Black History Month: Day Nine--Another Side of the Story

*Note: For The Journey: Day Twenty-Two see my earlier post today.

Black History Month: The History and the Controversy

Day Nine: Another Side of the Story

Is Black History Month still a net positive or a net negative for African Americans? For America in general?

Yesterday we explored pieces of the article by AP National Writer, Jesse Washington who asked “Time to End Black History Month?” We gave some of his arguments for rolling Black History Month into year-round education.

Today, we explore portions of Washington’s article that support another side of the story: the continued need for Black History Month.

The President Thinks So

President Obama, like all his predecessors since the 70s, believes Black History Month should continue. On February 2, he lauded “National African American History Month” calling upon “public officials, educators, librarians, and all people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs that raise awareness and appreciation of African American history.”

Historians Think So

Daryl Scott, chairman of the history department at Howard University and vice president of programming for ASALH, says Black History Month is still needed to solidify and build upon America's racial gains.

“To know about the people who make up society is to make a better society,” he says. “A multiracial, multiethnic society has to work at its relationships, just like you have to work at your marriage.”

“I don’t see it going away,’ said Spencer Crew, a history professor at George Mason University, adding that a diverse year-round history curriculum can still be augmented in depth during Black History Month.

“There’s a Women's History Month,” Crew said. “No one would argue that we don’t need to be reminded of women who have done things that are important.”

Encouraging the Conversation

I am not saying these are or are not my views. I am inviting conversation. Dialogue. What do you think about the conclusions of President Obama, historian Scott, and historian Crew?

Stay tuned for more perspectives . . .