I guess jingoism is too strong a word, but these books are swayed by popular sentiment. There was news about some PC history book California wanted. I don't know. I lived in Texas during Middle and High school. There's different examples. Europeans were initially motivated by trade instead of conquest and domination. Slavery and indentured servitude did involve whites. What isn't mentioned is that the slavery practiced then wasn't hereditary until much later. The Indians, who are romanticized as noble savages, weren't great environmentalists. They hunted animals to the brink of extinction and then moved on. There's tons of waste going on, and to this day, they aren't as environmentally conscious as the rest of us. Asian Americans had their contribution to American history. We know that Chinese worked the railroads. Who knew about the Chinese Exclusion Acts that prevented Asian males from having sex with white women? Who knew about the immigration quotas? The Philippines was colonized by the US. The textbooks gloss it over by saying how the "American people" weren't motivated by imperialism. It still happened, but it's not American History despite them being our colony for roughly 35 years. The Philippine-American war is nothing more than a footnote. "Everyone knows" that whites oppressed the slaves, and eventually African Americans wanted to be free, but that's as general as the plight of Native Americans. To this day, there's a number of people who don't know what the BFD is to the civil rights movement and what it means 40 years later. The template for these textbooks seem like this: "Our Founding Fathers wanted to be free. They declared independence, and years later the Constitution was written. People were racist then, so slavery and the 3/5th compromise was kept. Indians were the rightful holders of the land, but we wiped them out. The Trail of Tears came about because the racist Americans then couldn't live with these Indians who wanted to live free. Then Abe Lincoln came around and slavery was a big issue. He believed everyone should be free, like an honorary Founding Father. Harriet Tubman founded the underground railroad for runaway slaves to be free in the non-racist North. The Civil War followed and the Emancipation Proclamation freed "all the slaves". States rights was a big reason, but regional rivalries and grudges were mere issues. But things fell apart when Lincoln was shot. So blacks weren't entirely free. After the Great Depression, we won WW1 and WW2, and spread freedom to everyone. But things weren't so free back home. Martin Luther King was the greatest inspirational leader among the civil rights movement. He was later shot, and so was another leader called Malcom X, but he wasn't as influencial. Afterwards, Congress passed these revolutionary laws and finally gave everyone their freedom." If someone glossed all that crap from their history classes they can come across several conclusions. They can think that since blacks have their freedom like the rest of us, they still want to have more privileges hundred plus years after the slaves were freed. They have freedom just like the rest of us. People with immigrant ancestors might think "what about the plights of other immigrants?" They went through adversity and succeeded. Their history are mere footnotes! Why aren't there ethnic months devoted to them... All around, these history classes aren't doing their job.
Ok, so should we have a European American History month, A latin american history month, an Asian American History Month, an India American History Month, a Native American History Month? All of these groups suffer from ignorance and a lack of education amongst the masses. Shouldn't we devote time to recognizing the contributions of other American groups??? Isn't not doing so completely antithesis to the notion of equality?
I haven't read trough this thread yet, nor do I care to. I spent my entire elementary life in integrated schools. The one thing I knew why blacks were different? Even the skinny ones could kick my ass. And this was back when afros were the norm. We were all different, so I apologize that I didn't see a real difference between the fat white kid, or the skinny black kid. In fact, I got in big trouble for trying to get the attention of a kid back then by yelling out "hey chinese guy!" To me we were all the same, yet different. That is one of the things I'm truly happy about with integration. I honestly feel that with integration, along with the adults shutting up, this won't be an issue in 50 years. I know it isn't with kids these days.
Making up gaps in the education most of us got is important but besides that I don't have a problem with Black History Month, Hispanic History Month or any of the other ethnic appreciation things as emphasizing the diverse nature of our culture. As I said before I have no problem as a Chinese American celebrating St. Patrick's Day as an American we have the opportunity to free ourselves from rigid ethnic distincitions and what makes the unique American culture is the mixture of different ethnicities. So whats wrong with appreciating the melting pots by taking some time everynow and then to celebrate ingredients.
exactly. someone said they do have their own months, but none of them are nearly as emphasized as Black history month.
Im fine with recognizing their accomplishments, but they need to do it for everyone, not just black people. Others such as asian americans, hispanic americans, Irish, italian, and everyone else need to be represented as well. I dont understand this special standard where Black history month is so much more emphasized than any other race.
I don't have the latest census statistics off hand but I believe African-Americans are still the largest minority group so its not surprising that Black History Month gets more attention than Asian History Month. Anyway when you start getting jealous about one group getting a history month that is how you start racial animosity. Complaining about Black History Month as setting apart Blacks are doing almost the exact same thing that blacks and other minorities have said about whites. I think much of the backlash has to do with its hard to accept when the shoe is on the other foot now.
Rimrocker, CometsWin, I wasn't trying to be antagonistic. If I thought the effects of slavery were still being felt, I wouldn't have much hope for equality within my lifetime. I hope to see a true equality at some point during my life. If black people still feel residual effects of slavery, God only knows how long they'll feel the residual effects of segregation.
so what is your complaint? do you think black people are getting over because of black history month? this is soooooooo stupid.
so . .basically rather than emphasize then . . you feel we should DeEmphasize Black History Month? Rather than Rise something .. lower something else? Rocket River
hey what did you do for your month off for black history month. man we sho got it made. a black holimonth. did you get your black month check? I went out and bought a cadillac.
In the town I live in there is a school district where all of the teachers, faculty, and student body are white. It is notorious in this town for its blatant racism as students there brag "If black people were to come to this school they wouldn't last long." and so on. This is in the late 90s and 2000s mind you. I have been in a 5 year relationship with a lady who graduated from this school district and am friends with her sister and have met many of their friends who also atteneded school there. I am also friends with a parent of a child from this district who is currently enrolled in high school. I asked them did they ever study anything about black history. The reply was we heard about it but never got into any detail. I asked them not even around February which is Black History Month? My girlfriend and her sister said they recall a day that was taken to acknowledge Black history during February and they actually learned a little something but many of the kids complained and said things like why should we study "them" and why isn't there a white history month. So even though it seems most students didn't embrace it, a few still walked away with more knowing on the subject than they had before. There are hundreds of schools like this across the nation and I know it is not just in the town I live in but even if a few learn something then I think a purpose is served.
No. I think it is fine, i just think they should put emphasis on other cultures as well. I think it is great that they raise awareness. Im not saying lower it, Im saying raise the other cultures to the same standards and emphasis
I think it is important to understand that African Americans are responsible for much of what is considered uniquely American culture. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't recognize the customs borrowed from other cultures. But from music to art to worship styles, African Americans have created many of the customs that actually come from the United States. That deserves special recognition.
Because the broth believes its being marginalized. Common arguments for White people who kneejerk against Black History are "Where's the White History Month? Where is the WET?" They might not think Black History is a celebration of American History. Or they think Black History Month is a reminder of the oppression by White people. But I don't think this attitude is exclusive to Whites. There's also ambiguously in our ideas of multiculturalism. Do we celebrate the ingredients by taking them out of the pot and then tasting, or do we celebrate the soup itself? You might say that we don't have a melting pot but rather a stew with some ingredients floating to the surface. Anyways, it would save tons of debate time if we attacked the common pool of knowledge first. I'm not claiming that history is the only culprit. There are people who think social Darwinism is a biological theory or that the economics in welfare works upon zero sum games. A lot of Americans, including me, want to believe that dialogue and time will solve the racial problem. It would save a lot of time and headache if we eliminated taught generalizations that lead to faulty conclusions. Or we can pursue a business as usual stance and hope that we're destined to work together as a country.
