February. It’s the month of red and pink hearts, cupid and “I love you.” It’s also the month that carries the honor, celebration and education of black History.
When we first learn of Black History Month, it’s exciting and interesting. But by the time high school rolls around, it becomes an annoying celebration that sparks debate and forces you to learn about black people who aren’t even alive.
And to add to it, students are taught the same thing about the same people every year. The legacies of Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Colin Powell, Oprah and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., among others, are drilled into the minds of both the majority and minority until they are blue in the face, or should I say black in the face.
One month simply isn’t enough in terms of education, especially for those who know absolutely nothing about black history, including blacks themselves.
The solution: stop relying on February to teach an important part of American history, and utilize the other eight months of the academic year to teach well-rounded and accurate American history. This includes the enslavement of Africans and African Americans.
Growing up, I noticed many of my history curriculums excluded slavery. I found that this was a decision made in fear of striking the wrong cord with blacks. Meanwhile, memorizing the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address was top priority, but the Emancipation Proclamation and 15th Amendment were items that could forgo discussion.
After adding my African American studies major, I found that I was completely deprived of a fulfilling and well-rounded education because I never learned the full story. And I found that I wasn’t alone.
I encourage anyone, no matter your race or ethnicity, to take at least one African American studies course. They are far from one-sided and are completely unbiased. Most are surprised of what they learn about others and themselves.
It’s obviously inefficient to try to crush hundreds of years of heritage and appreciation in a single month. The spectrum of black history seems to be constricted to the aforementioned people and some exceptions.
Why deprive young students of a truth that should be known? What good does it do?
It only perpetuates ignorance and allows for shallow, stereotypical thoughts to breed and be made into insensitive reasons to dislike or have prejudice against minorities.
For the most part, when you know better, you do better, and we as a multiracial and multicultural nation need to do much better in educating ourselves and embracing our unique differences.
I encourage all students on campus to take a look at the programs and events that will be taking place this month.
The “State of the Black College Student” address will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in the Union Theatre, the Essence of History Fashion Show will be held from 7-9 p.m. in the Verizon Ballroom on Thursday, February 9 and the 4th Annual Black History Month Showcase will be taking place at 7p.m. at the Jones Center in Springdale.
For more information on what the UA and Fayetteville community is up to this month, go to aast.uark.edu.
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