We Don't Need Black History Month Anymore?

As an African-American male teacher, February always rings in with a controversial subject. Why do we have Black History Month and do we still need it? Whenever someone asks me why, I immediately offer the standard answer we have been hearing for decades. Black History Month is needed because history has traditionally been taught from a eurocentric perspective. This means that, with the exception of a few prominent minority moments in history, the story is told by white people, about white people and for white people. As the years wear on, this has changed and gotten better, but we still have a ways to go.

For example, our new president has been in the news twice this week for comments directly related to black history. First, his press secretary, Sean Spicer stood up in front of the press and announced President Trump showed his commitment to civil rights by meeting with "Martin Luther King, Jr." last week. Hello? MLK has been dead for 40 years! That's a conversation I'd love to sit in on. Even after the press corp tried to correct him, Spicer glossed over it like it was nothing.

Next, President Trump was in a "listening session" about Black History Month with several African-Americans this week. During the meeting, Trump began to speak about Frederick Douglas in the present tense as if he's still alive! Then, to add insult to injury, Press Secretary Spicer came to his rescue to "confirm" Douglas's active contributions to Black History. So, we have the President of the United States and his press secretary who have no idea that one of the most important figures in Black History is deceased. The next time you ask whether or not we still need Black History, look to your current administration for the answer. If our leaders have no clue then it's safe to say our children don't either.