African-American History Month - Does the Need Still Continue?

I definitely believe that African-American History Month should be replaced with an integrated American history curriculum. While others may share this point of view I suspect that my reasons may be quite different.

As an African-American I am sometimes dismayed when I hear Caucasian friends and colleagues remark, "I don't understand why there is a Black History Month'. If you're going to have that shouldn't there also be a White History Month' too?" Some might dismiss such comments as "racist". However, I think they are more of a sad commentary on the continuing failure of the American educational system to provide a comprehensive view of American history that fully includes everyone who helped to make our country great.

Carter G. Woodson, who launched the idea for "Negro History Week", which later evolved into African-American History month was a man of many accomplishments. I do not remember ever studying him in any of my grade school or high school history classes in the 1970s and would venture to guess that few school aged children today, Black or White are even familiar with his name.

The son of slaves, who spent much of his early life at hard manual labor, Woodson strongly valued education. His determination and perseverance enabled him to obtain his high school diploma at age 22 before going on to achieve advanced degrees in History from the University of Chicago and Harvard University. The Howard University professor went on to found the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History in 1905, the Journal of Negro History in 1916 and author "The Mis-Education of the Negro in 1933.

Woodson recognized that Black history wasn't being studied. African-Americans were either treated as if they were wearing a permanent cloak of invisibility in terms of United States history or were portrayed quite negatively.Carter Woodson believed that this led to problems within both the Black and White communities. If White Americans are never given the opportunity to learn about the positive contributions of African-Americans to our society they may very easily begin to believe that African-Americans simply haven't contributed anything of value to American life. Such a misconception could reinforce beliefs that whites are naturally superior and, unfortunately could lead to the idea that the supposed "inferiority" of blacks somehow justifies their oppression.

By the same token, African-Americans who never have the opportunity to learn about Black heroes and their positive contributions to American culture and who are constantly confronted with negative images of blacks in America may suffer from a serious lack of self-esteem which presents itself in a number of unhealthy ways. I believe that severe racial discrimination and prejudice are forms of abuse that can very easily lead to psychological damage not unlike that suffered by child abuse victims or battered spouses. No one is well served when society allows this type of damage to continue unchecked.

America is based upon a blending of many cultures. Even White Americans who came as immigrants from various European countries do not share identical histories and backgrounds. American History in our schools should reflect the diversity of the citizens who live here. Rather than taking a break from "regular" history for four weeks in February to study the achievements of African-Americans why not simply study those individuals within the context of their times?

History lessons should include Crispus Attucks in units on the Revolutionary War. Children should learn about African-American business woman and millionaire Madame C. J. Walker right alongside Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. The accomplishments of African-American aviatrix Bessie Coleman should stand side-by-side with those of Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh. The role of Marian Anderson in Eleanor Roosevelt's courageous stand against the Daughters of the American Revolution does not need to be showcased separately from the rest of Depression Era history.

Once our history books begin detailing the endeavors of all Americans regardless of race the need for African-American History month will no longer exist. Presenting one American history as an all inclusive undertaking will go a long way in removing the idea of White America being the "norm" and everything else as the "other."

And without the lingering specter of two Americas, still vaguely separate and somewhat unequal I believe that all Americans can finally enjoy the benefits of being citizens of the truly "United" States.

References:
Gonsalves, Sean. "Why Black History Month?" http://www.freemaninstitute.co/woodson.html

Smith, Shirlee. "Schooled on Black History." Los Angeles Times, February 21, 2008.