your thoughts on Black History Month

[4dmin]

your thoughts on Black History Month... (poll coming) please feel free to add your own comments.

me personally i don't see why race should decide a time to celebrate your history... black history is white history, white history is black history... to me is stupid to seperate your self from the world.

[Nemesis]

I demand a recognized Asian history month!!! lol


I honestly dont have a problem with it at all, and I might be stoned for this comment, but why is there no designated white history month (Im half white lol) or something like that. I see channels like BET and there is no WET or AET (White/Asian). If there was , the creators of the channel would be regarded as being discriminatory or racist for having their own channel? Maybe someone can give me some more insight on this subject, because Ive always just wondered that.

[1439/2000]

It's racist.

I know the arguments both ways, I juat think when you seperate the races either way, to hate or to celebrate JUST ONE RACE, it doesn't help race relations.

[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.

[2mchbooty]

I demand a recognized Asian history month!!! lol


I honestly dont have a problem with it at all, and I might be stoned for this comment, but why is there no designated white history month (Im half white lol) or something like that. I see channels like BET and there is no WET or AET (White/Asian). If there was , the creators of the channel would be regarded as being discriminatory or racist for having their own channel? Maybe someone can give me some more insight on this subject, because Ive always just wondered that.

I agree 100%, my thoughts exactly!

[Kevykev]

If there was , the creators of the channel would be regarded as being discriminatory or racist for having their own channel? Maybe someone can give me some more insight on this subject, because Ive always just wondered that.

To put it into simple terms

In this society, in order to be granted "Immunity" you need to go through something bad in order to have your own channel.

Ie: BET and Indian Reservations.

History plays a Great role in the present day. They last time a bunch of "white" people got together and had their own thing that involved "whites only", let's just say it wasn't fair.

It's kinda like Little Johnny that got molested in school, he get to play in the gym for an extra hour on fridays. Can you play for an extra hour like him? Hell no because nothing happend to you.

Tell me if any of you will come across 10 people of arabic decent on the same flight?

[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.....

[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...

[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.

[atlgirl25]

I feel like this we all need to learn our history...black or white. It takes more than a month to learn anyone history. I use to think that black history month was a good thing but that is the only time you hear anything about what african americans did. Like my orig statement we all need to take time to learn our history

[PSINXS]

i dont really agree with having our own month to recognize. it does make it seem pretty racist and wha tnot. on the other hand i do think it informs ppl a bout what some influential blacks did that they might otherwise not know aobut. i think it should just be fused moe into the school books than have a seperatemonth for it. and yes why not recognize asians, italians, or whites? if u do it for one all should get it. but i would rather not have it at all. and i went to a predominantly white school in HS and it wa awkward having that month.

and i dont like being called african american. iam not from Africa!! i was born in georgia. i am a Black man.

[Brett]

I think Black History month to me is a crock of shit. I get sick of people trying to seperate races all the time. You dont see whites, asians, spainsh, etc people asking for "White History month or whatever History Month" or folks demanding a WET station, or any race for that matter asking for seperate channels, or months to focus on thier heritage, etc.... Until people see history as AMERICAN history, Racism and seperation will never go away.


Just like when someone says they are african American... WTF?? You are no more African then I am. You are AMERICAN!! Unless you were born in africa and then came here and became a US Citizen, guess what... You arent African american, you are american. People need to stop trying to seperate races with all this shit, Nah mean? Just my

[quickdodge®]

I don't let anything related to race get to me. If every month out of the year was celebrated as BHM, I wouldn't care. I don't understand why people let it get to them. Espeically if it doesn't have anything to do with you. Is BET hurting you? No. Then why complain because black folks have their own channel. Does BHM tear up your whole life for those 28-29 days? I highly doubt it. That is what's stupid. Wasting your time on complaining on shit that doesn't even pertain to you. Just let people do what they want. Why make your self miserable by complaining about what others do? Later, QD.

[thinkfast®]

did somebody say immigrants?

I completely agree w/ QD, it makes no sense to complain about shit that doesn't concern you. WET? cmon folks, white people have all sorts of channels.. um, ABC, CBS, PBS, shows like "the great outdoors" and "Blue Collar comedy", Oxygen, Lifetime... you think minorities waste their time on shit like that?? LIRL... Latinos also have our own shows, SEVERAL channels with spanish-only broadcasting, and it's only getting bigger! Of course, we don't have our own history month, but then again I don't feel like if we did it would make me feel better for those 30-31 days..

I say deal with it, its not going away, and if it doesn't concern you then STFU

[Brett]

did somebody say immigrants?

I completely agree w/ QD, it makes no sense to complain about shit that doesn't concern you. WET? cmon folks, white people have all sorts of channels.. um, ABC, CBS, PBS, shows like "the great outdoors" and "Blue Collar comedy", Oxygen, Lifetime... you think minorities waste their time on shit like that?? LIRL... Latinos also have our own shows, SEVERAL channels with spanish-only broadcasting, and it's only getting bigger! Of course, we don't have our own history month, but then again I don't feel like if we did it would make me feel better for those 30-31 days..

I say deal with it, its not going away, and if it doesn't concern you then STFU

Ricky, spainish channels are different because they cater to people who dont speak English. Now living in this country that is a whole other debate I could get into, because to me, I dont think America should cater to people who refuse to learn the language of the country the chose to live in, I know if I went to another country I would be expected to ;earn thier language and adapt and I wouldnt expect them to cater to me and change for me. Go to any walmart and you can see america is expected to change for them, But thats a WHOLE OTHER ISSUE...lol

I dont get upset about any History month or channel. I am just saying why seperate races by having them. We are all in this country and shouldnt make any one race or culuture stand out, this is why racsim and shit still goes on, when we all live togther this would will be a better place for you and me

[quickdodge®]

this is why racsim and shit still goes on,

I disagree with that being a reason why racism exists still. Ignorant white, black, brown, whatever people are the reason. Now ignorant whites will use that(black only channels) as an excuse. But it is the stupidity talking....not common sense. Later, QD.

[Brett]

Now ignorant whites will use that(black only channels) as an excuse Later, QD.

Why you gotta be a racist on whites? HA HA HA HA HA HA

Dizzle when I get home I am going to make your sig pic a 200x200 for me and use that as my avatar

[quickdodge®]

Why wait? Lolol. That ok? Later, QD.

[Brett]

Thats a bit large man!!!

[quickdodge®]

There. It's 100x100. Lolol. Later, QD.

[Brett]

Thats much better

[PSINXS]

WET? that's a porn channel waiting to happen.

[Julio]

I declare JUNE immigrants month.. fuck u all.

[thinkfast®]

May JUNE be filled with happy memories, glorious tales and plenty of

RON HIJUEPUTA!!

[Dr.G35]

I disagree with that being a reason why racism exists still. Ignorant white, black, brown, whatever people are the reason. Now ignorant whites will use that(black only channels) as an excuse. But it is the stupidity talking....not common sense. Later, QD.

i kinda disagree and kinda don't get it. i think as long as there are seperate awards for black people and separate shows, etc., then that in away is separating themselves away from the rest of us, right?

[Dr.G35]

why can't we just have one awards and have all of tv focused on everyone?

[ahmonrah]

i'm not even gonna comment on this topic (closing door on th way out)

[quickdodge®]

i think as long as there are seperate awards for black people and separate shows, etc., then that in away is separating themselves away from the rest of us, right?

Yes. But, that is still no reason to harbor ill-will towards another race. It just seems like you are looking for ways to justify racism.

Again, why would BET or a black awards show hurt you? Same with whites. Why should black gets mad if white folks came out with their own awards show? Later, QD.

[chrisdavis]

Yes. But, that is still no reason to harbor ill-will towards another race. It just seems like you are looking for ways to justify racism.

Again, why would BET or a black awards show hurt you? Same with whites. Why should black gets mad if white folks came out with their own awards show? Later, QD.

I personally dont care, however it is like that old joke.


One million black people get together to celebrate being black.It's called "A Million Man March"
One million white people gather to celebrate being white. It's called a klan rally.

[4dmin]

I personally dont care, however it is like that old joke.


One million black people get together to celebrate being black.It's called "A Million Man March"
One million white people gather to celebrate being white. It's called a klan rally.

this joke is 100% true, BET is a crock of shit... if i started WET tomorrow the Jesse Jackson and followers would be having a sit in front of my house. why don't the Jews have JEWtv? you don't see them bitching and complaining about having a history month... hell millions of them were exterminated off the planet, but the blacks were inslaved... hmm what is worse??? i guess since blacks lived through their sufferage that they are entitled to something

African American??? wtf is that... that is some fucked up shit, i would love to know how many blacks have even been to their so called mother land. what is amazing is there is black people across the globe, but you won't find blacks in europe saying they are African European

seperation feeds racism.

[Kevykev]

One million black people get together to celebrate being black.It's called "A Million Man March"
One million white people gather to celebrate being white. It's called a klan rally.

You know why that is folks? I'll Tell you why it is looked at that way: it's because of history.

Rather than to get deep into it, i'll give you an anological example (these seem to work best) <Truth: it helps with relativity.

It's like your friends, you've got a bunch of friends that might make jokes about doing your mom. You know their just kinding though, these jokes are simply "harmless fun". BUT Say your friend Tom Really did your mom a while back under some special circumstances (both being drunk etc.)

It took you a while to get over it but forgiveness ensued. Now in actuality Mike, Robert, "J" all of them can make periodic jokes about your mom here and there but if Tom Dare to due some shit like that "IT's a whole different story." Tom can never due it again. Tom had lost his exclusive right to ever try that again.

Now I know this current generation has nothing to due with what happend in the past. What you must grasp in the fact that situations like that invoke unfavorable feelings in people and 9 times out of ten if you or someone you care about hasent gone through it you will most likely NEVER understand!

Simple Humanistic Characteristics transcend everything that is in place in today's society!

Of course Seperation Feeds Racism that's a simple fact.

Seperation does not support interaction, therefore; culture do not embrace each other.

[quickdodge®]

I believe, and correct me if I am wrong, my fearless African-American counterpart, K-Double is basically saying that because of what the white dudes did to the black folks back in the day, black people see it it as inappropriate for whites to make jokes about slavery or black folks in general. That's also why it is deemed ok for blacks to call each other neers while it is very frowned upon for whites to do so.

I still stand by it......and no one has answered it yet......What has BET or other black-only enterprises done to you to hurt you?

Later, QD.

[Ms Dollar]

It seems to me as though the African American Society feels as though "white people" do not view them as socially acceptable I guess you should say and how things were so hard for them to become people with the rest of us. Well back in the day it was the same way for women, but we don't have our own month. I see Black History Month as a way for them to further segregate themselves from the entire population, and still have something else to complain about.

Disclaimer: I don't want to get flamed for this. I treat people the way that I am treated, and I don't think that it is right to judge based on stereotypes. This is just my opinion, I don't want people to think that I am racist.

[ahmonrah]

You know why that is folks? I'll Tell you why it is looked at that way: it's because of history.

Rather than to get deep into it, i'll give you an anological example (these seem to work best) <Truth: it helps with relativity.

It's like your friends, you've got a bunch of friends that might make jokes about doing your mom. You know their just kinding though, these jokes are simply "harmless fun". BUT Say your friend Tom Really did your mom a while back under some special circumstances (both being drunk etc.)

It took you a while to get over it but forgiveness ensued. Now in actuality Mike, Robert, "J" all of them can make periodic jokes about your mom here and there but if Tom Dare to due some shit like that "IT's a whole different story." Tom can never due it again. Tom had lost his exclusive right to ever try that again.

Now I know this current generation has nothing to due with what happend in the past. What you must grasp in the fact that situations like that invoke unfavorable feelings in people and 9 times out of ten if you or someone you care about hasent gone through it you will most likely NEVER understand!

Simple Humanistic Characteristics transcend everything that is in place in today's society!

Of course Seperation Feeds Racism that's a simple fact.

Seperation does not support interaction, therefore; culture do not embrace each other.

good point kevykev. i thought i was closing the door on this discussion. but i'm coming back in.

in terms of your own personal history,(i'm talking ALL OF YOU ON IA.COM) just take a second, look at your family history. and actually try to trace it back as far as you can go.

look at your parents, your grand parents, and then go to their parents. eventually if you talk to the older people in your family. they will point you to a name of someone that came here from europe, asian or india. from there you will begin to hear stories of things they have done and you will know of your lineage. note that your name changes happened through either marriage or by choice.

i know for a fact i gave that task to a couple friends that were of different ethnicities and they 2 were happy to find out that: one was a descendant of a french aristocrat centuries ago. and the other is a direct descendant of ghengis khan.

now for african born americans whose ancestors survived through slavery. i'll ask and have asked them to do the exact same thing. what i knew is that most of us could only go back to the fact that: for me, my grand father was a sharecropper(glorified word for slave) in arkansas and before that, his father was a freed slave. with the majority of african born americans almost all ties with your african ancestors history and lineage were severed through :
A)forced name changes by slave owners
and
B) being bought and sold to the highest bidder.

the results of both are a group of peope with no ancestral name and a nearly untraceable bloodline.

[PSINXS]

It seems to me as though the African American Society feels as though "white people" do not view them as socially acceptable I guess you should say and how things were so hard for them to become people with the rest of us. Well back in the day it was the same way for women, but we don't have our own month. I see Black History Month as a way for them to further exclude themselves from the entire population, and still have something else to complain about.

Disclaimer: I don't want to get flamed for this. I treat people the way that I am treated, and I don't think that it is right to judge based on stereotypes. This is just my opinion, I don't want people to think that I am racist.

With the way blacks have already been sterotyped from the past and from our present generation it is hard for blacks to feel socially acceptable. with the same general sterotypes as blacks steal, they love watermelon, or they are all uneducated, ignorant, poor thugs. When so many blacks are trying to break those barriers we still get held back by other closed minded people(even blacks). you see the number of aryan forums that still portray those very stereotypes to the masses. Who knows how many have changed views because of that? Also a lot of that behavior is learned or passed on from family. i have been through that same crap with parents of women i've dated. It does make you feel out of place. While to you it is something that you think we may complain about, in actuality it's just something we are tired of.

[RandomGuy]

With the way blacks have already been sterotyped from the past and from our present generation it is hard for blacks to feel socially acceptable. with the same general sterotypes as blacks steal, they love watermelon, or they are all uneducated, ignorant, poor thugs. When so many blacks are trying to break those barriers we still get held back by other closed minded people(even blacks). you see the number of aryan forums that still portray those very stereotypes to the masses. Who knows how many have changed views because of that? Also a lot of that behavior is learned or passed on from family. i have been through that same crap with parents of women i've dated. It does make you feel out of place. While to you it is something that you think we may complain about, in actuality it's just something we are tired of.

wut are you coming at? ban selling watermelons and fried chicken to black people? ...fuck that... laissez faire or wutever... let it heal itself... obviously racism is getting less and less as the world is a melting pot and time...

I'm with other posters... why isolate the month out of the year... don't they even have AA rallies and shit? Obviously it'll take time to end... but what exactly does the month do? Put all the focus on that one group? And whoever posted above... if there was a channel called "White Entertainment Television" ... HOLY SHIT that would be offensive? Right? Even if they had the same sentiment that BET sometimes holds (jokingly) to white ppl... right? Now imagine if that was said on WET... ! !

[PSINXS]

wut are you coming at? ban selling watermelons and fried chicken to black people? ...fuck that... laissez faire or wutever... let it heal itself... obviously racism is getting less and less as the world is a melting pot and time...

I'm with other posters... why isolate the month out of the year... don't they even have AA rallies and shit? Obviously it'll take time to end... but what exactly does the month do? Put all the focus on that one group? And whoever posted above... if there was a channel called "White Entertainment Television" ... HOLY SHIT that would be offensive? Right? Even if they had the same sentiment that BET sometimes holds (jokingly) to white ppl... right? Now imagine if that was said on WET... ! !

i didnt say ban that stuff. i said it is our stereotype that we cant overcome. racism wont heal itself. not with supremecist stil prevalent.