Does Black History month, Martin Luther King day & Cinco de Mayo promote biogotry?

Question

In studying my family's genealogy, I found several distinction in the Scot/Irish ancestry. There is the classic the orange or the green, Northern Irish vs, well, all other Irish, and both have clans with special mottos and allies. Some Clans have taken in other clan(s) while on some large Clans, (like Campbell) there can be many different branches of the same name.
Except for the immigrant discrimination (esp. against the Irish), these various groups have all melted into US Citizens. There is little to no division anymore, and many desire such a heritage!
Now my point ot it all: There are literally no Irish/Scottish holidays. I know everyone points to St. Patricks day, but really this is not a holiday of heritage. It is an excuse to drink green beer and parade if you feel the urge. Without any group, (like the NAACP), these two cultures have made a great difference in American heritage. I think it is time to change black and hispanic issues into citizen issues. What do you think?

Answer 1

I wouldn't say that they promote bigotry, but separatism. I am German/ Swedish heritage, so I know what you mean. I used to work for the post office & all of the things they acknowledged were black or spanish. Anyone of European heritage was labeled "white" even though all of these cultures are very different. Either give them ALL recognition or celebrate only Americans in unity....all cultures.

Answer 2

I don't know about the Irish thing man. That's true yet hard to make that bridge. I have extensive training in cultural, ethnic, and minority studies and I am not sure about you're point at first. I do know the Irish were discriminated against especially being known as drunken fighters and for example, one could argue (although weakly) that the Notre Dame mascot (Leprechaun- "Fighting Irish") is somewhat bigotry.
However, there is not that strong of a parrallel between the Irish and African Americans because the level of discrimination and hate is not even close. You are extremely wrong in that point. While both were discriminated and hated, there were never "Red Haired/Irish only" bathrooms for example. I am sure there might have been in some areas perhaps, but they were not slaves and did not have such a huge civil rights battle.
The Latin/Hispanic Americans, I believe, have thier battle coming in the future (although you can argue it began in the early 2000s/late 1990s) because of the government's increasing intensity in the US/Mexico border. While there was certainly discrimination in the past, the Hispanics I think will face a more heavily fought, dividing issue in the future with this.
I cannot say though as a white American though that we shouldn't have these holidays/rememberanes/groups since I have never been a part of a group who has went through such

Answer 3

To answer you question
Does Black History month, Martin Luther King day & Cinco de Mayo promote biogotry?
I think you mean bigotry

Only in the minds of ignorant poeple.

I know everyone points to St. Patricks day, but really this is not a holiday of heritage. It is an excuse to drink green beer and parade if you feel the urge.

Who's fault is that?

Answer 4

Why does this same question keep coming up? What is wrong with you people? Just because people chose to celebrate their own heretage and diversity does not mean that they are putting down someone else's. Nobody is denying that blacks and hispanics have "melted" into the greater American culture, as they should. But within that culture there is still room to remember and celebrate who we are. Just as you were looking back at your Scot/Irish ancestry, which you seem to have studied rather closely. Here's a question: why is there so much controversy over MLK day, and a little bit of controversy over Cinco de Mayo, but everybody is supposed to put on green and get drunk on St. Patrick's day (and what's up with Octoberfest?)? If you eliminate one, then eliminate all of them.

Answer 5

I think there would be nothing wrong with the Irish developing their own organization. It's also easy for people outside of the hispanic and african american races to presume we know their situation. Honestly, without "black history" month, how many of us would learn anything other than black americans being slaves? It's a shame our schools separate the histories, but this is America.

Answer 6

each and every physique at the instant are not equivalent. some run swifter and might leap greater. some are smarter than others. all the shape potential is equivalent below the regulation..not actually we are all equivalent. Martin Luther is an outstanding call the two Martin Luther's did stunning issues of their time. King Jr introduced in equivalent justice below the regulation to the leading part an ML revealed the bible in German for the folk. i think of they could coach approximately the two. the two risked their lives for what they believed in and altered the international!

Answer 7

I'm all for it. I don't think awareness necessarily leads to bigotry...but, getting back to your question, a dialogue between the Irish, Scottish and anybody else can not hurt.

Answer 8

You left out one tiny detail:

THE BLACKS WEREN'T IMMIGRANTS. THEY WERE SLAVES.