where has black history month gone?

Question

Here we are with about thre days left in Black History Month and seems if it never happened.There's seem to have been more atention payed to "Presidents Day" and "Fat Tuesday", which by the way seem to happen during our month as well. Whicj cause me to think does anyone even care anymore, especially African Americans?
Now I realize this could be a great thing in the sense that we've come so far as people and a nation that it's not an issue anymore.With the fact that we have three minorities running for the Oval Office and one happens to be African American.
Or that our young people have gotten so caught in this new age society of rap music, clothes, drugs, and money that they just don't care anymore.And their sense of pride is tide to the next pair of Jordan's and not who made it possible for Micheal Jordan.
I feel it's the latter, our pride,dignity, and self worth is gone.And replaced with the lust for looking good and not feeling good about ourselves. Tell what do you think?

Answer 1

if there was a "white history month", or a WET instead of a BET, or an Ivory, instead of ebony magazine or a naawp, instead of an naacp, or an united white persons college fund ,somebody would be screaming DISCRIMINATION

Answer 2

Perhaps its not really the loss of pride but because of the fact there is an african american running for president, because of the appreciation for african american music (rap, hip-hop, r&b) etc... all of that... black culture has become very intertwined with today's youth... yes, we are still socially segregated but its our own choice and there are many exceptions. What are you recognizing with black history month? It's no different now than presidents day and fat tuesday or memorial day, etc. It has a purpose, there were black history month things going on - school everyday we had a fact read to us over the intercom etc.

Answer 3

When I was in elementary school every for black history month each child had to pick a famous afro-american and tell those class about him or her. This sort of self pride was taught and groomed into us as students from k-6th grade. I think the importance of this month is not as much stressed as it once was
but it probably depends on the school your child attends. For those of you people who think it is racist to have black history month...well it is White history months the other 11 of the year! White history is what is primarily being learned in the USA, Secondarly it is what minoritys have done and accomplished. Afro-American and minoritys have contributed greatly to this country and it should be recognized by all!

Answer 4

At my school, Black history month was here for sure. We had an assembly with the keynote speaker the 1st elected black mayor of our town. Each morning in the anouncements were names and things famous blacks had done. Teachers were also encouraged to work it into their lessons. Finally, our school has a black studies class, so if a month isn't enough, you can get a whole semester of it.

Answer 5

I think its still significant. Today I learned that the Merchant Marines were always integrated during WW2. They didn't care if you were Black, Jew, Gay or not. As long as you got the job done. 60 years later and we're still learning new things about ourselves. about our accomplishments. There will always be people who don't care about their own people and history, who put $$ over integrity and knowledge. But there will also always be those who love learning and sharing that knowledge. People who put others over the lust for bling and who are and were smart enough to stay away from the drugs that enslave us and keep us ignorant.

Answer 6

I usually don't respond to questions such as this--especially as it is that I'm of more than one "mind"--so to speak--about it. I've read carefuly through te question and all the responses up to and including YSM's, which was the last one posted at the time I began writing.
Before I begi, however--what three minorities are running for the oval office? There is a black man, and a latino man--is the third minority a Morman? If so, only the Morman is particulary worthy of note, because he's the first of his kind to do so. But none of that matters----
My first thought is that "blacks" do not require any particular month of the year to be devoted exclusively to "their" history-- why in particular the shortest month, by the way?--any more than any other "American" race, creed, ethnicity or relgion.
Then again, I think, that perhaps blacks do need a moth of their own devoted to their history to inspire their youth to do deeds somewhat more meaningful than sports and music.
But now I really feel like a rascist!
Are the achievements of Condoleeza Rice and Colon Powell nothing because they were appointed to their positions by a white man?
Is oprah Winfrey not among the most successful people in all of America?--In all of the world???
Barak Hussein Obama is hardly the first serious black candidate for the oval office. It troubles me to hear him spoken of as "articulate." As if this is something unusual among "blacks." George W Bush, in the minds of many, does not qualify as even INarticulate--he's simply well known as an idiot.
But I see rascism in everything--everywhere--all the time and, quite frankly, I'm sick of hearing about it.
Speaking and writing about rascism doesn't seem to help.
Why segregate a month for blacks?
I can't get stuck in traffic in New York City for very long without hearing the world ****** blaring from someone's radio, but any white politician brave enough to even circumloquaciously refer to this difficulty in American English better hyphonate it with an N!
At least one respondant to this iquiry cannot remember that the man whose day we celebrate in America's name is Martin Luther King JR--George Washington and Abraham Lincoln get lumped together for one day only--but this man gets an entire day to himself--why doesn't Kennedy? Didn't Kennedy do important things for America?
By now, it must have been guessed that I'm a white boy--no? Call me a redneck, if you'd like. Tell me that I cannt possibly speak with any authority becuase I couldn't possibly understand how the black man feels or is treated in America.
I'm sure that I'm a rascist, too.
I must be.
I voted for George W Bush.
You know what, I'm vey tired. I should have begun to address this issue. I'll stick with "books and authors."
I don't feel bad for blacks in America.
Abraham Lincoln was instrumental in creating the African country of Liberia--America's only semi-colonial concern on that continent, so that blacks--slaves and freemen--might leave this, the greatest, the richest, the most fair and freedom-loving country granted to humanity on earth--America--our America--yours and mine--Liberia was created for any who wanted to return to Africa. Any who want to emmigrate there may still do so.
I see that I've gotten no where in answering this question--that I've not made any convincing arguements or won any hearts or minds with my frustrating observations. Now I'm only a little sad and tired and disappointed in myself for even trying.
O well.
As long as there are races, there will be racism. That's what I think.

Answer 7

I totally agree with you.
It is really sad what is happening to our younger generation. They idolize the material things in life...and it is holding us back. I personally know several young black men that look like they have a million dollars in their pockets..from looking at their cars, clothes, and jewelery...and in reality they have nothing at all....all liabilities...no assets...still staying at their mother's house and a few dollars shy from getting their cars reposed, you know?
Black History Month is like.....no one cares or pays attention to it anymore....and I'm not sure if anyone really did. I'm sure it made, and still makes some people mad that blacks have a nationally recognized month...they feel that it is racist. Go figure...we live in white America. That's a whole different story, though. I do recall teachers doing something extra...like a play or program during black history month when I was in school, but that is it. No one really cares.

and for all of you damn people who actually believe that the history of your ancestors even partially compare to the struggles of African Americans in this country...then you are so wrong. I for one death would have been better than living during the time of slavery. 400 years...built this country...lost our culture...our heritage..our name....families torn apart...turned our people against each other (Willie Lynch)....beaten...hanged....and STILL being discriminated against today? Do you know where you come from? Can you trace your ancestors? Can you teach your children about their heritage....where they come from and who they are? Do you know your family's name....without having to realize that it was the name of someone that owned your damn family once before? Do you honestly believe that you can walk a black person's shoes for one day? Can you take being looked at funny when you walk in store holding expensive items? Can you stand being sized up and thrown into a category just because the color of your skin?

And so they gave us a month....and you think it is racist?? Do you know every race that America has wronged besides black people have received some type of reparation for their loss. Research the real history.....the truth....no what people tell themselves to justify their feelings. Now you tell me what REALLY is racist.

Whew...sorry had to vent. Bye

Answer 8

It shouldn't have existed in the first place. In my opinion, it promotes racism. Maybe we should educate our youth about African Americans all year round like every other person, rather then give them nothing more then a single month.

Answer 9

I tend to agree with you. A few years ago on Martin Luther King's birthday, Jay Leno did one of his 'Man-on-the-street' bits- when he goes out and asks people their opinions on various subjects. Of the dozen or so people he asked "Who was Martin Luther King, and why do we celebrate his birthday?", not ONE of them, white or black knew. Most of the respondents were 30 or younger. It was appalling. My daughter's best friend is black, and she didn't have a clue as to who this great American was- she was just glad she had a day off school. It's very depressing.

Answer 10

What happened to Asian history month? or Native American history month? or Caucasian history month? or Oceania history month? or Inuit history month?

Why is there ONLY Black History Month?

Very racist.

How about Human History Month? Every race, every mixture of races, every nationality, every religion has added to the history of the earth. Why single out one race?

Racism works both ways, brother.

Answer 11

Though not as prominent and news worthy, your local library has probably had a program of some kind.
Perhaps next year you would like to see something that impacts more people on a much wider scale...the best part is that you have eleven months to plan and organize it! BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!