What’s Good World?
I’d be remissed if I didn’t recognize Black History Month with a post…so here it is! You know there’s actually a ton of opposition to the idea of having a “Black History Month” within the African American community, which is a perspective that I don’t really understand. M-1 from Dead Prez put it like this:
“I think the concept of Black History Month is insulting and offensive to all people of African descent. It seems like a measly, meaningless offer from the parasitic and capitalistic system that has amassed an empire of wealth from our worldwide community. Instead of offering us 28 days in February, we should be awarded reparations as this so-called Black History Month doesn’t include any agenda to lift oppression from Black life i.e. war on drugs, taxes, awful healthcare conditions, and economic disparity. Further, the actual name of this ’sacred’ month is damaging propaganda in [and] of itself.”
I’ve got two issues with M-1’s statement; first, with the idea of getting rid of BHM all together and second (and most vehemently) with his support of reparations. You know I’m all for revolutionary and radical ideas when it comes to race relations in America…but where does it stop? I mean, would you rather NOT have a Black History Month in which the nation focuses more on African American stories of trials, tribulations and perserverance? OK, does Black History Month have the historical context and validity that it probably should have? NO! But as opposed to complaining about the referee’s calls, learn to play within the rules of the game….
My second issue with M’s quote is…how can you see BHM as a slap in the face to the struggle and progress of the Black community and NOT see raparations as an even more blatant attack?!?!?!? Let’s talk this one out. OK, best case scenario for reparations: each person of African American descent (what about mixed people?) is awarded a couple thou and some land….but any cognitive Black American knows that most of us will spend the money on tv’s or cars and the grass won’t be cut on the little peice of land we do get! To ignore the social, economic and psychological issues that trickled down from slavery and simply ask for $3 or $4 is….well, it’s just like a Black person. Forget the understanding and pass the bling! Boy I tell ya…
What do you think? Is Black History Month in and of itself enough (whatever ”enough” means LOL) ? And someone please, please, PLEASE explain to me the logic behind reparations (essentially getting paid to not “complain” about slavery anymore)…
>>TCS
[...] >> The Utility of Black History Month… [...]
i think m-1’s point is more about the fact that having a black history month necessarily makes the history and issues african americans face separate from present-day reality. it either becomes about romanticizing, mourning, or dreaming…but, what about really understanding our history and cultures and working to make a change? as a public school teacher, i’ve found that this separation results in whole generations not knowing anything about ‘black history’ other than notable civil rights figures…there’s no connection made of ‘blacks’ (american or others) to the sciences, literature, math, government, etc. clearly, the only meaningful, scientific, and/or civilized contributions to these disciplines have only come from caucasians and asians. it’s really like being beaten…or ignored…all year, then hugged all month and expected to go out and leap mountains. it’s actually kinda schizophrenic.
on a side note: if it’s only one tragedy that should be apparent, it’s that black history month has effectively contributed to “black” becoming synonymous with african-american. you’d be hard pressed to find any connection being made to our histories before the transatlantic slave trade or the retentions in religious practices (and not just in christianity), culture, world view, etc. that still persist these centuries later here and abroad in the diaspora. one thing i really hate about black history month is that for all of its celebration ofpopular images of african-americanness, it simultaneously distinguishes us as unrelated, disconnected, and unconcerned about our aunties, uncles, great-great-greats, and cousins abroad…
if it sounds like i’m anti-black history month, i’m not. i don’t feel either way about it. but, your post got me thinking and writing, so…
…regarding reparations, i’ll say the people and organizations actually doing the work to call for reparations are not just asking for money to be given to people; that’s a popular, sensational lie that obscures the real issue. to be honest, i think the reparations movement is still questioning the “how”, but is researching and working from a belief that a comprehensive agenda – funded by fruits of slave labor – be designed by and for descendants of slavery, the vast majority of which are being miseducated by the public school system as they enter the pipeline of the prison industrial complex, while whole families and communities are destroyed in the process.
damn. this started as a comment and turned into a post. i’m surprised there’s no word limit on this thing…lol.
BIG UPS to my homegirl nite*vision for stopping thru and doing her thing…I just noticed the “black books” jumpoff you’ve got going on…niiiiice.
…well, I know you said you’re not anti-BHM, but it sure sounded like it LOL. I don’t know, I guess I just think that people try to make too much out of BHM. It’s a month. Focus on Black History. Remember the sacrifices made….end of story…but that’s just me. With that being said, most folks are ignorant to the historical background that created Black America…but in solving that problem, I have to start with pointing the finger at myself. I should be doing more to educate the youth as to African History and African-American roots (as a fellow public high school educator…BIG UPS AGAIN nite*vision LOL).
Lastly, I told my friend this last night, and he disagreed…but you know me, I’m gonna post it anyway (*clears throat* ahem ahem):
REPARATIONS WOULD BE MORE DETRIMENTAL TO AFRICAN AMERICANS THAN SLAVERY EVER WAS!
I mean just think of the mentality it supports (bartering goods for history) and imagine the stipulations (”now that we gave you this lil money/land/WHATEVER, we don’t want to hear that slavery is the reason behind your poor test scores, low achievement rates and overall hood mentality”)…
…but that’s a post for a different day
>>TCS
I’m going to have to agree with the assertion that reparations are detrimental. If we are entitled to it, will we also be collecting from the African tribes who also sold our ancestors into slavery?
ur only reason for believing that some african “tribes” (And i hate that name, cause more than tribes, africa was full of great empires like the Mali Empire in the west) sold our ancesters into slavery is what you were told by white historians all ur life. Do you know that many black historians today are just not buying that anymore ? School yourself out of the white system !
@ John: Honestly, I can definitely see rival Black empires/nations selling captured enemies to slave traders. Is it that you don’t think that Blacks ever sold other Blacks to slave traders or that it wasn’t as prominent as it’s made out to be?
@ TCS: Obviously John thinks blacks are a moral superior who would never sell their own kind into slavery. Hmm, what’s the quickest way of generating a quick buck. Well how about selling my enemy into slavery. It’s even been shown, throughout history, that even whites sold their own kind into slavery. Any black historian who would suggest that blacks didn’t sell their own kind into slavery is seriously misguided or is naive when it comes to human nature at that time.
[...] Sun recently sparked an interesting and lively discussion about Black History Month called “The Utility of Black History Month.” His original post included a quote from M-1 denigrating the month and ended questioning the [...]