RePOST: Dear black history month. . .

Dear Black History month,

Despite my feelings about you (dont even ask) I have decided to honor my ancestors by embracing the
-->charade concept of using a month to celebrate our heritage. I am adamantly opposed to restricting my history to just one month because it implies that we ignore our history for the other 11 months(oops guess I just told you my views), but I do recognize the importance of celebrating those that forged a path so that I can be who I am.

You present an opportunity to celebrate the history of our great nation regardless of whether its people identify as American, African American, African or WASP. The history of our nation is not pretty and it is by no means glamorous but it is OUR history and we must embrace it. -->Especially because we accomplished so much in the face of unbelievable racism. Americans began to recognize black history annually in 1926 with Dr. Carter G. Woodson's "negro history week," which began as an initiative to teach Americans about the impact blacks have had on American history. Dr. Woodson published his research about our impact on American history in his Journal of Negro History. It turned out to be a stepping stone for your birth. Following Woodson's lead, Black history clubs sprang up, teachers demanded materials to instruct their pupils, and progressive whites stepped up and endorsed the efforts. As early as the 1940s, blacks in West Virginia replaced annual celebrations of "negro history week" by celebrating February as "negro history month." Yes you read that right, West Virginia.


February is the birth month of two people who have greatly influenced the black population, Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. I guess this is another explanation for why you were assigned the shortest month of the year. You are lucky to share your anniversary with several important events in our history including:

•February 1, 1960:
In what would become a civil-rights movement milestone, a group of black Greensboro, N.C., college students began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter.

•February 3, 1870:
The 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote.

•February 12, 1909:
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City.

•February 21, 1965:
Malcolm X was shot to death by three Black Muslims.

•February 23, 1868:
W. E. B. DuBois, co-founder of the NAACP, was born.

•February 25, 1870:
The first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels (1822-1901), took his oath of office.

As a young American I have not experienced what Jim Crow laws were like, nor can I testify about how it feels to be attacked with vicious dogs and water hoses. I was not the first black kid in my school and I have never taken a drink from a fountain or used public facilities marked "coloreds only." I also missed out on what it feels like to be forced give up my seat on a bus for a white person. I wasn't at the March on Washington and I didn't get to hear King tell the world about his dream. I haven't been alive long enough to know what "the struggle" was like and I was not one of the people who fought to have you nationally recognized. Dont mistake my youth and lack of experience with violent racism for a lack of knowledge. I know the images of our history are far from pretty. I know the journey to where we are today has not been easy. Unfortunately, many of those who fought for the equal treatment of blacks during the Civil Rights Movement have died or ceased to live in the public eye.  Fortunately, their legacies live on through stories and photos.

While the fundamentals of black history should be the topic of discussion, I fear that younger generations do not appreciate the significance of it because we did not live trudge through the trenches. I'd like to apologize for that. It is not our intention to disrespect or disregard you. We do not mean to disrespect those who have died so that we can attend the same schools and drink from the same fountains as whites, and have the choice to sit in the front of a bus. Just thinking of the things my people endured makes me grateful. I question whether I would have been strong enough to endure such treatment. I love sitting right behind the bus drivers. I cannot imagine what it was like to know its not even an option to stop at the first available seat if it wasn't far enough in the back. I cannot fathom what it would be like to be treated like a second class citizen. With the way you have been celebrated as of late, I shutter to think of what the great leaders of the civil rights movement would think if they were alive today. If nothing more, I thank you for forcing me to stop and remember "the struggle" more often.

As young professionals, we understand that it is our responsibility to continue the legacy of those who have lifted us up onto their shoulders and made history while doing so. We will honor those who died while fighting for equality. We will keep them in our minds each day when we go to school and when our teachers interrupt their lesson plans long enough to acknowledge prototypical "black firsts." Black history is a rich history and it has been deeply rooted in world history.

From Rosa Parks to the Buffalo Soldiers to Langston Hughes our history is colorful and interesting. I will encourage all of my readers to dig deeper than the story of how the Montgomery bus boycott began. While I despise lazy black history programs, I must admit there is still a need to teach our children to embrace their history. I'm afraid if we got rid of "our" month, our history may fall by the wayside and cease to be discussed (a little extreme I know; sue me). I remember what the 'old folks' say about what happens when you don't know your history.

I'm sure you have heard the critics speak of getting rid of you while others promote black history everyday. What happened to McDonald's 365 Black? I'm sure there is a reason you haven't stood up to defend YOURSELF, but I'm not sure I want to hear it. I promise you this is one blog that will recognize the accomplishments of African Americans through our "out the door" quote of the day and by pointing out African American accomplishments each day of the month. We will also recognize a lot of "Black Firsts" (stay tuned!) and my hope is that I can enlighten my readers while inspiring them to make our world a better place.

To my young profesisonals, remember the old saying "those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it?"

-->I could fire other quotes at you like "knowledge is power" and all that jazz but I'd rather just stick with KNOW your history. There is no excuse for not knowing your history, especially when it is just a Google search away! 

Peace & Love,

Raine L. Gabrielle 

If you have any recommendations for unique ways to celebrate our history or if you just need to gripe about the whole concept, consider the comment section your platform.