your thoughts on Black History Month

[Kevykev]

It's more involved than a simple good or bad!

This country has such a dark history that teaching it inevitable will bring up strong feelings of Proudness and Dismay depending on what aspect is discussed.

Having one singled-out month might not be the best idea. I think it should be blended with American History and taught equally throughout the year.

[A.P. Photography]

Having one singled-out month might not be the best idea. I think it should be blended with American History and taught equally throughout the year.

I agree, I think history should be taught as history and not well this is black history and then you have everything else.

[trini_gsr]

i feel yall that black history should be totally integrated into american history or what have you, and should be taught like that. this is the ideal situation...

but the reality is that it's not. how much black history have YOU learned in high school? most of yall probably don't even know who marcus garvey is, know about any of the great black inventors, or even read any books by good black authors. i know when i was in HS i wasn't taught any of this stuff...besides prolly about MLK and Malcolm X.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. the ugly truth is that slavery totally robbed black ppl in this country of their sense of worth and pride compared to everyone else. black folks' accomplishments were simply ignored, credited to their white masters, or otherwise written out of history for hundreds of years. remember...slaves weren't really ppl so there's no way they could be smart! and everyone back then felt like this...from scientists to doctors to christian pastors to the authors/historians who wrote all this stuff down...to sadly, even black ppl themselves eventually. that has serious psychological repercussions (thats for a different discussion tho)...

black history month is really just about giving black (and white) folks a chance to feel proud about who they are, what they've done, and where they came from...there was no other avenue to learn about black history when it started, and even today there still really isn't.

it was just 45 years ago that they started letting black ppl vote and share bathrooms with white ppl here...i think a LOT less ppl are racist now than then, but we still got a ways to go. when you start to hear about w.e.b. dubois like you hear about say...mark twain...then black history month wont be necessary...

[PearlDc4]

lest see where to star? lol, slaves fought to be equal ya know, but it seems like blacks always wanna be seperated or they think they should be given more! they wanna be called african american. i meen wth most of them have no relation to africa. if they wanna put africa in front of their country(america)then hell they can leave right now. you dont see white people walking around saying no im european american. ya know its sad because now white ppl will say they arent white and say theyre italian or something like that so they will fit in.

tell me what yall think.....

[chrisdavis]

lest see where to star? lol, slaves fought to be equal ya know, but it seems like blacks always wanna be seperated or they think they should be given more! they wanna be called african american. i meen wth most of them have no relation to africa. if they wanna put africa in front of their country(america)then hell they can leave right now. you dont see white people walking around saying no im european american. ya know its sad because now white ppl will say they arent white and say theyre italian or something like that so they will fit in.

tell me what yall think.....

I think you are somewhat misguided. Think about it like this white people have an official description "Caucasian". What official description did black people have, "black", "colored", the "N" word? Do they not deserve a dignified label, or description? Yes there are some black people who feel that everything should given to them. But there are many more that you will never hear about that get up everyday, go to work, pay their taxes and live peaceful, productive lives. You will never hear about those folks because they do not incite controversy.

[Dr.G35]

i feel yall that black history should be totally integrated into american history or what have you, and should be taught like that. this is the ideal situation...

but the reality is that it's not. how much black history have YOU learned in high school? most of yall probably don't even know who marcus garvey is, know about any of the great black inventors, or even read any books by good black authors. i know when i was in HS i wasn't taught any of this stuff...besides prolly about MLK and Malcolm X.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. the ugly truth is that slavery totally robbed black ppl in this country of their sense of worth and pride compared to everyone else. black folks' accomplishments were simply ignored, credited to their white masters, or otherwise written out of history for hundreds of years. remember...slaves weren't really ppl so there's no way they could be smart! and everyone back then felt like this...from scientists to doctors to christian pastors to the authors/historians who wrote all this stuff down...to sadly, even black ppl themselves eventually. that has serious psychological repercussions (thats for a different discussion tho)...

black history month is really just about giving black (and white) folks a chance to feel proud about who they are, what they've done, and where they came from...there was no other avenue to learn about black history when it started, and even today there still really isn't.

it was just 45 years ago that they started letting black ppl vote and share bathrooms with white ppl here...i think a LOT less ppl are racist now than then, but we still got a ways to go. when you start to hear about w.e.b. dubois like you hear about say...mark twain...then black history month wont be necessary...

but it wasn't only black people who have gone through slavery. irish people were the first ones i believe to go through a horrible slavery, and they do not have an irish month? i definately agree with you, that black history should be integrated into our (america) history including mexican and irish history because there is not enough of it. now, people are tryin to get history classes to only tesch the past 50 years of history which in my opinion is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard. they will miss out on huge events that happened to make what our country is today, like pearl harbor, christopher columbus and his expeditions, when the first pilgrims came from europe to here to settle. it is going to be interesting to see whats going to happen in the school systems in the next few years.

[trini_gsr]

but it wasn't only black people who have gone through slavery. irish people were the first ones i believe to go through a horrible slavery, and they do not have an irish month? i definately agree with you, that black history should be integrated into our (america) history including mexican and irish history because there is not enough of it. now, people are tryin to get history classes to only tesch the past 50 years of history which in my opinion is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard. they will miss out on huge events that happened to make what our country is today, like pearl harbor, christopher columbus and his expeditions, when the first pilgrims came from europe to here to settle. it is going to be interesting to see whats going to happen in the school systems in the next few years.

well i dunno about the irish slavery thing...so i can't speak on it. i do know that irish ppl got treated pretty badly here in the US when they first came over as immigrants...they were definitely 2nd class citizens...but at least they had basic human rights.

it wasn't the same as with blacks tho. black ppl were forcefully taken from their homes in africa, separated from their families, packed like sardines, naked and chained on slave ships, and lost their entire IDENTITIES when they became slaves. they were given new names, and forbidden to keep their customs, religions, and language. not to mention the raping and the crazy physical abuse. This was going on in the New World for over 400 years before the Civil War ended it in the late 1800s.

as to what watwah said...he's kinda right. but remember...Irish, Italians, Jewish, etc...for the most part, they can look through their family history and trace themsevles backwards to their home country. to say...oh such and such was the first from our family x-amount of years ago to come to this country. Probably even still speak their native language or have some kinda contact with their relatives still living there.

but black ppl here don't have that option, because of the effects of slavery - the connection back to africa has been pretty much totally severed. the whole african-american thing is just black ppl trying to reclaim some of what what was taken from them, acknowledge where they came from. yall need to understand how far-reaching the effects of slavery really are.

and i'm with yall on the history thing...america has a lot of diverse cultures, and as much of them should be taught in schools as possible. that past 50 years thing is ridiculous...

[1 SICK GT]

i feel yall that black history should be totally integrated into american history or what have you, and should be taught like that. this is the ideal situation...

but the reality is that it's not. how much black history have YOU learned in high school? most of yall probably don't even know who marcus garvey is, know about any of the great black inventors, or even read any books by good black authors. i know when i was in HS i wasn't taught any of this stuff...besides prolly about MLK and Malcolm X.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. the ugly truth is that slavery totally robbed black ppl in this country of their sense of worth and pride compared to everyone else. black folks' accomplishments were simply ignored, credited to their white masters, or otherwise written out of history for hundreds of years. remember...slaves weren't really ppl so there's no way they could be smart! and everyone back then felt like this...from scientists to doctors to christian pastors to the authors/historians who wrote all this stuff down...to sadly, even black ppl themselves eventually. that has serious psychological repercussions (thats for a different discussion tho)...

black history month is really just about giving black (and white) folks a chance to feel proud about who they are, what they've done, and where they came from...there was no other avenue to learn about black history when it started, and even today there still really isn't.

it was just 45 years ago that they started letting black ppl vote and share bathrooms with white ppl here...i think a LOT less ppl are racist now than then, but we still got a ways to go. when you start to hear about w.e.b. dubois like you hear about say...mark twain...then black history month wont be necessary...

AMEN

[1 SICK GT]

this whole thread is stupid in my opinion, if you go back and re-read it the thread seems racist

my
ok i could care less if there is or is not a black history month, i feel all history whether it's black, white, hispanic, italian, polish, german, indian, asian or what ever your race is should be taught year round.

so for those of you who have a problem with black history month maybe you should contact your congressman (which u wont) and have it equally integrated into American history, then there would be no need for the month.

and the comment the guy made about blacks always want to be separate (sp), i don't think they want to be separate (sp) i jus think they want to be acknowledge

jus my opinion if you get mad at it oh well life goes on, jus lay on your stomach and do some push ups or something


I'm A Racist I only care about one color and that's GREEN PAPER with dead presidents stamp on them

[Tasuki_Civic]

Quote:
Originally Posted by trini_gsr
i feel yall that black history should be totally integrated into american history or what have you, and should be taught like that. this is the ideal situation...

but the reality is that it's not. how much black history have YOU learned in high school? most of yall probably don't even know who marcus garvey is, know about any of the great black inventors, or even read any books by good black authors. i know when i was in HS i wasn't taught any of this stuff...besides prolly about MLK and Malcolm X.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. the ugly truth is that slavery totally robbed black ppl in this country of their sense of worth and pride compared to everyone else. black folks' accomplishments were simply ignored, credited to their white masters, or otherwise written out of history for hundreds of years. remember...slaves weren't really ppl so there's no way they could be smart! and everyone back then felt like this...from scientists to doctors to christian pastors to the authors/historians who wrote all this stuff down...to sadly, even black ppl themselves eventually. that has serious psychological repercussions (thats for a different discussion tho)...

black history month is really just about giving black (and white) folks a chance to feel proud about who they are, what they've done, and where they came from...there was no other avenue to learn about black history when it started, and even today there still really isn't.

it was just 45 years ago that they started letting black ppl vote and share bathrooms with white ppl here...i think a LOT less ppl are racist now than then, but we still got a ways to go. when you start to hear about w.e.b. dubois like you hear about say...mark twain...then black history month wont be necessary...
AMEN

yes sir .... i do agree