Am I the only person who doesn't like Black History Month?

[Bretty]

and the other half lived in the north.

I am not American, I only lived in the South for 7 years.

Your comment is the problem with the attitudes of Northen America. More slaves fought freely for the Southern armies than they did the North. Not to mention a huge portion more of blacks were pressed into service with the North and kept in appaling conditions.

Sorry to side rail a bit but the "I lived in the North, so it is ok" comment is humorous to me.

Personally, small minded people are small minded people. Black history month provides a minority with an opportunity to express themselves in a large way. I for one wish we had a Scottish month, but we don't.

And hey! At least the Irish get a whole day!

 

[YawningAngel]

"Am I the only person who doesn't notice that, in the U.S., eleven months of the year contain nothing but White Person Days?"

That's what your question sounded like to me.

You should really read a LOT more before you try talking again. Just a little friendly advice.

I'm sorry? Either black people played a significant role in history and a study of history will include them, or they didn't and it won't. Either way, a black history month is a dumb idea.

 

[Raikov]

That stuff again goes to show that some people take themselves way too serious. In that case, I could say that I want my viking inheritance back, and trademarked. Because that will bring me alot of cash =P

 

[Darthbawls77]

Black history month is a sad attempt by the government to say, "sorry for slavery." But in reality is solves nothing but making other groups feel left out and certain groups put uncomfortably in the limelight. I don't think any race should have a month dedicated to itself but rather a more positive month on humankind and its acomplishments as a whole.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

More slaves fought freely for the Southern armies than they did the North.

Really, they fought "freely"?

Sorry to side rail a bit but the "I lived in the North, so it is ok" comment is humorous to me.

You missed my point. What I am saying is that no one I can clame kinship with was a slave owner. Thus, saying "You should feel guilty/sorry for what has happened" is rather silly for me.

 

[Timberwolf0924]

Try having a 'White History Month' the NAACP will be on you like.. well, white on rice. W.E.T "White Entertainment Televison" Al Sharpton will sh*t a brick!

So no, Black History Month is a retarded idea, but white america has to give in.

(I'm asian btw)

 

[Bezz_Ad]

Well, Morgan Freeman doesn't like Black History Month.
So there's that. Which I find cool, though.

But, really, I don't actually care, though.

 

[Nimcha]

Let the people who want to have their month, it's really not a big deal.

It's like people complaining about gay pride parades.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Tip for Life: You're never the only person.

EDIT: (To add some sort of content to my post) I agree, Black History month is basically reverse racism. It, from what I've seen, does more harm than good.

Tip for Life: Hyperbole is a perfectly acceptable use of the English language and you should really stop being so literal.

And no, OP. You aren't alone. Morgan Freeman doesn't like it, either.


Now, I normally hate "/thread", but...Come on. It's Morgan fucking Freeman. [/thread]

 

[JochemDude]

Never had anything like that over here, it's a bad idea though. The only way to get rid of ignorance on cultural differences is too stop talking about them

/thread

Spoiler: Oh, you ninja

Tip for Life: You're never the only person.

EDIT: (To add some sort of content to my post) I agree, Black History month is basically reverse racism. It, from what I've seen, does more harm than good.

Tip for Life: Hyperbole is a perfectly acceptable use of the English language and you should really stop being so literal.

And no, OP. You aren't alone. Morgan Freeman doesn't like it, either.


Now, I normally hate "/thread", but...Come on. It's Morgan fucking Freeman. [/thread]

 

[Hungry Donner]

I'm a high school social studies teacher (at least that's what the degree and the certificate say, the job market not so much) and I'm not really a fan either. I think it has the potential to be really great (same with Women's History Month) but most teachers don't cover the material with any finesse. I know growing up most teachers inadvertently undermined the position of women and African Americans with their sloppy mishandling of these events - it can do a lot to reinforce a sense of token inclusion.

There are plenty of important people outside the mainstream that can be included in every-day lessons and I'd much rather see effort put into that that suddenly dropping what you're doing and effectively saying "these people aren't important enough for normal lessons."

I have seen the subject matter handled well, which usually involves being subtle and avoiding something that the kids will learn about elsewhere. In the case of Black History Month I'd avoid slavery or the Civil Rights movement to demonstrate that African Americans have a history outside of these events.

 

[lionsprey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s
he about sums up my opinion on racism and black history month.

 

[CHIMP MAGNET]

I do find it quite ridiculous that you spend A TWELFTH of your entire life in black history month

 

[Mechanical Cat Fish]

Samurai's weren't their own ethnic minority.

On top of which they were actually pretty brutal towards peasants. Feudal Japan sucked just as much as feudal everywhere else. But that's beside the point; what is to the point is that I can see the logic behind your argument and add that it irks me personally if any minority's plight is deemed somehow more important than any other minority's plight. They've all been through a whole lot of crap (not all of it as serious as slavery) but its supposed to be better these days. But look at the native Americans - they don't get a month, and we gave them smallpox. It bothers me that one atrocity gets more publicity/apology than another.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Black History month is basically reverse racism.

Nitpick: No, it isn't. It's just racism. "Racism" is not something that can only apply to minorities. There is no such thing as "reverse racism".

More on topic, no, I don't really like the idea of Black History Month. Primarily because there isn't a whole lot of history there. Most of what we know as history isn't unique to them. It's part of our collective history. Yeah, it wasn't good, but humanity has had a rather long string of that. But I don't feel the need to carry the collective burden of humanity on my shoulders. I, personally, have not done any of those things, so my ability to feel bad about them is limited to "Yeah, that shouldn't have happened."

So from a purely historical standpoint, we're looking at the second-largest inhabited landmass on the planet, populated by more tribes than I can think of, most of which were not exactly keen on the whole "writing down history" thing. It seems like most of the really notable bits of history were when someone else decided to get involved, and generally they kept much better records.

There's a lot more going on in Africa right now that would be worth being aware of than there is history to cover. We should do away with Black History Month, and maybe start up Africa Now Month instead. But, of course, that would defeat the unspoken purpose of trying to make everyone else feel bad for something that they had no involvement in.

 

[Kinguendo]

Is it just me who thinks that any person who sits getting frustrated by some people being remembered for their part in making your country successful, might mean you dont like those people?

If I sat around being angry about a person, it would be entirely justified that you think I dont like that person... right?

I mean, whats really happening? You are reminded that Black people exist for one month? Oh no, woe is you. But that cant be it, right? Because you are half-Black obviously, and you wouldnt be making that up to help strengthen your argument. Maybe I am being too skeptical, but I dont see the logic behind your argument.

Oh and, no other group gets history lessons done about them? What? Do you just not study history if it isnt Black History month? Because I think you will find most of your history lessons are about white people.

And really? Comparing Samurais and Belief to something you are born as? Not a fair comparison at all, is it really? Not being classed as a religion doesnt stop your from believing that does it? Samurais still exist to this day, it just isnt Feudal Japan anymore.