My fellow Americans of all colors and creeds, this proposal will offend some and comfort others. It is offered in the spirit of fulfilling the pledge, E Pluribus Unum: " Out of Many One.
I propose we rename the annual February observance known as Black History Month. My suggestion is, " American History Month. "
Historian Dr Carter G Woodson founded its precursor, Negro History Week in 1926, at the height of open racism against American Blacks.
It was unquestioned we were written out of American history and what was said wasn't very flattering. The observance evolved into a month-long intensive on our contributions to this country and humanity.
Generations of heroic sacrifice by ourselves and allied Americans has reloaded the nation today, where we are more informed about ourselves than at any time.
I propose we take this February observance and make it an exploration of how we've upgraded from outcasts to citizenship.
Black History Month partisans will obviously howl heresy!
They'll say removing its ethnic focus robs us of precious self-knowledge yet again.
I counter if we cannot present ourselves as Americans finally, then all legal enfranchisement effort was in vain.
The idea of a Black History Month in a post-segregation America smacks of separatism to a population made to bear the burden of past racism.
Renaming Black History Month would be the final olive branch needed to end a racial cold war between American Blacks and Whites, which must end if America to bury large scale racism forever.
American History Month wouldn't whitewash the Black presence in America.
It would welcome the American presence of Blacks as finally part of her body politic- not as ironically self-imposed outcasts a generation after full enfranchisement.
How does this sound throughout February 2013:
" Happy American History Month! "
Just a thought from your Americentric brother!
Cap Black, The Hood Conservative, says,
“ Happy American History Month! "
" Be your OWN Superhero!"
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