Kevin Amaya, Contributor
In 1926, Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moreland sponsored Negro History Week to commemorate the achievements of African-Americans. Negro History Week was adopted by communities across the United States who began to host diverse presentations related to black history. The annual commemoration to black history, carried out to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, evolved into Black History Month, which was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976.
As we all have known since elementary school, February is Black History Month. I am sure we can all recall the lessons on George Washington Carver and how he used peanuts to build everything short of an automobile. Or what about reading exercises on literary figures like Maya Angelou and Alice Walker who put the books, “Why the Caged Bird Sings” and “The Color Purple” into words?
As a first generation Salvadoran-American, these lessons on African-American history were my only exposure to understanding the often-overlooked accomplishments of African-Americans. It wasn’t until college that I realized that much was left out in those elementary school lessons.
In retrospect, I cannot speak for what my teachers truly intended to teach me during Black History Month. I do not know if it was part of a predetermined lesson plan by state education requirements or a genuine attempt at teaching the history of African-Americans to kids of diverse backgrounds in hope of setting the cornerstone for a society free of discrimination. Whatever the reason, the exclusion of black history throughout the rest of the school year was clearly obvious and skewed my perception of American history. Subconsciously, I was taught to regard African-American history mutually exclusive from American history as if both were polar opposites.
In an interview with KSU NAACP President Jasmine Graham, the senior communication major stated, “I feel that black history is American history. It needs to be included in our education on a daily basis.” Graham continued by saying that, “I am not against Black History Month. However, it is very limiting. To only focus on a certain group of people for a short period of time isn’t contributing much to our society holistically.”
Graham’s criticism on Black History Month has been similarly voiced by many, including reputable celebrities. In 2005 Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman said in an interview with “60 minutes” that he found Black History Month “ridiculous” and when asked why, he responded, “You’re going to relegate my history to a month?”
Graham and Freeman’s reproaches go far beyond than just having an issue with the lack of education on black history. Instead, their grievances transcend to issues of race still far too present in our society. As we saw in Ferguson and New York City this past year, there is much to be done in addressing stereotypes against the African American community.
In finding a salient solution Graham said, “Black History Month was the start that black Americans, during the time created, needed. However, now it must be expanded to the point where black history is fully incorporated into American History.”
