"Black History Month."

[Smoke]

I'm quite surprised that in a country based on Christian Values that we so strongly support and encourage one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

History is not one of the seven deadly sins.

 

[painted wolf]

Ah the irony.

The civil rights generation fought for equality in all areas, including the right to be included in discussions of history and culture...

The post civil rights generation wonders what the fuss was all about...

Did they just do that good a job... or is history really that internal?
Is the average person just unable to fully comprehend a history totally removed from their personal experience?

I know history in the US is a shoddily taught subject, perhaps that has something to do with it?

wa:do

 

[Kilgore Trout]

History is not one of the seven deadly sins.

You're so cute. You get a sticker.

 

[lilithu]

Is it just me, or is that extremely racist?

No, it's not just you.... unfortunately.

To call it "racist" shows a lack of understanding of what racism is.

Such concepts began because certain groups had no positive recognition prior to the concept. Given the portrayal of blacks in history prior to such narrow focus such highlighting of specific cultures was necessary to combat the majority cultures ignorance.

Black History month
Womens history
Awards ceremonies
Race specific centers of education.

All necessary means to a more positive goal of greater cultural, social and historical awareness.

Yes, a true study of history is all inclusive as black history, women's history, or any other history does not exist in isolation.

The dream is that in time such distinctions will be unnecessary. Well, the dream for some.

As I see it that time has not come yet. Much progress has been made but considering I had to listen to one of my cousins tell me about "them" people tells me we have not gotten there yet.

Well... you tried. Frubals.

 

[whereismynotecard]

No, it's not just you.... unfortunately.

To call it "racist" shows a lack of understanding of what racism is.


Well... you tried. Frubals.

I guess I'm just stupid then... I really don't understand why it isn't racist to have the history of one race get its own month instead of just incorperating that history in with the rest of history. I'm not saying that history about black people shouldn't be taught, I just think it should be taught in the same way all other history is taught.

 

[lilithu]

I guess I'm just stupid then... I really don't understand why it isn't racist to have the history of one race get its own month instead of just incorperating that history in with the rest of history. I'm not saying that history about black people shouldn't be taught, I just think it should be taught in the same way all other history is taught.

IF it were incorporated into the rest of history, then we would not need Black History Month. The point is that it's not.

When I was in high school, I learned "world history" and "American history." "World history" consisted of Europe. "American history" started with Columbus "discovering" America (while looking for India). I would like to think that the way that history is taught in school is less outrageously racist now. But I know from listening to others that, while some of the more offensive elements might have been taken out, at its core it isn't all that different.

 

[kai]

When i was at school they didnt really have time to teach you the entire history of the world, they did sort of skim over the different ages of Britain but you really had to take it as a specialist subject in order to learn at any depth ,which is not surprising as its thousands of years of history makes it a very full subject.

From what my kids tell me things havnt changed that much.

 

[whereismynotecard]

Is it just me, or is that extremely racist? The idea of having to have a seperate month for the history of a certain race? Why not just put all of the history together and call it history? If we don't, we are going to need a Hispanic History Month, an Asian History Month, an English History Month, and so on... I thought a long time ago this country figured seperate but equal wasn't equal, so why is our history seprated based on race?

That's what I said. It should be put with all of the other history.


I remember in school learning about slavery and Rosa Parks and Mt. Luther King, and segregation, and voting rights (of black people and of women) and that one thing about school segregation(and lots of stuff I don't remember, because history bores me) It wasn't until later grades that we were told that the Native Americans were mistreated, but I don't ever remember thinking people enjoyed slavery. I think it was made pretty clear from the start that slavery was unpleasant.

 

[painted wolf]

History isn't an important subject for American schools anymore. Did you know you can graduate in many states without any civics or serious history background at all?
Kind of spooky.

wa:do

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

History isn't an important subject for American schools anymore. Did you know you can graduate in many states without any civics or serious history background at all?
Kind of spooky.

For us, elementary school history was for covering the basics of history. In high school, history was mainly about learning skills, not specific facts. In grade 9 history, the bulk of our time was taken up with Richard III (while learning about the play in English), WWI, and the JFK assassination. IIRC, the rest of our time was for self-directed projects that could be on any historical era or event as long as they met the project requirements.

 

[Smoke]

I guess I'm just stupid then... I really don't understand why it isn't racist to have the history of one race get its own month instead of just incorperating that history in with the rest of history. I'm not saying that history about black people shouldn't be taught, I just think it should be taught in the same way all other history is taught.

You mean, from textbooks that are produced with an eye to appeasing the conservative activists on the Texas State Board of Education?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

This discussion on black history month has lasted longer than black history month.

 

[whereismynotecard]

You mean, from textbooks that are produced with an eye to appeasing the conservative activists on the Texas State Board of Education?

I don't know. I just think all history should be taught without bias, but I guess this world sucks, so I shouldn't even bother caring anymore... so I won't. Everyone can be as racist as they want, and I don't give a damn anymore, because my caring won't change anything anyway.

 

[painted wolf]

spoken like a true post-civil rights nihilist.

wa:do

 

[lilithu]

I remember in school learning about slavery and Rosa Parks and Mt. Luther King, and segregation, and voting rights (of black people and of women) and that one thing about school segregation(and lots of stuff I don't remember, because history bores me) It wasn't until later grades that we were told that the Native Americans were mistreated, but I don't ever remember thinking people enjoyed slavery. I think it was made pretty clear from the start that slavery was unpleasant.

If the only thing you learned about African Americans in your history class is that they once were slaves and they didn't like it, THAT IS WHY WE NEED BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

Heck, even when we were learning about the Civil Rights movement in school, it was taught to us completely wrong. I was taught that one day, Rosa Parks felt tired so she refused to move to the back of the bus. She got arrested, people protested the arrest, and that is how the Civil Rights movement began. Which is complete bull. It makes Parks sound like just some woman who did feel like moving and makes the entire movement sound like some spontaneous emotional thing.... all playing into stereotypes of blacks being emotional. In reality, Rosa Parks was an active part of an organized, well-thought out, pre-planned effort organized by King and others. They were smart, organized activists.

Tell me something... if the history that you learned in school were written by African Americans instead of Euro Americans, do you think it would only talk about slavery and the Civil Rights movement as if African Americans did not exist at any other time? If it were written by Native Americans, do you think "American History" would have started with Columbus?

 

[stacey bo bacey]

If the only thing you learned about African Americans in your history class is that they once were slaves and they didn't like it, THAT IS WHY WE NEED BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

I believe she was saying that because in another post (I'll find it if you want me to) someone was going on about how she was taught that slaves LIKED how they were treated and Hannah was saying something like she didn't know what kinda backwards school that other person went to but she was never taught that.

 

[whereismynotecard]

If the only thing you learned about African Americans in your history class is that they once were slaves and they didn't like it, THAT IS WHY WE NEED BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

Heck, even when we were learning about the Civil Rights movement in school, it was taught to us completely wrong. I was taught that one day, Rosa Parks felt tired so she refused to move to the back of the bus. She got arrested, people protested the arrest, and that is how the Civil Rights movement began. Which is complete bull. It makes Parks sound like just some woman who did feel like moving and makes the entire movement sound like some spontaneous emotional thing.... all playing into stereotypes of blacks being emotional. In reality, Rosa Parks was an active part of an organized, well-thought out, pre-planned effort organized by King and others. They were smart, organized activists.

Tell me something... if the history that you learned in school were written by African Americans instead of Euro Americans, do you think it would only talk about slavery and the Civil Rights movement as if African Americans did not exist at any other time? If it were written by Native Americans, do you think "American History" would have started with Columbus?

We weren't taught that Rosa Parks magically fixed everything one day by refusing to move. We were taught about how there was segregation in schools, and black children had to go way out of their way to a black school when there was a white school right next to their house, and we were taught that when they finally did de-segregate, some places still wouldn't let black children into their schools. And going to a de-segregated school was no pic-nic, because the white children would be mean to the black children.

And we learned about protests where the black protestors were sprayed with fire hoses, which was painful because the hoses were really powerful. And we learned that during slavery the slaves were whipped for stupid reasons and sometimes even so severly that they died, and we learned that families were separated through slavery and sometimes the slave "master" would rape their female slaves, and when they had children, the masters would sell their own children as slaves, since they were half-black.

And yes, I bet the books would be different if written by different people... If there is some history that needs to be included in school teachings, it should be included. It doesn't need it's own separate month. My original point was that we should teach all important history about everyone in this country and whatever else we think kids should know. We should teach all of it, chronologically, not skipping over anything or softening gruesome details. If there is stuff about black history that isn't being taught but should be, put it in with the rest of history instead of giving it its own month.

 

[DarkMaster24]

I would love to comment on Black History Month, but in doing so I would be called a racist.

Well, seeing as you're mormon, and the Mormon church took a bit longer to stop being racist, that doesn't come as a suprise.

Say what you want to say, but if you come as as an insular racist, expect to be called on it.

 

[kai]

The thing with history is , some people are just not interested, some people are interested in only one part of history, say the American civil war so they delve more deeply into that particular subject. now i remember being taught at school about the Industrial revolution, cant remember a thing! didnt interest me much,But the Napoleonic wars ? i loved it and still read about it to this day, History like any subject has to catch your interest.

Now as important as certian events are in the history of the world or a particular subject are,the fact is some people will never be interested, oh they will know the basics but not the detail.

so really Black history month will be celebrated,studied or completely ignored depending how interested you are in the subject. It may astound or outrage someone who has a great interest in the subject but thats just the way it is.

 

[Stellify]

If the only thing you learned about African Americans in your history class is that they once were slaves and they didn't like it, THAT IS WHY WE NEED BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

Heck, even when we were learning about the Civil Rights movement in school, it was taught to us completely wrong. I was taught that one day, Rosa Parks felt tired so she refused to move to the back of the bus. She got arrested, people protested the arrest, and that is how the Civil Rights movement began. Which is complete bull. It makes Parks sound like just some woman who did feel like moving and makes the entire movement sound like some spontaneous emotional thing.... all playing into stereotypes of blacks being emotional. In reality, Rosa Parks was an active part of an organized, well-thought out, pre-planned effort organized by King and others. They were smart, organized activists.

Tell me something... if the history that you learned in school were written by African Americans instead of Euro Americans, do you think it would only talk about slavery and the Civil Rights movement as if African Americans did not exist at any other time? If it were written by Native Americans, do you think "American History" would have started with Columbus?

I don't think she was saying that all they learned was that African Americans were slaves....She's given a few other examples of the things they've learned. And, on the contrary, she is arguing for a more equal method of teaching Black history...incorporating it throughout the regular curriculum instead of only focusing on it the one time of the year.

That sucks you learned about it in such a bad way. But not all schools are like that....We learned about how Parks was involved, along with many other parts of history where African Americans were involved.

As for "what if history was written by....", I think history would be different no matter who wrote it, as long as it was someone different. Even if it was just written by different Euro-Americans.
In my high school curriculum, African Americans certainly weren't treated as though they only existed during the Civil Rights movement/slavery....but those subjects are concentrated on for good reason- when teaching "American History", because a class can't cover every single event that ever happened, they must focus on the major events. Slavery and its ending were very major events in this country, and I think it's good to focus on them some as a way of showing the horrors of what happened back then...Hopefully some kids get the message and will go on to be more tolerant of others' differences because of it.

I would also like to add that, early on enough, I don't think there was enough of an African American presence to be recorded...Not that they didn't matter, mind you, but...If nothing noteworthy happened other than their suffering and repression, what else do you expect historians to do? And in US history classes I have taken, they don't usually go into a ton of detail about their history in their native countries because...it's not US history.

When it comes to the lack of pre-European American history....Do we have very much historical evidence to teach about? My teachers always enjoyed our sections on Native American peoples, and went into the different groups, their religious rituals, war patterns, allies, enemies, survival methods, etc, etc...
It's not the same as their step-by-step history, but....Perhaps it is the best we can do? Do you know of any surviving historical records of those people? I, personally, don't.... I don't know where they might be found, other than by the word-of-mouth of the people who pass down tales and such....and I know we learned about a few of those.

Ugh....I hope that made some sort of sense...I'm really, really exhausted.
I do sincerely apologize for my rambling.