February is known as Black History Month in the United States.
This practice began in 1926, after Harvard alumnus, Carter G. Woodson, wanted to raise awareness of the contributions that African Americans made to America and the world. The event began as a week; a week that held the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, Black History Week became Black History Month.
Each year, students around America are taught about the contributions that African Americans have made to society. Usually, depending on their school district, school and teacher, they put on programs to highlight what they have learned. Adults also get involved in the festivities with luncheons, plays, and other activities.
I believe it’s so important to highlight the contributions of Black Americans to America; some of the liberties, activities and products that we enjoy now would not be possible. But celebrating Black History Month for just one month isn’t enough. This also applies to Women’s History Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and American Indian Heritage Month.
Using the ideology that children should be taught HOW to think and not WHAT to think means that the contributions and histories of all people in America should be discussed throughout the school year. It means that the contributions and histories of all people in America should be integrated into the curriculum. History is complex and social studies can be hard to teach. We’re in school for an average of 12 years. Therefore, using a curriculum that encompasses history and more relevant social studies concepts each year would be tremendously beneficial in allowing students to understand all parts of their past.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Photo: iStockphoto)
The United States is a melting pot. It’s fair to say that just about every person’s family in the 50 states has emigrated from some place else at some point in time. Consequently, by exposing students to a cascading history curriculum, it will allow them to better understand the history of the United States, in relation to world history.
Hopefully, in years to come there will be a deeper understanding, appreciation, and celebration of history of the contributions, tribulations, and victories associated with various nationalities and races. For example, although we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday on the third Monday in January, we do not celebrate the birthdays of Stokley Carmichael, Malcolm X, Caesar Chavez, Harriet Tubman, Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Cleopatra, Ariel Sharon, Geronimo, Sitting Bull or any of the others who have made a huge impact in American and world history. This is not to negate the contributions of Dr. King, but the actions of many others have also played a huge role in the history of our country.
Black history, Women’s history, Native American history, Pacific Islander history, Asian history, Hispanic history, Irish history, Bosnian history are all important parts of our history. Black History Month reminds us of this. It reminds us that world history deserves to be studied, explored, and celebrated every day of the year. Black History Month deserves more than one month out of the year. Our children deserve more than one month out of the year.
Current Song: We Didn’t Start the Fire by Billy Joel
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