February is Black History Month. It has been Black History Month for decades now. In school and in the media we spend time discussing and celebrating the contributions of African Americans to the Americans society. It may come as a shock to some of you that the idea of Black History Month is not inspiring, but insulting. It is ridiculous and unnecessary.
Below is a video clip from Morgan Freeman explaining why he feels the month is ridiculous.
There are a number of African Americans that agree and disagree with his opinion. Regardless, he does bring up interesting points. Black history is American history and if we ever hope to truly reach a society in which race does not matter, should we still be separating Black history from the rest of history?
That being said, without Black History Month, how much would we know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or Rosa Parks? By dedicating a month to the contributions of African Americans, teachers and students discuss and commemorate the lives of people who have greatly shaped the fabric of American culture. Without this focus, we may miss the opportunity to the educate ourselves on these great Americans.
There are others who criticize not so much the idea of Black History Month, but the fact that it has been boiled down to the contributions of a limited number of African Americans. Black History Month has evolved into discussing the lives and times of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglas. While these individuals have greatly influenced our present day society, there are so many others whose addition to our world needs to be recognized.
Below is another video questioning the need for Black History Month.
After watching the videos, what do you think about Black History Month and have your thoughts changed? Is this something that we should continue in society? Do we need to expand or modify the way in which we commemorate the Black Americans?
After watching the videos my thoughts have changed. I think that Black History is the same as american history and should not be shortened down to a month. I do not think it should continue on in society because if we want racism to stop then we need to be educated but also not have it always be brought up. I think we do need to expand on the way we celebrate this instead of a month lets just do it all the time because it is a part of american history not just black history.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the videos, my thoughts have changed. Morgan Freeman does prove a good point about how to get rid of racism is to stop talking about it. I do not think we should keep this in our society because if we want to stop racism we need to stop talking about it, and having a month about it is only increasing some racist thoughts because some people agree on black people being just as equal as white people and others don't. We do need to expand on the celebration of black americans because every year its the same story about the same person and their lives. Black americans want something different than just the same thing every year. I would Black history is the same as american history and it shouldn't be shortened down to a month.
ReplyDeleteI think that there are two ways to approach this. We can either celebrate it every year, and that means that we recognize that we had a bad past and will never allow it to happen again. Or, we can forget about it and have lives where racism doesn't exist. I think that everyone would like to live a life where racism doesn't exist, but that just isn't possible. Even if people don't talk about it, some people will always be thinking it, and eventually we'll go back to the way we were. So instead we recognize the problem and make sure that it doesn't happen. Maybe there is a different alternative instead of a dedicated month, such as a monument/memorial site or a statue.
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DeleteAfter watching the videos, my thoughts have changed. I think that Black History is the same as american history and should not be shortened down to a month. I do not think we should keep this in our society because if we want to stop racism we need to stop talking about it, and having a month about it is only increasing some racist thoughts because some people agree on black people being just as equal as white people and others don't. So instead we recognize the problem and make sure that it doesn't happen. Maybe there is a different alternative instead of a dedicated month. Thx Mr.Grant
ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought that Black History Month was a great idea to learn about and remember African-American heroes such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. But after seeing it at a different perspective, I'm thinking now that there shouldn't be a month for Black History. Students should be taught about Black History in Social Studies, just like the American Revolution or Civil War. Americans should treat Black History as a series of events in our American history that we learn about in our textbooks and from our teachers. Instead of reading continuously about African-American leaders that we already know, we should learn about more African-American role models from back then, because I know that there are many.
ReplyDeleteThere are pros and cons to both sides. With not having a month it eliminates more discrimination. While having it you make sure that this discrimination will not happen again but still discriminates a little bit in the process. The con to not having it is history will repeat itself. I think we should continue as the positives outweigh the negatives. As horrible as the discrimination was we don't want another incident like it. Think as if you were doing everything you do for the future. It will save a lot of suffering for the next generations. We may need to learn about more of why how when did these black characters did what they did instead of just who they were. We need to delve deeper and scrutinize them more
ReplyDeleteI believe I explained it in my first blog about how discriminating it is and how it brings us back to the original problem. Morgan said black history month is not only their history but it's American history. I know that I wouldn't want a month where thats dedicated to Lebanese people (I am Lebanese). I believe that it should be removed or re-named to American month. No because if we want to get rid of racism or discrimination then this is where to start. Instead all we do is celebrate it more and more, not even giving it a second thought.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts about Black History Month have changed. Morgan Freeman makes a good point. Black history is also American history, and shouldn't be just a month long. After that month, people rarely bring it up again. Society should continue to realize that blacks have done something to affect our history, but it wasn't just them. As for expanding or modifying the way we celebrate blacks, I think we should modify it. If most blacks don't feel as if Black History Month is needed or wanted, then it should be modified. If the people who the month is celebrating aren't happy with it, then what is the point of having that special month?
ReplyDeleteYes my thoughts have changed. I have ever thought about it that way. I agree Black history is apart of our history. We don't have a Jewish history month, white history month, or anything else like that. Black history is American history also along with Jewish history and white history. Society should remember all those people that have formed American history, but we shouldn't have a month I don't think because Black history month should be woven in with America history because it is American history. If black people don't like it then I don't think that we should have it. I think we should just keep them in our school teachings.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts have changed I think that black history should be incorporate into our american history because blacks have done just as much as we have for this country.
ReplyDeleteThis month should be way longer then a month because all the history of blacks can,t be shortend down to one little month it takes 13 years to learn about america history and we are mostly learning about blacks so the month should be longer.
Yes my thoughts have changed and I do think Black history month should be a piece of american history and I feel very strongly about it also. In my own opinion no defiantly no. Yes we need to see every one as the same no matter what.
ReplyDeleteHow do you say "my bubble has been burst!" I never thought of it that way Mr. Grant! I like Black History Month because I think without it there would be really only a few occasions where the majority of Americans are reminded of the contributions to our society blacks have made. I think that racism will be around for years to come thanks to the stubbornness of the human race, and I don't know if taking away a month dedicated to the greatness of men and women across America would help or hurt. I do know that when I was younger Black History Month was always the time in school when I was educated on the famous stories of MLK, Jackie Robinson. Ruby Bridges, and Rosa Parks. Maybe branching out a little to others with amazing and inspiring stories, because I know there has to be many more. Over all though, I think this month has some positive effects on our communities in helping to remind us of ALL America's history during the struggling time period of the Civil Rights Movement.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the videos my thoughts have changed about Black History Month. I have never thought of it like that. I think that it should not be modified though except for the fact that not just blacks should be noticed. What about all the other races.
ReplyDeleteI used to think Black History Month was really cool and that is good that we take time to remember these people. After seeing the videos though, I think we shouldn't just focus on those few people and expand it to all year round. We shouldn't just focus on black history for a month, but every single day. Because like he said, it's not BLACK history. It's AMERICAN history. people shouldn't separate them from regular Americans. They are regular Americans.
ReplyDeleteI think that Black History Month is a great opportunity to understand the struggles the Africans American had to go through. Yes, because ti shows us that we have to be empathetic tword people who struggle in hard situations. I think we should expand our understanding of the history of our fellow Americans.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Morgan Freeman; Black history is American history. We should remember it always. We should discuss it the whole year round! Black History Month should not just be a month long! My thoughts have defiantly changed about Black History Month. Before I was sort of neutral with the whole idea of Black History being only a month long, but now I think that one month is just not long enough. And we do just talk about the same people all the time every year. I think we should expand how long we celebrate Black History and celebrate more people rather than just MLK and Rosa Parks. Yes, we should still talk about them, but not just them.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts have changed. Black history month is a part of our American history. Just like every other major event has. I think that both people have a good point, if wen want to end racism, stop talking about it. If we are going to reserve a whole month for blacks, we should just put it in with all the other events around the year. We should just get rid of BHM all together and celebrate all year, while not worrying about racism.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the videos my thoughts have changed. After watching Morgan Freeman my thoughts have changed. Especially when he talked about stop talking about racism. Why cant Black History Month be every month. We should remember Martin Luther King J and Rosa Parks every month not just one month. When Morgan Freeman said "Ill stop calling you a white man and you wont call me a black man." That makes since because if we just hold on to racism then it will never go away and if we celebrate Black History Month, it shouldn't be a month. it should be all year round. If we have a Black History Month then why don't we have a Jewish History month or a White History month. Why cant it just be everyday or all year people think of amazing things people have done for us. Both blacks, whites, Jewish, etc.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching both of the videos my thoughts have changed. I think that we should not continue Black History Month because after that one month of recognition we don't recognize them year around which we should do. I think we have to expand the celebration year around and not just one month.
ReplyDeleteAfter viewing both of the videos My thoughts defiantly changed. I think it should be stopped because if there is only a month of black people being treated right then the rest of the the year they can be treated not as equally. If we expand our month into every year then we wouldn't have to have a black history month.
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ReplyDeleteAfter watching the videos, my thoughts have changed. Morgan Freeman has a good point. To get rid of racism you just have to stop talking about it. I do not think we should keep this in our society because if we want to stop racism we need to stop talking about it, and having a month about it is only increasing some racist thoughts because some people agree on black people being just as equal as white people and others don't. We do need to expand on the celebration of black americans because every year its the same story about the same person and their lives. Black americans want something different than just the same thing every year. Black history is the same as american history and it shouldn't be shortened down to a month. Students should be taught about Black History in Social Studies, just like the American Revolution or Civil War. Americans should treat Black History as a series of events in our American history that we learn about in our textbooks and from our teachers. Instead of reading continuously about African-American leaders that we already know, we should learn about more African-American role models from back then, because I know that there are many.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching these videos I have two different point of views. I think that Black History month is important in the way that it educated people about who black people really are. I do not like that it is based around just a few people though. I do not agree with Morgan Freeman about saying that by not talking about racism that it will stop. I do agree with him however that Black History month is American History. I think that instead of just one month contributed to blacks we should just think about them all the time.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching these videos, I am starting to question if we should have Black History Month. Personally, I think Black History Month should not be centered around the major figures that have made a change including Dr. Martin L King, Rosa parks, and others. It should include everyone. I think the changes we need to make in our society is to not have a Black History Month because if we want to end racism, we shouldn't have a month to remind ourselves about it. People have different opinions and may think Black History Month should be part in our everyday lives. People need to be educated about Black Americans. We should modify the way we celebrate Black History month. Since its American history, we should be educated about it all the time.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching this video, my thoughts on Black History Month have defiantly changed. Morgan Freeman said something that really made me think about Black History Month. He said that the only way to get rid of racism was to stop talking about it. He made a great point about it. The man interviewing Mr. Freeman stated that he was Jewish. Morgan Freeman asked him if he wanted a Jewish History Month. The interviewer told him no. He makes a great point that he and many other African-Americans feel. He says that they don't want a month dedicated to them. Morgan Freeman says that it is not Black history but American history. I don't think that we should continue this month in our society. We should commemorate the Black Americans but maybe in a different way.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching these videos, I am starting to really thunk about what the black people went through because of the U.S people. I think that they deserve more than just a month and should be recognized for more than just the same people over and over the same names come up. We should be respectful and appreciate the life we are able to live in.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching both of the videos, My thoughts on Black History Month really changed. One of the things that really stood out to me was that Morgan Freeman said that in order to fix the problem with racism that we need to stop thinking and talking about it. This stood out to me because it makes sense that we need to stop focusing our attention on the differences and maybe we need to start thinking about the similarities and what we have in common with eachother. i dont think we should continue this month in history. We should still commemorate the Black Americans but in a complete different way.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the videos, my thoughts have changed a little. I don’t think we should limit remembering some amazing people who were black to just a month. We should remember all the people who have done amazing things year round; whether they are black or white. I also like Black History Month, because we kind of owe it to them. We enslaved them, and separated them from us like they were animals. One thing I don’t like about Black History Month is that we focus on a specific group of blacks that have done amazing things, but there are so many others that have changed our world. I don’t really know if there should be a Black History Month. On one side we owe it to them, on the other side, their history is American history. I think we need to modify the way we commemorate the blacks that have done amazing things. We need to learn about blacks who have done amazing things all the time, not in a limited time period.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching these videos my thoughts have changed. I think that Black History Month is a time that we should reflect and remember what it took for African- Americans to achieve freedom, not just a month where we recognize African- Americans. I don't think that we should think of it just as representing one race for a month; I think that we should just remember how hard it was for African- Americans to get where they are today. I think that we should commemorate African-Americans, but I think that if we do set aside a month for them, that we remember all African- Americans and their journey to freedom.
ReplyDeleteI think that only one month is pathetic. That means that African-Americans get one month of respect! Great!! Not really... Because if you want to educate the people to learn to treat people as equals, then you need to celebrate it all year around. Also, the video kind of change the way I think of it. Morgan freeman is a great actor and I respect him so much, so I think that since him being who he is, he had an advantage and a bigger impact also because he is African-American.
ReplyDeleteI think Black History Month is good because were repaying the African Americans. The videos didn't change my thoughts because that's someone else's opinions. But I can't say that I didn't think harder about it. I think we should keep this holiday in our society. We absolutely need to modify how we commemorate the Black Americans. I think this because we always seem to pick the same people every time and there are so many more African Americans than just 3.
ReplyDeleteI think black history month is a little over the top, I think if it was like black history week instead of month things would be a lot better. Because of black history month blacks are not forgotten because without it it would just fade away and turn into "US history". Every month is pretty much like white history month in the United States, I think its fine for blacks to have a month for everyone to learn about and remember the famous blacks that changed our world. What those celebrities said don't influence me to say that this month is wrong but it definitely makes me think about if a month for the history of blacks is over the top.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the videos my thoughts have changed about black history month. I think it should be thought about all year round instead of a month. I think it is as important as american history and that we should acknowledge it more. Blacks worked as hard as Americans to obtain freedom. I think it should be acknowledged individually not as a community.
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