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Is Black History Month Still Needed?

admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 07:03:47 +0000

The month of February is synonymous with Black History. During this time period we will see countless commercials embedded with Martin Luther King Jr. quotes and photos of legendary African-American athletes and African-American “firsts” such as Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. While it is always good to see the images of great black Americans, it also makes me wonder if this 28 day celebration of African-American culture is needed. As Morgan Freeman once said, “Why must the history of my people be delegated to one month?” As our population continues to become more diverse in nature and we celebrate the differences in American culture, the question must be raised. Is there still a need for Black History Month?

Dr. Carter G. Woodson is the originator of Black History Week. This gentleman is responsible for brining the history of African-American’s to the national forefront. As this celebration grew from a week into a month, some wondered when this month would eventually grow and become a permanent stitch of the fabric of American history. The textbooks that our children are taught out of often have only a chapter or two in reference to the history of these great Americans. Far too many citizens of this nation are unaware of the contributions that black people have made to the United States, African-Americans included. Simply knowing the history of African-American “rock stars” like Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, Malcolm X, and Jessie Owens is not enough to warrant knowing the entire history of black culture.

We are often fed the timeless video of MLK (Martin Luther King) giving his “I have a dream speech” during the march on Washington as a catalyst to ring in the celebration of our illustrious history. Reasons like this are why this month is still needed. While my love and admiration for the great Dr. are rooted in his struggle and love for this own people, he is not the only representation that we have for black history. The Reverend Joseph Lowery of Atlanta is a prolific speaker and was an ambitious foot soldier during the turbulent times of the Civil Rights movement. He is credited with being a co-founder of the historic Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Jr. His work along with that of Ralph David Abernathy, Medgar Evers, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Bayard Rustin are why African-Americans have a solid footing in American culture today. Too many Americans are unaware of their sacrifices, let alone names, to realize the impact they have on American society. These reasons alone are why Black History Month is still required.

The 2008 Presidential race serves as mirror of today’s American society. 40 years ago when Reverend King was assassinated the thought of having a female and an African-American run for President was far fetched and un-attainable. This very moment is what Dr. King fought for, equality. If the past is any indication as to where our society is headed, we have a bright and hazy future to look forward to.

Poll most Americans concerning the matter of Black History and the majority of them are able to give validity as to why Black History month is no longer needed. The greater part of our population is full aware of the contributions that black people have made to American culture. From hip-hop music, to sports, education, finance and politics, African-Americans have all played an essential role in each field. This information is slowly being integrated into American history books and historian text. While African-Americans still struggle to make headway in certain industries, it’s tough to ignore the contributions that black people have made to American culture. In an era with 24 hour news stations and information that can be accessed via the internet at any time of the day, one has no excuse to avoid the history of African-Americans.

Removing the tag of Black History Month from February may be a bit premature. There is still work that needs to be done to integrate African-American History into American History via textbooks and any other information source. Still the argument holds true merit. Once the day arrives where we are truly able to say the month is no longer needed because the subject is discussed in the same breath as American history, we will all be able to celebrate as one voice with one tone.

-JH

Importance of History in our life

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:11:21 +0000

When the working day is over and you have spare time to sit in the living room in front of the TV with a cup of hot chocolate, we think about the events that happen during the day and the things that we didnâ€™t manage to do. We may regret or file genuine happiness and satisfaction, but everything we do is in the past, its history. Nobody will reject the fact that history is one of the most important out of the other disciplines. To know other subjects we are supposed to learn history and use it to our profit and prosperity. History gives us the â€œtodayâ€, by which we mean all the things we use to make our lives easier and more comfortable. History is not only a college book or an article or a news paper published three hundred years ago, it is every single thing that weâ€™ve experienced, our own history, united with others. The beginning of the history comes not only from the first record of human existence but from the first trace, a footprint of a first creature with abstract thinking.

We pose ourselves with questions daily. Where do we come from? What are we destined to do? What are me and the surrounding? These questions may sound very philosophical and practically useless, but still sometimes we lye sleepless in bed thinking about what awaits you next day. If to take a closer look at the events that we consider history, we may find these answers easily. There is a hypothesis about things running in the circle. Old things return to change something new. Here we even can apply a proverb â€œSomething new is fairly forgotten oldâ€. I think it is also the reason for us to learn history and to predict, or at least try, the future and your role in it. When do people usually start to learn history? Not out of the first history book of course. The learning process starts when you hear the world famous â€œonce upon a timeâ€ from your granny or father. This is the history of your family, you are to know perfectly well and understand the importance of knowing it.

At school and at the university you learn history, weather you like it or not. Some of us become excited and read piles and piles of history books and usually get best results in writing history essays. Some consider this to be nonsense, used only to waist our time. But what is the way your outlook and your ideology were formed? According to the common sense, out of history. It is the biggest treasure of ours and we have to value it. We take lessons from famous scientists and technicians that lived even hundreds of years before our grandparents were born. Their lives are like a history essay, short revision of a nice old story. We use their experience and their inventions daily, even every hour. It is very important for us to show respect to those who left us priceless works that we enjoy every day, watching plays in theatres and reading books. We donâ€™t want to be ungrateful for we are also to leave a trace in history. What kind of trace, will depend on our attitude towards what we do and the knowledge of history, the inheritage we are to pass to our posterities.

Who are History Makers?

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:33:09 +0000

A question arises: why have monarchs, generals and the members of upper class acquired celebrity in history? The answer is so simple that as they had dominance and wealth, they engaged historians to note down the history according to their will. Otherwise, the truth is that at their own they could not have contributed much to the process. There are toiling efforts of common people behind them who ended them seem great.

A critical analysis of history reveals the contributions of men who are projected as makers of history. Women are generally overlooked and they have no imposing place in history. Typically they seem to be missing from the process of history for the reason that their role and contribution are not recognized. If we go into fathom, we find that even today women engage themselves in field, cater to animals, keep themselves busy in household duties and look after children.

Since women remain involve in such occupations that’s why the male population gets the time to engross it in social, cultural, political and economic affairs. But now there is also feminist history, in which women are describing their own history. The main purpose of writing of this history is to demostrate their achievements and proves that they have equivalent share in building the history of human race.

A new trend has been setting up as the historians are trying to present history in an interesting and fascinating fashion. They assert and argue that nothing is afar history and they could write history of everything. This is the reason that today they are writing the history of perfumes, tears, fury, flattery etc…you name it. They are also exploring the goods of our daily use.

Historians are putting our intentions to very attractive research by pointing out how scientific inventions have changed our lifestyle. For example, take the simple wrist watch and examine how it regulates our routine life. It makes us time-conscious. We always watch it before doing anything. In a particular manner our all moments are enrolled by time. Not only things but whatever is surrounding us has a history. In the locality where we live, in the market where we go for shopping, and the family we belong to, all have interesting history to be traced in black and white.

The modern historian is also studying the impact of things on our everyday life. For example, how telephone and the cell phone, broadcasting, small screen and computer have changed our manners and routine. No doubt it’s an appealing theme which has need of further research.

Wars have the most dominant place in history. Record of human history is full of battles. Those who remained triumphant in battles are regarded as glorified and their achievements are vastly eulogized. However, hardly ever domino effects of a war are analyzed. For instance, questions stay behind such as what happened to their families of those exterminated in the combat zone. There is no detail in history about those who became war captive and afterward slaves. Also we find no printed material about their mind-set after loosing their independence.

Human race has badly effected by the demolition of wars. These are the wars which not only destroy rural community and municipality but also divest the bliss and pleasure of people. Conversely, in peace time, they enjoy life, sing songs, dance and remain fit in communal and financial activities. This serene life changes when war occurs. At the end of the day it eventuates in a trial of regret and adversity. For that reason, we must criticize those so-called vanquishers who wrought destruction and melancholy on the people to attain their greatness.

The rule of history is that it is not right to trace the events only. It is equally indispensable to evaluate and consider the causes in the wake of the events. Similarly the study of impacts of events on the lives of people is also necessary. For example, it is not a suitable way to illustrate a war involving two powers. Causes of the conflict and later on effects of war must be discussed. Therefore, by knowing these causes, we could be aware of the process of history and discover a message from it because history is an early warning system.