My Thoughts on Black History Month
02-09-2022
By Robert Toney, Junior MDIV
When asked if I would write something for the Herald about my thoughts on Black History month, the first word that jumped into my head was… “WHY?” “Why” would anyone want to know my thoughts on Black History month? There must be far more experienced writers and scholars at McCormick than I who can share brilliant dissertations on Black History in the US. In fact, I KNOW there are!! I’ve learned more Black and Womanist history in my last J-Term class than I did throughout my undergraduate studies at Northwestern and graduate studies at DePaul! (Thanks Prof. Sawyer!)
But since this first year, part-time, MDiv student, born and reared on the south side of Chicago, has been asked for my thoughts on such a complex subject, here goes . . .
Black history is.
Native American history is.
Asian history is.
Hispanic history is.
Every contributor’s history to our country is.
It just is. I don’t mean to over-simplify, or sound flippant, on the contrary, the fact that everyone’s history is... is what makes it all so RELEVANT and fascinating. However, my questions don’t involve “What” as much as “Why”? Black History is so present, “WHY” in 2022 is it still being treated as an enigma?
I’ll start with the facts: Black History Month developed out of the celebration of “National Negro History Week”, initiated by noted historian Carter G. Woodson and Rev. Jesse E. Moorland in 1926. The 2nd week in February was selected to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). In 1976, with the U.S. Presidential recognition of Gerald Ford, along with month-long celebrations, February was officially designated as “Black History Month” (other countries including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.) So those are the most surface facts of “WHY” we have a Black History Month to celebrate.
Here’s the enigma for me: As expensive as education is today (no matter where you attend), “WHY” is Black History treated as if it is unworthy of the tuition and taxes we’ve paid to become educated? “WHY” did my daughter’s 6th grade teacher spend 4 weeks teaching the Civil War and believed she could “sum up” 400 years of Slavery in 3 days and 1 brief homework assignment? “WHY” aren’t more NON-Black Americans asked what Black History Month means to them? You may ask, “WHY” do we need to ask Non-Black Americans what Black History Month means to them?
Simple. It is NOT Black Americans actively blocking our Black History and Heritage from becoming common knowledge. It is NOT Black Americans encouraging and participating in present day censorship of America’s history. It is not the Black community banning Black and non-Black Authors of truth-filled, historically accurate, books about our great nation’s development from being accessible in Public Libraries that ALL our taxes have paid to create. “WHY” is it perfectly acceptable for me to be asked ““WHY” am I NOT wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day, but absurd to ask a Non-Black American "WHY” aren’t they wearing colors that represent our Black Heritage on any day in February? “WHY” are we watching “Jim Crow 2.0” strengthen as we sit like Crabs in a pot, as if unaware of the ever increasing water temperature that is boiling away our blood stained voting rights?
So, last one… “WHY” are we still struggling in 2022 to have Black, Native American, Asian, Hispanic, EVERY contributor to American History taught with mainstream history in all school systems across the United States? “WHY” is there not a federal mandate? “WHY” are tax dollars collected to fund public education that is incomplete with our histories? Why? Why? Why? The question isn’t “What” does Black History mean to me - a Black American. The question I’d like answered is, “What does ACCURATE History MEAN to America and “WHY” are some, to this day, trying to abolish it?” And What are we TOGETHER going to do about it?
Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash
