-
2007-01-27 21:38:36 · answer #7 · answered by Celia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its all good as long as their is a WHITE HISTORY MONTH as well, A person, of African descent, usually found in the Southern states of the United States. Porch Monkeys were commonly found sitting on their porches doing little or nothing all day. Usually found on Plantations or large land lots with a house/shack of some sort including a porch.
2007-01-27 21:27:02 · answer #8 · answered by tiracs69 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If there can be a United ***** College Fund, why can't there be a United White College Fund?
If there's a Ms. Black USA, why can't we have a Ms. White USA?
If there are black only colleges, why can't there be white only colleges?
If there's a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, why can't there be a NAAWP?
2007-01-27 21:30:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I agree! Why can't we have a white history month!?
2007-01-27 21:25:42 · answer #10 · answered by Randomblina >^..^< 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋