I have two children who cannot imagine the world I lived in. When it comes to “Black History Month,” I have to tell it from a pasty white lady’s point of view. So, any offence I may be guilty of during this post is through ignorance, not effort.
February is “Black History Month,” a time to commemorate African-Americans who have changed the world.
Celebrating Black History began in 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard Ph.D., initiated “Negro History Week.” Dr. Woodson, a historian, chose the second week in February because it included the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.. In 1976, the Bicentennial (200th birthday) of the U.S.A., the week-long observance was extended to the entire month of February in order to have enough time for celebratory programs and activities. (Lifted from Enchanted Learning.)
I was a child during the civil rights movement. I remember an adult in my life saying that ‘colored people step off the sidewalk and into the street when a white person passes.’ I remember the minister of the First Methodist Church asking parishioners if a negro family could attend services. Since we didn’t go out much, I never actually saw the water fountains and segregated lunch counters.
By the time I began Junior High School, we could boast of having some color in our classrooms.
I prefer to use the term black but also have to admit that for the most part, I am color-blind. I really don’t notice skin color, unless a person is black, black and I mean no offense by this comment, I truly like the beauty of very dark skin.
My children can comprehend slavery, but the idea of people using separate bathrooms and stepping off for white folks is a bit beyond their imaginations. I hope they never have to witness such behavior.
I have trouble with the change to African American because, like most of us pasty white women, I think more richly complexioned people have solid roots in America for many generations. I don’t describe myself as European, with family from Ireland and Wales who came over in the 1800s and mixed with some Native Americans.
I am Human First and am known to check the box called other as I write in the word Human in the Race Category. I wish we could all be human but History cannot and should not be ignored.
So, like I said at the start, if I said anything that that might be ignorant, then it probably is ignorant. I wish everyone a great African American History Month and in June I’ll post about the History of Americans with Disabilities and the Act of 1990, another civil rights act. Oh, be certain I’ll tackle Hate Crimes and Gay Rights in the future, too.
Be well, everyone and comments are welcome if you keep them kind.