More Than Black History Month Is Needed - Page 7

And with this rejection of black history being taught in the classroom, Americans cannot ever hope to become fundamentally connected to the gifts and experiences of blacks in this country in such a way that relegating black history to one month becomes nothing more than a token venture. On the flipside, until black history month gets beyond its status as a mere gesture that holds no vital consequence or place in the American consciousness, black history will never become woven into the natural fiber of American history in the manner that Freeman envisions. 

As a result, Black History Month will be necessary as long as the American marginalization of black history continues if only to journey the hopes of one day compelling America to realize as Ellison realized that “whatever else the true American is, he is also somehow black.” And his blackness cannot be hidden, cannot be unspoken away as Freeman inaccurately asserted; make no mistake about it, not speaking America’s blackness is not speaking America’s sins of racism. In its place, not speaking black history and America’s blackness is essentially allowing racism to covertly operate, since the distinctions upon which it is drawn are treated as though they do not exist. 

In the concluding examination, no amount of color-blindness will change the reality of racism or the disregard for black history. The proof lies in the fact that America has thrived on pretending that black America and black history are not visible. But every moment that black America can get to demonstrate its relevancy—even if it is through the means of an ambiguous celebration such as Black History Month—is crucial to one day integrating black history and American history into an authentic framework for future historians and generations of Americans to weigh.

And while Freeman’s remarks, for all intents and purposes, were not remotely in the same vein as Cosby’s pernicious philippic against poor black America, they still were problematic and needed to be addressed. Otherwise, if not properly addressed, Freeman’s observations would actually be operating against the very ideal he wants to see in that it would let white America off the hook for both recognizing the preciousness of what black history has meant to American history and the necessity of eventually making black history more than the McDonaldlized commodity it is currently served as during the month of February.

Additionally, Freeman needs to only look at the American classroom and determine whether or not a month dedicated to black history is paramount. While there is no ‘white history month,’ there is a history taught in American classrooms that favorably and extensively presents the history of white America. Until that same American classroom becomes favorable to presenting an extensive black history, not just as a mere elective—because the presence of blacks were never an elective in this country—more than Black History month will be needed. 

Article Author: Clayton Perry

Over the past few years, Clayton Perry has interviewed some of the BIGGEST entertainers in music, film and television. Check out his digital archive with 180+ definitive conversation pieces.

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