The Daily Rant: It’s Black History Month Again

Mychal-Massie.Com
January 28, 2012

February marks the beginning of black history month. Even though we have a black man and woman occupying the highest office in the world, lurid complaints of inequality are the norm when it comes to race. Blacks are quick to point out that Obama and wife are down with the struggle, and that the justified criticism of them is unfair and prima facie evidence of the deep seated racism in America today. Of course, omitted in this mantra is the fact that blacks were not singularly responsible for electing Obama. Omitted is the fact that it took a lot of white votes for him to be elected.


Also omitted in the complaint, is the fact that while Obama and wife play to the image of sticking it to the white man, their policies have specifically contributed mightily to the degradation of the black family. Many blacks, may live vicariously through the Obama’s and black celebrities, but at the end of the day, that does not translate into solving what is admittedly a problem.

To that end, in February 2005, I wrote the following syndicated piece – that despite massive amounts of money and blame, remains as true today as it did then. The true contagium for said inequality, such as it exists, is not racism – is the refusal to recognize and address the real problem. That said, the following while directed at black families, is just as imperative for the families of all children.

TEACH SCIENCE, MATH, ENGLISH TO BLACK CHILDREN:

Why should we not question the value of Black History Month as such? Why should we not study the true value of a month dedicated to teaching measured snippets of the past, when the children of the present go uneducated?

I am not opposed to the teaching of black history. I am opposed, however, to the charade Black History Month has become. American black history is not dashikis and pan Africanism – nor is it Arthur Haley’s mythical account known as “Roots.”

Black History Month’s goal – properly taught as originally intended – was to teach factual history with the inclusion of blacks who contributed to same. One could also make the case that we need a Shakespeare month, a Mark Twain month, a Founding Father’s month and a history of war month to compensate for the fraudulent revisionist exclusionary teachings in most public-school classrooms today, but I digress.


Black History was initiated (as Black History Week) as a method of inclusion. Today, it has become a tool to further self-imposed separation and exclusion. But again, I digress.

Black children in disturbingly large numbers are receiving an inferior education. And while it is easy to blame everyone from the president down – ultimately the fault lies with the parents, children and academic culture of the National Education Association.

It is more important children are able to spell the names of Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Dubois and Malcolm X (albeit I personally consider these least worthy of recognition) than it is for them to simply hear about same. It is important they can recognize those names on the printed page, which means it is more important they can read.

I know I am treading on the holy grail of “blackdom,” but it is time we view things in their proper perspective.

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