NationStates Jolt Archive

Yep. Kids in schools all over the US are learning about how George Washington Carver invented the peanut, about the Tuskegee Airmen flying into battle against white Europeans, and about Rosa Parks and her seat. Do any other countries have a special (insert race, religion, whatever) history month?

The Office of Wilgrove does not recognize "Black History Month" until all other ethnicity and race have their own month.

Dictated, not read.

I always hated this month, not only did I go to an inner city school where the "kill whitey" thing ramped up this time of year, but they always whined to me about "why did we get the short month?" like my Caucasian status had something to do with everything governmental

Isn’t that October?

...please tell me its not October:eek:

Isn’t that October?

...please tell me its not October:eek:

No. We wouldn't give them the month with Halloween. We gave them the short one.

I remember reading about Shirley Chisholm in second grade.

And hearing about it being the shortest month from the only black Republican I know (he taught geometry, which during the 04 elections became "Dems r stoopid").

Isn’t that October?

...please tell me its not October:eek:

October is "National Hispanic Heritage Awareness" month

The Office of Wilgrove does not recognize "Black History Month" until all other ethnicity and race have their own month.

Dictated, not read.

Agreed!

I do not recognise black history month. After all, blacks have little or no influence on the history of Poland.

The Office of Wilgrove does not recognize "Black History Month" until all other ethnicity and race have their own month.

Dictated, not read.
Stop being a child.

School was fun today. All the black kids held their fists up and cuased a general ruckus in the classrooms with white teachers. When do we get a white history month?

Americans don't teach blacks history throughout the year?

... How profoundly... Silly.

Stop being a child.

Black History month was only created to alleviate the collective "white guilt", nothing else.

School was fun today. All the black kids held their fists up and cuased a general ruckus in the classrooms with white teachers. When do we get a white history month?
We get it the rest of the year.
Americans don't teach blacks history throughout the year?

... How profoundly... Silly.
We do, but in this month we focus on black history more than normal, especially in younger grades.

Americans don't teach blacks history throughout the year?

... How profoundly... Silly.

I always thought it stupid to integrate schools and segregate history.

This is plain discrimination, and I will continue to say so until my ethnicity has their own history month. When they finally introduce something for us Scottish-Irish-English-French-German-Polish-Russian-Mongolian Americans, then I will be happy.

And yes, I am part Mongolian.

October is "National Hispanic Heritage Awareness" month

a month based on burn and plunder economics?

Either way X national group month is a stupid idea that would much better serve as a one day holiday with parties or better yet be based around something everyone can enjoy like international art day :)

Black History month was only created to alleviate the collective "white guilt", nothing else.
It was created to raise awareness for the contributions of blacks to this country. In grade school, I learned a great deal about those contributions and it served to teach me not only that blacks were valuable, but that people of all races, ethnicities and nationalities have the potential to contribute.
It is very effective at stunting racism. I know people whose parents are horribly racist, but they are not primarily because of efforts in schools like Black History month.

Also, I assure you that I have no “white guilt” or any such nonsense. I’ve never done any wrong to any minority simply because he or she was that minority.

Is it really such an imposition on you to accept a program that works towards the greater good?

School was fun today. All the black kids held their fists up and cuased a general ruckus in the classrooms with white teachers. When do we get a white history month?
You have 11.

This is plain discrimination, and I will continue to say so until my ethnicity has their own history month. When they finally introduce something for us Scottish-Irish-English-French-German-Polish-Russian-Mongolian Americans, then I will be happy.

And yes, I am part Mongolian.

I think we should have "Mutt month" it would be fun, we could learn about how ethnicity isn't really all that important.......and we could find homes for stray dogs. :D

although, I do claim my Irish-American heritage no matter how much it pisses off the "real Irish"

I may only be a fraction of........but it's enough for me. :p

You have 11.

why do people say that?

I think we should have "Mutt month" it would be fun, we could learn about how ethnicity isn't really all that important.......and we could find homes for stray dogs. :D


I'll jump in on this if we find homes for stray cats, too. Who also have a tendency towards miscegenation (not that there's anything wrong with that- I'm basically a hybrid.)

We do, but in this month we focus on black history more than normal, especially in younger grades.

as the younger grades would ask why? (after all you are spending a month pointing out that people are different to children who may not of even thought about it)

And yes, I am part Mongolian.

hides Russian steps

You have 11.

do we get anything special like a class on making donuts or learn about all the good white people have done?

why do people say that?

Because its true. History is still very Euro-centric, as far as I'm aware. As is "common wisdom".

It was created to raise awareness for the contributions of blacks to this country. In grade school, I learned a great deal about those contributions and it served to teach me not only that blacks were valuable, but that people of all races, ethnicities and nationalities have the potential to contribute.
It is very effective at stunting racism. I know people whose parents are horribly racist, but they are not primarily because of efforts in schools like Black History month.

Also, I assure you that I have no “white guilt” or any such nonsense. I’ve never done any wrong to any minority simply because he or she was that minority.

Is it really such an imposition on you to accept a program that works towards the greater good?

Tell you what, the day the following groups get their own months. I will recognize black history month.

Whites
Hispanics
Asians
Women
Men
Disabled
Transsexuals
Gays
and
Straight

Tell you what, the day the following groups get their own months. I will recognize black history month.

Whites
Hispanics
Asians
Women
Men
Disabled
Transsexuals
Gays
and
Straight

But I dont need three months to learn about myself.

*guess which for a cookie*

Because its true. History is still very Euro-centric, as far as I'm aware.

It's got an awful lot to do with the fact that for the past three or four centuries the actions of the European powers have defined the international system. Military, economic and until fairly recently political power has been concentrated in the hands of the western and western-like powers. It's been their actions that have mattered for the development of the modern world.

We do, but in this month we focus on black history more than normal, especially in younger grades.So.. When students are taught about the industrial revolution, do you guys call it "Industry Month"? Do you have a "Frankenstein Month" when you read that in English Lit? Or a "Wounded Knee Month" perhaps?

Admit it, it's silly.

Getting a response simply because racism is implied, doesn't mean the response in based in racism. People tend to react when accused, outright or implicitly, of random shit. Then again.. If the aim is to increase racial tensions & promote racism, I suppose this isn't a bad way to go about it... But what do I know. I'm thankfully not American.

Tell you what, the day the following groups get their own months. I will recognize black history month.

Whites
Hispanics
Asians
Women
Men
Disabled
Transsexuals
Gays
and
Straight
That’s unrealistic and you know it. Even if things aren’t perfect, you can still recognize the good that Black History month has done and continues to do.
as the younger grades would ask why? (after all you are spending a month pointing out that people are different to children who may not of even thought about it)
Children have thought about it.

But I dont need three months to learn about myself.

*guess which for a cookie*Disabled And Straight?

In NZ we don't have any ethnic related months that I know of.

I guess it helps that NZ doesn't have natives. Or immigrants taht were treated particularly worse than others, or slaves.

Then again.. If the aim is to increase racial tensions & promote racism...
The aim is to decrease racism, and it works. Living in Texas, I know it works.
I'm thankfully not American.
Lucky you.

Disabled And Straight?

Close enough. And it was four, if you count men/white.

http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/4e2/da1/4e2da1d0-ed58-4d69-87fb-8c5fdd9728ec.large-profile.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Choco_chip_cookie.jpg/275px-Choco_chip_cookie.jpg

I guess it helps that NZ doesn't have natives.
What?
http://www.teara.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/A5089607-E63F-42A2-8B50-CED0CB988319/54209/p1612cmu.jpg

What?
http://www.teara.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/A5089607-E63F-42A2-8B50-CED0CB988319/54209/p1612cmu.jpg

"Māori oral history describes the arrival of the ancestors from Hawaiki by large ocean-going canoes"

They are immigrants, they just got here around 800 AD, a few centuries before anyone else did.

That’s unrealistic and you know it. Even if things aren’t perfect, you can still recognize the good that Black History month has done and continues to do.

yeah just like holocaust day what fun to learn about slavery and how a minority group in the class is owed an apology by everyone because of his skin :rolleyes:

Children have thought about it.

No not really kids are brought into it by culture

yeah just like holocaust day what fun to learn about slavery and how a minority group in the class is owed an apology by everyone because of his skin :rolleyes:
I'm not saying that all. You know that.
No not really kids are brought into it by culture
And in a racist famliy, they've been brought into it long before they started going to school.
"Māori oral history describes the arrival of the ancestors from Hawaiki by large ocean-going canoes"
Everyone not from Africa is an immigrant.
They were the original human inhabitants, and thus native.

Because its true. History is still very Euro-centric, as far as I'm aware. As is "common wisdom".

I don't find history to be "Euro-centric", but then again I am not worried about saving up all the "ethnic" stuff for certain months.

Yep. Kids in schools all over the US are learning about how George Washington Carver invented the peanut, about the Tuskegee Airmen flying into battle against white Europeans, and about Rosa Parks and her seat. Do any other countries have a special (insert race, religion, whatever) history month?

Actually they're not...at most, they're slaving over a ridiculous research project about some fellow with skin a bit darker than theirs...

Everyone not from Africa is an immigrant.
They were the original human inhabitants, and thus native.

There's arguments as to wether they were even the first.

Depending on which Maori you talk to, either they got here on a big ol' boat and made civilisation here, Or they got here on a big ol' boat, and ate everyone who was already here, banishing them to a small island near NZ. Your choice.

I don't see why any sort of group should be singled out for special treatment like this. Black people should be respected as much as White people all year round. Of course, that doesn't happen. :(

If the world was actually fair, there'd be no Black Month, no Gay Month, because no-one would care, it wouldn't make a difference who you are. </emo>

If the world was actually fair, there'd be no Black Month, no Gay Month, because no-one would care, it wouldn't make a difference who you are. </emo>

Yeah, no tight jeans month either. :p

Yeah, no tight jeans month either. :p

Or "Only-Left-Eye-visible month.

a racist famliy, they've been brought into it long before they started going to school.

how many racist families are there? I’ve met one and there children weren’t racist

School was fun today. All the black kids held their fists up and cuased a general ruckus in the classrooms with white teachers. When do we get a white history month?


You aren't "100% oppressed" like the poor black students.

Why do we even have black history month? Are blacks the only ones worth learning about?

You aren't "100% oppressed" like the poor black students.

:p

how many racist families are there? I’ve met one and there children weren’t racist

There are quite a few around here, and as far as I can tell, and some of them admit, the reason they aren’t racist is because of the environment created in schools.

:p

You know Smunkee, if I wasn't at my workstation right now I have some really cool Al-sharpton themed mock-pictures I'd post.

I'm a minority. Where is my month? I demand the streets run red with the blood of white men! Where is my money from the egyptians? Reparations! I DEMAND MONEY! (Hey, gotta pay my baby rabbi's way through seminary somehow). My ancestors were forced into slavery by the egyptians! Government, help me!

Stupid entitlement mentality.:headbang:

My ancestors were forced into slavery by the egyptians! Government, help me!
That’s not historically validated. Not that the rest of your post showed any sort of understanding of the world either.

Seriously people, grow up. It’s for the greater good.

Whoop de doo.

How come we only focus on positive events in Black History?

Why not discuss the first black serial killer? Or how about the blacks who wanted separatism such as Marcus Garvey? I mean, we mention insignificant "first black whatever" in it, why does that always have to be positive? I mean, history has both goods and bads, right?

Black history month makes me sick. Not because I am opposed to blacks, civil rights, etc. I am opposed to making kids feel guilty about something that happened 40+ years ago. I agree that we need to give credit to those americans that helped shape this nation, regardless of skin colour, gender, religion, etc. I see black history month as seperating people instead of bring people together.

Seriously people, grow up. It’s for the greater good.

it didn't do me any good growing up

there were the "entitlement crowd" who used it to pick on the white kids, there were the white kids who used it to be even more racist, and then there were the intelligent people who tried to ignore the whole stupid thing.

Nobody learned anything other than "let's hate each other" and "the whole world is stupid"

How come we only focus on positive events in Black History?

Why not discuss the first black serial killer? Or how about the blacks who wanted separatism such as Marcus Garvey? I mean, we mention insignificant "first black whatever" in it, why does that always have to be positive? I mean, history has both goods and bads, right?
Because being positive about blacks is the point. Reducing racism in children, especially those that have racist home lives, is the most important goal of the program.

it didn't do me any good growing up

there were the "entitlement crowd" who used it to pick on the white kids, there were the white kids who used it to be even more racist, and then there were the intelligent people who tried to ignore the whole stupid thing.

Nobody learned anything other than "let's hate each other" and "the whole world is stupid"
Your school did it wrong then. I know people personally whose school Tolerance programs saved them from a life of bigotry.

Because being positive about blacks is the point. Reducing racism in children, especially those that have racist home lives, is the most important goal of the program.

So it's political, not educational. Gotcha. Kinda defeats the purpose of calling it "history" though, doesn't it?

So it's political, not educational. Gotcha. Kinda defeats the purpose of calling it "history" though, doesn't it?
It needs a catchy name.

Because being positive about blacks is the point. Reducing racism in children, especially those that have racist home lives, is the most important goal of the program.

But by having a program that is based on skin colour, and telling those people to be proud of it, doesn't that only help fuel racism?

But by having a program that is based on skin colour, and telling those people to be proud of it, doesn't that only help fuel racism?
I don’t like the whole racial pride part either, but I think it’s necessary.

It needs a catchy name.

What about Let's Love Black People and Patronize Them Instead of Just Treating Them Normally Month?

What about Let's Love Black People and Patronize Them Instead of Just Treating Them Normally Month?
That's not catchy at all.

What about Let's Love Black People and Patronize Them Instead of Just Treating Them Normally Month?

I like it.


"Oh, whose a good little guy who shares a ethnic group with martin luther king, you are! Yes you are!!!"

That's not catchy at all.

I'm sure we reshape it to rhyme.

But by having a program that is based on skin colour, and telling those people to be proud of it, doesn't that only help fuel racism?

no

no

Tell that to the Nation of Islam.

i dont understand this hostility to black history month.

whats your beef?

do you think that we are doing a good enough job covering black history the rest of the year? do you think that black history month is impeding the integration of black history into the rest of the curriculum? do you think its stupid to study black history at all?

i find it a good way to catch up on some of the more interesting americans that get left out in our war-to-war approach to us history. same with women's history month, native american history month, and hispanic history month.

no


Yes?

i dont understand this hostility to black history month.

whats your beef?

do you think that we are doing a good enough job covering black history the rest of the year? do you think that black history month is impeding the integration of black history into the rest of the curriculum? do you think its stupid to study black history at all?

i find it a good way to catch up on some of the more interesting americans that get left out in our war-to-war approach to us history. same with women's history month, native american history month, and hispanic history month.

Its much more practical to weave it in with the rest of american history.

i dont understand this hostility to black history month.

whats your beef?

do you think that we are doing a good enough job covering black history the rest of the year? do you think that black history month is impeding the integration of black history into the rest of the curriculum? do you think its stupid to study black history at all?

i find it a good way to catch up on some of the more interesting americans that get left out in our war-to-war approach to us history. same with women's history month, native american history month, and hispanic history month.

There aren't enough months to cover all the ethnic groups history. There's Irish, Italian, German, etc. etc. America is a melting pot. We should discuss the change in race relations in America over time, and the major players involved in the reform movements rather than concentrating on "the first black person to do [insert random feat]"

do you think that black history month is impeding the integration of black history into the rest of the curriculum?
yes.

If you want to call BHM what it really is, then just rename it "Black Nationalist Pride Month."

Yes?

my answer was factually true. racism in this country has dramatically decreased precisely because of programs and ideas such as black history month.

or in the words of james brown, "say it loud - we ain't taking your shit any more motherfuckers, learn to deal"

There aren't enough months to cover all the ethnic groups history. There's Irish, Italian, German, etc. etc. America is a melting pot. We should discuss the change in race relations in America over time, and the major players involved in the reform movements rather than concentrating on "the first black person to shake it like a salt shaker"

:)

my answer was factually true. racism in this country has dramatically decreased precisely because of programs and ideas such as black history month.

or in the words of james brown, "say it loud - we ain't taking your shit any more motherfuckers, learn to deal"

would such programs decrease racism against whites if we had a white history month?

I mean, if we took a small section of anti-white blacks, and decide to teach them white history for an entire month, would they lose their racist tendencies?

Its much more practical to weave it in with the rest of american history.

I agree. I don't understand when people say "But we only learn European history in our standard history classes the rest of the year!"
Um, no we don't. I know that in my required world history month, we covered African history, too.
The idea that any part of history needs a seperate month is silly. I know I never thought about seperate races until we were required to do "black history month" in my school.
I never thought any more about it than I thought about hair colour or eye colour. Again, until the people at the school said that there was any significant difference.

my answer was factually true. racism in this country has dramatically decreased precisely because of programs and ideas such as black history month.

or in the words of james brown, "say it loud - we ain't taking your shit any more motherfuckers, learn to deal"

I see it like this..

You have a pimple on your face, what do you? Pick at it until its all red and noticable to everyone? Or let it run its course?

By focusing an entire month on the african americans, we are only bringing attention to the fact that they are black, and that we are showing them special attention because of this fact. By acknowledging that they are special because of their skin color, IMO, plays more into racism.

would such programs decrease racism against whites if we had a white history month?

i'm gonna go out on a limb here and say no. since racism against whites is a reaction against perceived white racism and injustice (as opposed to racism against blacks, which was socially and politically constructed to keep them in their place), it seems that the best way to solve this problem is general social integration and racial reconciliation. which requires a bunch of social justice work and the continued undermining of white racism, to start.

That’s not historically validated. Not that the rest of your post showed any sort of understanding of the world either.

Seriously people, grow up. It’s for the greater good.
Whose "greater good"? Teaching children that race ought not be a reason for discrimination is the function of a citizenship class, and perhaps a biology class. Calling a history day "black" though does not exactly do away with race, rather it emphasizes it.

By focusing an entire month on the african americans, we are only bringing attention to the fact that they are black, and that we are showing them special attention because of this fact. By acknowledging that they are special because of their skin color, IMO, plays more into racism.

but it is factually untrue that this is the case. racism has not increased due to the existence of black history month, the very opposite has happened.

one day, black history month (and other similar ideas) will be unnecessary because we will have fully integrated as a society. i hope to see that day, and soon. but it is not today.

Yep. Kids in schools all over the US are learning about how George Washington Carver invented the peanut, about the Tuskegee Airmen flying into battle against white Europeans, and about Rosa Parks and her seat. Do any other countries have a special (insert race, religion, whatever) history month?

I've never heard of it before. And we don't have anything like it here.

It should be black history 15 minutes, because thats about as much notable history blacks actually have. Month my ass, if you're running around with spears and underpants whilst others have things like navigation, farming and gunpowder, you pretty much deserve your fate.

It should be black history 15 minutes, because thats about as much notable history blacks actually have. Month my ass, if you're running around with spears and underpants whilst others have things like navigation, farming and gunpowder, you pretty much deserve your fate.
Yeah, death to Europe, those ass backwards barbarians!

Yeah, death to Europe, those ass backwards barbarians!

Europe was always advanced for its times, with occasional competition and exchange with the eastern cultures.

Europe was always advanced for its times, with occasional competition and exchange with the eastern cultures.

haha, stupid nazi, read a book

haha, stupid nazi, read a book

I've read many books hypocritical commie, no offense, maybe I haven't read your kind of book, I just don't consider Das Kapital a literary classic.

Europe was always advanced for its times, with occasional competition and exchange with the eastern cultures.

Eh, not especially. From the fall of Rome until the High Middle Ages, Europe lagged the rest of the world (perhaps with the exception of the Americas, but even they were better organized in terms of society and government) economically, technologically, culturally, and politically.

In fact, it wasn't until the late 18th and early 19th centuries that the economies of Europe could compete with India and China, the two largest economies in the world at the time. At the same time, however, this was due to the massive societal recovery during the High Middle Ages and the Renaissance which brought them back up to levels comparable to other parts of the world.

I've read many books hypocritical commie, no offense, maybe I haven't read your kind of book, I just don't consider Das Kapital a literary classic.

Why can't we all just get along?

In fact, it wasn't until the late 18th and early 19th centuries that the economies of Europe could compete with India and China, the two largest economies in the world at the time.
Europe essentially recovered from the beginning of the 15th century, dominated all the way through to the early 20th century, then was reduced to the pathetic exoskeletal remains it is today. And even so, it's not as if it was reduced to barbarism during the earlier periods of the Middle Ages, which is quite remarkable given how catastrophic Rome's implosion was.

Europe essentially recovered from the beginning of the 15th century, dominated all the way through to the early 20th century, then was reduced to the pathetic exoskeletal remains it is today.

I made an edit to include the recovery from the 13th to the 16th century. From there, of course, Europe passed in to its era of dominance and then decline following the end of the Second World War and the end of the colonial Era.

Of course, one might see the formation of the EU as a way of allowing Europe to reassert itself in an effective manner.

Europe was always advanced for its times, with occasional competition and exchange with the eastern cultures.
Only after lapses by Eastern cultures.

After the last one, I promised myself I would stay out of the race threads, for the sake of my sanity and my temper... so much for that.

Calling a history day "black" though does not exactly do away with race, rather it emphasizes it.

Let's not pretend here.

People, even students, are not stupid... it's isn't like they've never heard of race before. They know what it is; they see it every day of their lives. Not mentioning it in class is not going to make it go away.

So the question is not whether they think about race, or classify human beings by race, because they do. That's part of our society. The relevant question is HOW they do it.

Why can't we all just get along?
Why waste one's time in such an idle manner?


Of course, one might see the formation of the EU as a way of allowing Europe to reassert itself in an effective manner.
We'll see how well that goes. I also made an edit by the way, concerning the implosion of the Roman Empire. :)

I mean, if we took a small section of anti-white blacks, and decide to teach them white history for an entire month, would they lose their racist tendencies?

QFT. This is an excellent question. Would they?

Edit: Free Soviets beat me to it. Still a good point, though.

Let's not pretend here.

People, even students, are not stupid... it's isn't like they've never heard of race before. They know what it is; they see it every day of their lives. Not mentioning it in class is not going to make it go away.

So the question is not whether they think about race, or classify human beings by race, because they do. That's part of our society. The relevant question is HOW they do it.
Which is why I said it is the realm of citizenship (or whatever name they go by nowadays) and biology classes, which are more properly concerned with race - although given race's impact in history, it obviously will be studied there too. I do not see why a specific day in time and space each year is required for this, given that it ought to be a permanent part of these courses.

Eh, not especially. From the fall of Rome until the High Middle Ages, Europe lagged the rest of the world (perhaps with the exception of the Americas, but even they were better organized in terms of society and government) economically, technologically, culturally, and politically.

In fact, it wasn't until the late 18th and early 19th centuries that the economies of Europe could compete with India and China, the two largest economies in the world at the time. At the same time, however, this was due to the massive societal recovery during the High Middle Ages and the Renaissance which brought them back up to levels comparable to other parts of the world.

and that's leaving out all those thousands of years that people lived in catalhoyuk and jericho and uruk and the like, while the europeans stuck to their huts

We'll see how well that goes. I also made an edit by the way, concerning the implosion of the Roman Empire. :)

It's a true statement. Of course, if we include the Byzantines (which is rather iffy since they were predominantly comprised of Asia Minor with substantial Greek influence), we can say that Europe was not totally lost following the collapse of the Empire.

It was not a total loss, at the very least.

Which is why I said it is the realm of citizenship (or whatever name they go by nowadays) and biology classes, which are more properly concerned with race

These possibilities are not mutually exclusive.

given that it ought to be a permanent part of these courses.

"Ought to be" and "is" are miles apart.

and that's leaving out all those thousands of years that people lived in catalhoyuk and jericho and uruk and the like, while the europeans stuck to their huts
A stubborn racialist will simply say that almost all advanced civilisations of the time, including the Egyptian one, were primarily made up of Indo-European (a.k.a caucasoid) migrants, who are genetically closest to Europeans.

and that's leaving out all those thousands of years that people lived in catalhoyuk and jericho and uruk and the like, while the europeans stuck to their huts

True. The Europeans really didn't emerge as organized civilizations until the 1st millenium BC.

It's a true statement. Of course, if we include the Byzantines (which is rather iffy since they were predominantly comprised of Asia Minor with substantial Greek influence), we can say that Europe was not totally lost following the collapse of the Empire.

It was not a total loss, at the very least.
Definitely not. Rome became lethargic towards its end. Much of Europe's diversity is owed to the fact that it imploded. Rome might've achieved an industrial revolution had it gone on, as some speculate, but that this didn't happen, as you say, is not a total loss. A lesson to be learnt from Rome is that when an empire moves from trade and commerce to permanent military conquest, it is inviting disaster upon its doorstep.

Definitely not. Rome became lethargic towards its end. Much of Europe's diversity is owed to the fact that it imploded. Rome might've achieved an industrial revolution had it gone on, as some speculate, but that this didn't happen, as you say, is not a total loss. A lesson to be learnt from Rome is that when an empire moves from trade to permanent military conquest, it is inviting disaster upon its doorstep.

You could expand that further to say that any country that relies on extensive growth in order to keep its finances and economy in order will eventually stagnate and collapse. Rome was forced to rely more and more on plunder for much of its finances in the later Empire, which caused trade to break down and increase its military burden until it became unmanageable and it collapsed.

In many ways, the former Eastern Bloc faced a similar situation.

A stubborn racialist will simply say that almost all advanced civilisations of the time, including the Egyptian one, were primarily made up of Indo-European (a.k.a caucasoid) migrants, who are genetically closest to Europeans.

but like most things such people say, that would be untrue in a number of ways.

I don't know which leftist to reply to, so I guess this it to all.

Greece -> Rome -> Byzantium -> Renaissance etc.

History, mathematics, literature ...

But the most important proof is as they say, in the pudding, look at the modern world.

but like most things such people say, that would be untrue in a number of ways.
Care to offer proof to that effect?

I kind of like Morgan Freeman's take on it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10482634/

Morgan Freeman says the concept of a month dedicated to black history is "ridiculous."

"You're going to relegate my history to a month?" the 68-year-old actor says in an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" to air Sunday (7 p.m. EST). "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."

I agree. Make sure that the role that african-americans have played in American history is respected and taught year-round. I also agree with his stance on avoiding the black/white label. The sooner we stop labelling ourselves, the better.

Black History month is a useless month, because it does single out blacks, and at my High School, black history month was the month the black students would act like "black panthers", screaming "Malcolm X" quotes etc, and basically call us "crackers" and "White devils" and we couldn't call them "niggers" or anything like that because if we do, we get sent to the principal office. Yea, this steller performance of the high school black community really makes me wonder if they even deserve a month. Of course back when I was training to be a teacher, I had the misfortunes of teaching a segment on black history. Every one of the blacks in the class was either sleeping, talking to other students, drawing in their notebooks, or playing on their cell phone. Only two black women actually paid attention to the damn lecture. Yea, they're really appreciating their black heritage here. From my experience in North Carolina, all black history really does is A. singles out blacks from the rest of the class. B. Give blacks an excuse to act like complete jackasses and C. When it actually comes time to learn about the history, they don't care, honest to God they really don't give a rats ass.

Really at this point, I would just get rid of black history month all together, and if they want to learn about their history, then damn, we have the internet, let them learn it on their own.

You could expand that further to say that any country that relies on extensive growth in order to keep its finances and economy in order will eventually stagnate and collapse. Rome was forced to rely more and more on plunder for much of its finances in the later Empire, which caused trade to break down and increase its military burden until it became unmanageable and it collapsed.

In many ways, the former Eastern Bloc faced a similar situation.
And a dilemma that will one day face the US I believe (and potentially China). Of course, it has never had Rome's military success to intoxicate it, but given its increasing budget deficits, emphasis on constant growth and high military spending there is no reason to rule out the possibility.

True. The Europeans really didn't emerge as organized civilizations until the 1st millenium BC.

though they did take up the neolithic revolution a couple thousand years before that (apparently brought to them by anatolians, who left a bit of a genetic trace behind). they just had to wait a while on the urbanization end of things.

Care to offer proof to that effect?

well, we have genetic data on the various peoples.

firstly, modern indo-european speaking europeans are mainly descended from paleolithic euorpeans, who got separated into three groups during the last glacial maximum, thousands and thousand of years before the proto-indo-european culture started its spread in to europe. so europeans just aren't the people who made up that culture, they merely took up their language(s)

secondly, the peoples of the other civilizations are not genetically grouped with the europeans, or with each other either. so it really just doesn't work.

I kind of like Morgan Freeman's take on it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10482634/



I agree. Make sure that the role that african-americans have played in American history is respected and taught year-round. I also agree with his stance on avoiding the black/white label. The sooner we stop labelling ourselves, the better.

You and Morgan have it 100% right!

And a dilemma that will one day face the US I believe (and potentially China). Of course, it has never had Rome's military success to intoxicate it, but given its increasing budget deficits, emphasis on constant growth and high military spending there is no reason to rule out the possibility.

Well, that's really correct.

The main thing that is keeping our economy afloat is our productivity; that ability to grow intensively is what enables us to pursue the kind of policies and the kind of economic growth we currently are capable of.

If productivity stagnates for whatever reason (it's next to impossible, but you never know) for a prolonged time, it will hurt us bad.

firstly, modern indo-european speaking europeans are mainly descended from paleolithic euorpeans, who got separated into three groups during the last glacial maximum, thousands and thousand of years before the proto-indo-european culture started its spread in to europe. so europeans just aren't the people who made up that culture, they merely took up their language(s)
You're referring to the Cro-magnids I believe, survivors of the Upper Paleolithic age. The leptomorphic Indo-Europeans pretty much migrated into Europe, some adapting to the Northern climate, others to the southern one (which is why some Northern Europeans look like depigmented mediterraneans, and not stocky northerners, as well as some mediterraneans looking "northern" in build). Many modern Western Europeans are a mix of CM and Indo-European, with varying proportions of each.

secondly, the peoples of the other civilizations are not genetically grouped with the europeans, or with each other either. so it really just doesn't work.
Indo-europeans are considered to be a genetically close group, especially in anthropometric terms. Naturally, most modern Arabs, Iranians (specifically Persians), Indians (the exception being North Indians) and Egyptians have little to do with Europeans, given centuries of interbreeding with others, but in ancient times the similarity was far greater.

http://www.friesian.com/trees.htm

The chart on genetic distance is the relevant bit.

"Ought to be" and "is" are miles apart.
I think the problem is that these courses (specifically biology, if it broaches on the matter) tend to outright deny the existence of race, rather than teaching that differences, if they exist, do not justify discrimination. Institutions like the APA do the same. They're being evasive, albeit with good intentions, if misleading can be characterised as being so motivated.


If productivity stagnates for whatever reason (it's next to impossible, but you never know) for a prolonged time, it will hurt us bad.
It's not something I'd want to live through - if it occured slowly, markets globally might have a chance to adapt, but if it occured as a sudden shock, the entire world economy would suffer, probably in the form of another severe recession.

Whose "greater good"? Teaching children that race ought not be a reason for discrimination is the function of a citizenship class, and perhaps a biology class.

Nope. It’s an essential function of government.

And yes, I am part Mongolian.

Their empire covered much of Eurasia. Everyone's part Mongol.

IMO, if black history was that important or significant, you wouldn't need a month to highlight it.

I hate Black History month, it basically says "Look Black people, we looked through the history books trying to find important Black people, and, well, there are not a lot of them. In fact, there are so few important Black People that if we just taught normal history they would be totally swamped over by all the white people. So since you people just can't compete with us Whities, we are going to give you an entire month aaaalllll to yourself."

Just like Affirmative Action, it says that they aren't as good as other races, so they need a special playing field levelled just for them. History should be taught normally, if the inventor of Peanut Butter doesn't make the cut then that is just too damn bad, children should learn that it is their accomplishments in life that decide what they earn, not their skin color. That's sorta what I thought equality was all about, but apparently I missed the meeting where they decided it was all about treating minorities like babies.

IMO, if black history was that important or significant, you wouldn't need a week to highlight it.

It is people with opinions like yours who necessitate the month in the first place.

It is people with opinions like yours who necessitate the month in the first place.

Tell me something that they've done, and I'll tell you if it warrants a month.

Tell me something that they've done

Case in point.

Case in point.

If it was worth knowing, I'd know it. The Germans or the French or the Dutch don't need a month, we know what they've done.

If it was worth knowing, I'd know it.

Doubtful, since apparently you don't.

Doubtful, since apparently you don't.

That's because it's not notable. Besides a few inventors, a couple of legions in the Civil War, and some black-gloved guys yelling "Death to whitey," blacks have done nothing notable.

That's because it's not notable.

No... that's because you're ignorant.

Which, of course, is the point.

That's because it's not notable. Besides a few inventors, a couple of legions in the Civil War, and some black-gloved guys yelling "Death to whitey," blacks have done nothing notable.

Pyramids? Trans-saharan Trade? Discovering fire?

Pyramids? Trans-saharan Trade? Discovering fire?

I knew you'd come back to that. We're talking about AMERICAN blacks.

I knew you'd come back to that. We're talking about AMERICAN blacks.

Well, they were slaves for 254 years, and most didn't even really get access to decent education or opportunities anywhere remotely equal to whites for another 100, so they've only been at it for about 40 years.

Well, they were slaves for 254 years, and most didn't even really get access to decent education or opportunities anywhere remotely equal to whites for another 100, so they've only been at it for about 40 years.

Nevertheless.

I knew you'd come back to that. We're talking about AMERICAN blacks.

Ever heard of George Washington Carver? He pretty much revolutionized the agricultural industry and he was an AMERICAN black. And let's not forget the inummerable musical and literal contributions blacks have contributed towards society either.

so they've only been at it for about 40 years.

Not that nothing happened beforehand.

Ralph Ellison, W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, George Washington Carver, Richard Wright, Paul Robeson, and dozens of others....

Ever heard of George Washington Carver? He pretty much revolutionized the agricultural industry and he was an AMERICAN black. And let's not forget the inummerable musical and literal contributions blacks have contributed towards society either.

Whoopee. Now does... all that... warrant a month?

Whoopee. Now does... all that... warrant a month?

That, and a whole lot more.

Pyramids? Trans-saharan Trade? Discovering fire?

Egyptians are black now?

That, and a whole lot more.

By those standards, we should have a "White History Eight Months."

Tell you what, the day the following groups get their own months. I will recognize black history month.

Whites
Hispanics
Asians
Women
Men
Disabled
Transsexuals
Gays
and
Straight

you are aware, of course, that most of those have months/days/weeks/whatever already. and the rest don't need them as their inflated status is what we need to knock down.

http://www.archives.gov/eeo/special-observances/

Whoopee. Now does... all that... warrant a month?

Well, this is what you said in previous post of yours:

That's because it's not notable. Besides a few inventors, a couple of legions in the Civil War, and some black-gloved guys yelling "Death to whitey," blacks have done nothing notable

I was merely attempting to debunk this racist stereotype and point out that blacks have indeed contributed to American society, like every other group. I wasn't arguing about Black History Month.

By those standards, we should have a "White History Eight Months."

Instead, we have a "White History Eleven Months."

I was merely attempting to debunk this racist stereotype and point out that blacks have indeed contributed to American society, like every other group.

I didn't say that they didn't. Just not much.

Instead, we have a "White History Eleven Months."

No, we don't.

No, we don't.

Besides a few inventors, a couple of legions in the Civil War, and some black-gloved guys yelling "Death to whitey," blacks have done nothing notable.

I think we do.

I think we do.

No, we don't.

I think we do.

don't mind pf, he is either a troll or incapable of realizing when he contradicts himself

Black history month? I did not know history comes in colors. And what would that be? The afrocentric revisionist crap that is spread by fatuous folks like Rastafarians?

I don't find history to be "Euro-centric", but then again I am not worried about saving up all the "ethnic" stuff for certain months.


Of course you aren't, because (1) you are 'white; and (2) its never dawned on you that its seems that until 'white' people turned up,it often appears nobody anywhere did anything. Ideally human history should be taught along a time based linear model, broken with reference to what has happening in regions during these rough time perods. However, because of societal fgactors, its nessecary to compensate. Being of Irish ancestry, you should have more empathy with the 'black' case.

No, we don't.

You failed at being an internet German. This sort of robs you of "cred".

Bloody Joke. How on earth does a race that has been colonised, enslaved and generall abused merit a whole month of history devoted to it? Nothing in Black history lends itself to academic history, beyond the civil rights movement of the 1960's, and thus this is little more than an exercise in inculcating cultural inclusiveness and relativism into the young.

I think we do.

No, we don't. History does not focus on particular persons, as opposed to Black History Money where certain people are singled out. I never had a history class that focused on specific white people, but during black history month it was all about Martin Luther King Jr and maybe George Washington Carver, the rest of the year is the World Wars, Civil War, Korean War, Vietnam War, or colonial and pre-colonial history where we might have focused on George Washington solely because he was George Washington. Even class that could be considered to focus on white people were because they were figure heads of a particular time in history and the focus on them is disambiguous and only relating to their roll in the history we are studying.

If your complaint is "those are all white people," well yeah, they were the figure heads of the movements, their race is coincidental.

you are aware, of course, that most of those have months/days/weeks/whatever already. and the rest don't need them as their inflated status is what we need to knock down.

http://www.archives.gov/eeo/special-observances/

That's the problem with so much of this. The attitude is a "knock them down", rather than a "build us up".

I'm just confused :confused:

In England they call me nignog golly wog or blacky go back to where you came from.

In Granada they call me honky.

In Florida they say I'm not white enough to be from England.

you are aware, of course, that most of those have months/days/weeks/whatever already. and the rest don't need them as their inflated status is what we need to knock down.

http://www.archives.gov/eeo/special-observances/

Except only Black History Month is studied in every school around the country. Women's History to a lesser degree. Women's History Month is merely a footnote and an excuse to have people write papers about some woman for Women's History Month scholarships.

Instead, we have a "White History Eleven Months."

Or not. History is equally concerned with all nations, races and people, provided they are of relevance. Were you to live in Japan, India or North Africa, history would be centred upon the history of the respective nations.

In any case, what have Afro-Carribeans actually contributed to merit discussion?

Black History Month: Black Americans get to hear about the contributions they've made to America, White Americans get to scream "reverse discrimination" because they don't want to hear about blacks' contributions to or suffering in America.

It was created to raise awareness for the contributions of blacks to this country. In grade school, I learned a great deal about those contributions and it served to teach me not only that blacks were valuable, but that people of all races, ethnicities and nationalities have the potential to contribute.
It is very effective at stunting racism. I know people whose parents are horribly racist, but they are not primarily because of efforts in schools like Black History month.

Also, I assure you that I have no “white guilt” or any such nonsense. I’ve never done any wrong to any minority simply because he or she was that minority.

Is it really such an imposition on you to accept a program that works towards the greater good?

Thank you for bringing a bit of fact, reason and sanity into this thread.

Black History Month: Black Americans get to hear about the contributions they've made to America, White Americans get to scream "reverse discrimination" because they don't want to hear about blacks' contributions to or suffering in America.

That is not history. History is analysis, debate and argument. Not abuse in the name of "multiculturalism".

its never dawned on you that its seems that until 'white' people turned up,it often appears nobody anywhere did anything.

It's your side that says that, not us. I acknowledge that people from all cultures did great things. The Incans, Mayans, and Aztecs all had large and technologically advanced (compared to other humans of the time) civilizations. China also was generally far ahead of the rest of the World for several centuries. The Egyptians also got a nice empire going pretty quickly. The Greeks had a nice period of advancement, due in part to interaction with the Egyptians, then we have the Romans who conquered the rest of Europe and spread their technology throughout. Up until then most of those crackers just sat on their asses and worshipped pagan gods. So we aren't saying that white people are superior. What we are saying is that most black countries and people stayed out of modernly relevant history for a lot longer than most white people and countries. That's not there fault, if Rome hadn't gone north west, or hadn't arisen at all, then maybe blacks would be the race "in power" right now. But that didn't happen, so because of that we should teach the history that is important.
It's not about race, in the alternate universe where the Egyptian Empire never floundered and they built the African continent into the most powerful and cultural place in the world, enslaved white men for labor for centuries until a bearded black President fought a civil war to free them (among other things), then continued to discriminate against them until a long campaign for civil liberties got them equal rights they can talk about black people in history class as much as they want. If that means that the white inventor of peanut butter is lost to the depths of history instead of ingrained in every child's mind, well than that's what's going to have to happen.

Americans don't teach blacks history throughout the year?

... How profoundly... Silly.

No, it's pretty much there with the rest of history. There's no white history month, hispanic history month, chinese history month, or any such thing. Only the truely whiny minority got it.


Who knew there were black republicans, what kind of masochist is he?

Of course you aren't, because (1) you are 'white; and (2) its never dawned on you that its seems that until 'white' people turned up,it often appears nobody anywhere did anything. Ideally human history should be taught along a time based linear model, broken with reference to what has happening in regions during these rough time perods. However, because of societal fgactors, its nessecary to compensate. Being of Irish ancestry, you should have more empathy with the 'black' case.

What does my Irish ancestry have to do with anything?

What does my Irish ancestry have to do with anything?

I'm dying to know too as I am also more than half Irish.

That is not history. History is analysis, debate and argument. Not abuse in the name of "multiculturalism".

History is anything that happened in the past. Whether it is debated or not doesn't change whether it did or did not happen.

Black History Month: Black Americans get to hear about the contributions they've made to America, White Americans get to scream "reverse discrimination" because they don't want to hear about blacks' contributions to or suffering in America.

Another point in any case. The Jews have done more for European and American economic development than any other group. If you seek to justify "Black history month" upon grounds of contributions, why do the Jews not take precedent?

History is anything that happened in the past. Whether it is debated or not doesn't change whether it did or did not happen.

No. The task of the historian is not to chronicle and be an archivist, but to interpret.

Not familiar with philosophy of history?

Another point in any case. The Jews have done more for European and American economic development than any other group. If you seek to justify "Black history month" upon grounds of contributions, why do the Jews not take precedent?

I'm sure Americans learn about Jews who contributed to the USA in school.
I don't actually know what is or isn't taught in American schools. All I know is, I've been shocked by how many Americans I've encountered who know less about their history than the average Japanese university student does.

I'm dying to know too as I am also more than half Irish.

I am about half....I really don't understand though.

I am about half....I really don't understand though.

I'm Irish and German, where's my history month? Know what I learned about Germany in History? WWI and WWII. Ireland, there was a passing reference to the potato famine. No talk of what Irish immigrants gave to this country, or their contributions.

I'm Irish and German, where's my history month? Know what I learned about Germany in History? WWI and WWII. Ireland, there was a passing reference to the potato famine. No talk of what Irish immigrants gave to this country, or their contributions.

We didn't learn about the potato famine in school, we skipped that chapter to learn about "Black History", I remember that now, we spent all of Feb. on it and when we got back to the curriculum we had to shove in a few more chapters before the spring standardized test so we skipped like half the book. Maybe that's what my Irish heritage has to do with this?

Jewish Awareness Month is in January. Google it and see how much comes up.
Although at some universities it seems Jewish Awareness Month is celebrated on other months as well.

Meanwhile, Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept 15th to Oct 15th
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/feature/hispanic/
http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/hispanic.html

Asian Pacific Heritage Month is in May
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/006587.html
www.cr.nps.gov/nr/feature/asia/
http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/asian/history_heritage/asian_pacific_american_heritage_month.asp

While this may all sound odd to those of us who aren't Americans, I guess it isn't so odd considering America's history.

We didn't learn about the potato famine in school, we skipped that chapter to learn about "Black History", I remember that now, we spent all of Feb. on it and when we got back to the curriculum we had to shove in a few more chapters before the spring standardized test so we skipped like half the book. Maybe that's what my Irish heritage has to do with this?
See they barely mentioned it to us, honestly our history classes were either long dead civilizations (though I did learn quite a lot about mound builder Indians) or going from one war to the next. Apparently American history goes straight from the Revolution to 1812, to the Mexican American War to the Spanish American war.

I'm sure Americans learn about Jews who contributed to the USA in school.
I don't actually know what is or isn't taught in American schools. All I know is, I've been shocked by how many Americans I've encountered who know less about their history than the average Japanese university student does.

However, does the average American student have Jewish history thrown down their throat like out of date cough medicine? no.

See they barely mentioned it to us, honestly our history classes were either long dead civilizations (though I did learn quite a lot about mound builder Indians) or going from one war to the next. Apparently American history goes straight from the Revolution to 1812, to the Mexican American War to the Spanish American war.

every year, every freaking year (except for world history) it went like this

Columbus
American Revolution
Civil War
Black History Month
-Spring Break-
Review for Standardized test

I never got past the civil war until I was in college :rolleyes:

However, does the average American student have Jewish history thrown down their throat like out of date cough medicine? no.

The holocaust part? yes.

The holocaust part? yes.

no.

I could walk the streets here and ask the first 10 people I meet about the holocaust, and I think about 8 of them couldn't tell me anything about it.

The history education here sucks so much that people tune out.

every year, every freaking year (except for world history) it went like this

Columbus
American Revolution
Civil War
Black History Month
-Spring Break-
Review for Standardized test

I never got past the civil war until I was in college :rolleyes:

World history for us was a very basic instruction about European history, then as soon as 1492 hit it was US History. :rolleyes:

The holocaust part? yes.

Yet again, not real history. There is relatively little academic debate permitted when discussing the holocaust, and thus it is reduced to moralistic judgements.

I'm Irish and German, where's my history month? Know what I learned about Germany in History? WWI and WWII. Ireland, there was a passing reference to the potato famine. No talk of what Irish immigrants gave to this country, or their contributions.

Random L&H Debater:Trinity!
Crowd:SHITE
R:Trinity!
C:SHITE
R:What do we want?
C:POTATOES!
R:When do we want them?
C:DURING THE FAMINE!

I love the L&H.

no.

I could walk the streets here and ask the first 10 people I meet about the holocaust, and I think about 8 of them couldn't tell me anything about it.

The history education here sucks so much that people tune out.

Yikes. That's scary. So do you support school vouchers to send public school children to private/charter schools?

why do people say that?

Because throughout the span of human history white folks have done so much, good and bad, that any discussion of history will dwell largely on white people.

Yikes. That's scary. So do you support school vouchers to send public school children to private/charter schools?

I bloody don't.

Yet again, not real history. There is relatively little academic debate permitted when discussing the holocaust, and thus it is reduced to moralistic judgements.

If something is not debated, does that mean it did not happen?

Yikes. That's scary. So do you support school vouchers to send public school children to private/charter schools?

I homeschool.

My High School History Curriculum:

Sept: World War I
Oct: World War II
Dec: The Halocaust
Jan: The Halocaust
Feb: The Halocaust
Mar: The Great Depression
Apr: The Women's Rights Movement
May: The Civil Rights Movement
Jun: Do Nothing

Essentially I learned to hate all White Gentile Males, aside being one.

One history teacher who had actually taught us something different got fired and then became the vice principal :p

you give a month to learn about one thing

Europe was always advanced for its times, with occasional competition and exchange with the eastern cultures.

Well, the part around the Mediterranian was. You central and Northern Europeans were spear chucking barbarians when my people came North and civilized you.

If something is not debated, does that mean it did not happen?

Of course not. it simply renders it not worth of study as history, which, academic opinion maintains, is primarily a disputative, argument based subject.

Well, the part around the Mediterranian was. You central and Northern Europeans were spear chucking barbarians when my people came North and civilized you.

Pffft, you're just jealous cos we can throw our spears further than you.

you give a month to learn about one thing

Yup, and I never learned anything historical past 1988. All my history books ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall. :(

Yup, and I never learned anything historical past 1988. All my history books ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall. :(

That's the year I was born >.> <.<

Yup, and I never learned anything historical past 1988. All my history books ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall. :(

we get a week then more on to next thing

Black History Month: Black Americans get to hear about the contributions they've made to America, White Americans get to scream "reverse discrimination" because they don't want to hear about blacks' contributions to or suffering in America.

At least we both get something out of it.

Yep. Kids in schools all over the US are learning about how George Washington Carver invented the peanut, about the Tuskegee Airmen flying into battle against white Europeans, and about Rosa Parks and her seat. Do any other countries have a special (insert race, religion, whatever) history month?
I know this is kind of a hijack, but I found an interesting article that relates to Black History Month, and I thought it might be fun to share it here.

"Who The Fuck Is Barbara Johns?

Barbara Johns was among the most important and dramatic figures of the American Civil Rights Movement, yet hardly anyone has heard of her. While teaching social science in an Oakland high school, I took out a five-dollar bill and promised it to the first student who could tell me who Ms. Johns was. More than 90 students, mostly black, tried their best. But at the end of the day, I still had the only five-dollar bill I had bothered to bring. Every classroom there bore posters of "black heroes," from Malcolm X to Condi Rice, but Barbara Johns was forgotten.

...

In 1951, 16-year-old Johns changed American history after she seized control of her black high school. Johns tricked the principal into leaving campus for a few hours. Then she forged a note from that principal telling teachers to bring their students to a special assembly. Once the school assembled, Johns admitted she had called this meeting to organize action so their school would get the same funding as the white school across town. Some teachers tried to seize Johns, so Johns took off her shoe and pounded it on a school bench. "I want you all out of here," she yelled at the teachers. Some students then escorted all teachers off the premises.

The students shut down the school. They also asked the NAACP to file a lawsuit on their behalf. The NAACP offered to sue, not for equal funding, but for desegregation. Johns and her fellow students accepted this compromise, and their legal case merged with a few others to became Brown v. Board of Education, wherein the Supreme Court finally declared segregation unconstitutional and changed forever the face of America.

..."

You can read more by clicking through to My Left Wing:

http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=14262

Pffft, you're just jealous cos we can throw our spears further than you.

Well your Northern European is naturally going to be your better athlete because in the Roman days you'd breed your big strong male Northern barbarian slave to the big strong female barbarian slave to get better gladiators and workers who could go all day without dropping dead. [/weird version of Jimmy the Greek's fateful speech]

I know this is kind of a hijack, but I found an interesting article that relates to Black History Month, and I thought it might be fun to share it here.

"Who The Fuck Is Barbara Johns?

Barbara Johns was among the most important and dramatic figures of the American Civil Rights Movement, yet hardly anyone has heard of her. While teaching social science in an Oakland high school, I took out a five-dollar bill and promised it to the first student who could tell me who Ms. Johns was. More than 90 students, mostly black, tried their best. But at the end of the day, I still had the only five-dollar bill I had bothered to bring. Every classroom there bore posters of "black heroes," from Malcolm X to Condi Rice, but Barbara Johns was forgotten.

...

In 1951, 16-year-old Johns changed American history after she seized control of her black high school. Johns tricked the principal into leaving campus for a few hours. Then she forged a note from that principal telling teachers to bring their students to a special assembly. Once the school assembled, Johns admitted she had called this meeting to organize action so their school would get the same funding as the white school across town. Some teachers tried to seize Johns, so Johns took off her shoe and pounded it on a school bench. "I want you all out of here," she yelled at the teachers. Some students then escorted all teachers off the premises.

The students shut down the school. They also asked the NAACP to file a lawsuit on their behalf. The NAACP offered to sue, not for equal funding, but for desegregation. Johns and her fellow students accepted this compromise, and their legal case merged with a few others to became Brown v. Board of Education, wherein the Supreme Court finally declared segregation unconstitutional and changed forever the face of America.

..."

You can read more by clicking through to My Left Wing:

http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=14262

Good article. Japanese university students probably know more about Jim Crow and Jim Crow figures than the average American. I learned about segregation in university, even though US history/English/whatever wasn't my major.

Good article. Japanese university students probably know more about Jim Crow and Jim Crow figures than the average American. I learned about segregation in university, even though US history/English/whatever wasn't my major.

Yeah, but what do Japanese university students know about the rape of Nanking and the treatment of prisoners of war by the Japanese army in WWII? Isn't that subject avoided in Japanese society? Maybe to some extent Jim Crow is avoided in the US.

Yeah, but what do Japanese university students know about the rape of Nanking and the treatment of prisoners of war by the Japanese army in WWII? Isn't that subject avoided in Japanese society? Maybe to some extent Jim Crow is avoided in the US.

and forcing woman to work in brothles

Yeah, but what do Japanese university students know about the rape of Nanking and the treatment of prisoners of war by the Japanese army in WWII? Isn't that subject avoided in Japanese society? Maybe to some extent Jim Crow is avoided in the US.

It isn't avoided. There are definitely history revisionists, but most Japanese students are well aware of Japan's war crimes, although I realise it is popular overseas to portray Japanese as not knowing anything about WW2.

It's your side that says that, not us. I acknowledge that people from all cultures did great things. The Incans, Mayans, and Aztecs all had large and technologically advanced (compared to other humans of the time) civilizations. China also was generally far ahead of the rest of the World for several centuries. The Egyptians also got a nice empire going pretty quickly. The Greeks had a nice period of advancement, due in part to interaction with the Egyptians, then we have the Romans who conquered the rest of Europe and spread their technology throughout. Up until then most of those crackers just sat on their asses and worshipped pagan gods. So we aren't saying that white people are superior. What we are saying is that most black countries and people stayed out of modernly relevant history for a lot longer than most white people and countries. That's not there fault, if Rome hadn't gone north west, or hadn't arisen at all, then maybe blacks would be the race "in power" right now. But that didn't happen, so because of that we should teach the history that is important.
It's not about race, in the alternate universe where the Egyptian Empire never floundered and they built the African continent into the most powerful and cultural place in the world, enslaved white men for labor for centuries until a bearded black President fought a civil war to free them (among other things), then continued to discriminate against them until a long campaign for civil liberties got them equal rights they can talk about black people in history class as much as they want. If that means that the white inventor of peanut butter is lost to the depths of history instead of ingrained in every child's mind, well than that's what's going to have to happen.

I have no idea what point you're trying to make.

It isn't avoided. There are definitely history revisionists, but most Japanese students are well aware of Japan's war crimes, although I realise it is popular overseas to portray Japanese as not knowing anything about WW2.

In addition to not knowing about WW2, they're also all schoolgirls in uniforms who frequently are raped by tentacled monsters.

What does my Irish ancestry have to do with anything?


Well, you did mention in this thread, and if you have to ask what being Irish had to do with having some empathy with the 'black' situation, particularily historically, then you should either get reading, or stop claiming it.

Well, you did mention in this thread, and if you have to ask what being Irish had to do with having some empathy with the 'black' situation, particularily historically, then you should either get reading, or stop claiming it.

I don't think I have any special entitlement......maybe you can link me to the information you are talking about.

Do I forfeit my ethnic background because I don't think I am any better than anyone else? If so, that's pretty sad.

I don't think I have any special entitlement......maybe you can link me to the information you are talking about.

Do I forfeit my ethnic background because I don't think I am any better than anyone else? If so, that's pretty sad.

I said, quite clearly, that being Irish should give you some empathy with the 'black' situation. That doesn't imply that you claimed superiority, or any entitlement whatsoever.

I said, quite clearly, that being Irish should give you some empathy with the 'black' situation. That doesn't imply that you claimed superiority, or any entitlement whatsoever.

I don't think that past events entitle me to a government sponsored month long distraction.

Nope. It’s an essential function of government.
Hardly. If we say that government ought to handle schooling, I'd argue that it should at least first stop denying reality with cute little mantras such as "race is a four letter word". Race exists, and ought to be debated in both biology and citizenship classes. When and if this is done, specific parts of a history cource can focus on black history. And that will suffice.

Well, the part around the Mediterranian was. You central and Northern Europeans were spear chucking barbarians when my people came North and civilized you.
Nordid northern Europeans are essentially depigmented mediterranids, hence the anatomical similarities between some Northerners and Southerners. Granted, until the implosion of Rome most Northerners were primitives (the Greeks and Romans even saw them as an inferior race).

Yikes. That's scary. So do you support school vouchers to send public school children to private/charter schools?
I know I do. Both my brother and I benefitted immensely from private school, far more than in any of the public schools we were in before. I do not see why parents sending their children to private school ought to pay doubly by paying taxes too. Hence I support the voucher scheme, for as long as government provides education.

I have no idea what point you're trying to make.

I thought it was pretty simple. He was saying that there have been no powerful mostly black ethnic nations, so there is little black-centric history to cover, just because that was the way the cookie crumbled (chance). Therefore there is little black history especially before the 20th C and there is little point in devoting a month to it.

I don't think that past events entitle me to a government sponsored month long distraction.


According to you its a month long distraction. I'm familiar enough with my own cultural background to be able to see why another group would be perhaps helped by such a thing. Why you arent is for you to address.

I thought it was pretty simple. He was saying that there have been no powerful mostly black ethnic nations, so there is little black-centric history to cover, just because that was the way the cookie crumbled (chance). Therefore there is little black history especially before the 20th C and there is little point in devoting a month to it.

Well for one thing there have been powerful black nations but not recently, or impacting on the West, hence my suggestion for the timeline by region method.

Well for one thing there have been powerful black nations but not recently, or impacting on the West, hence my suggestion for the timeline by region method.

What would they be then? I honestly dont know.

That is not history. History is analysis, debate and argument. Not abuse in the name of "multiculturalism".

Despite Chris being a racist bigot, I have to agree with most of this statement.

I thought it was pretty simple. He was saying that there have been no powerful mostly black ethnic nations, so there is little black-centric history to cover, just because that was the way the cookie crumbled (chance). Therefore there is little black history especially before the 20th C and there is little point in devoting a month to it.

Uganda.

I always thought that the policy most all public schools have had about engaging in social engineering through curriculum to be rather repugnant to begin with. That whole practice eventually leads to a nation of kids with one viewpoint to the exception of all others. Suppression of free thought and expression then rules. The whole basic concept of Black History Month is fine. But at least in our school here in the backwater of Indiana, the teachers take advantage of the month to tell all the caucasian children basically, what absolute and evil bastards the white race has been over history, without any corresponding message stating that not all whites have engaged in the practice of oppression in all its' myriad forms, and may actually be just regular folks with all the foibles and idiosyncracies that all races possess. We did not invent slavery. Not that you'd get that impression, however from the curriculum. And where are the other races mentioned? Where is White History Month? (Oops, sorry that's racist. You can't do that.) Or American Indian Month. Or Arab American Month. Or Hispanic American Month? Or Armenian American Month? Or.....

You get the picture. We don't have enough months in the year to celebrate the achievements of all the races in America. And if all cannot be represented equitably, then none should get special recognition.

Why not just teach history? Period. With an objective mind. What's so wrong about that?

I always thought that the policy most all public schools have had about engaging in social engineering through curriculum to be rather repugnant to begin with.
Then just wait till you see what we have going on in Britain:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=431316&in_page_id=1770

We did not invent slavery.
'Course not. Amongst others, the Arabs themselves have been at it for centuries too. In Africa, of all places.

According to you its a month long distraction. I'm familiar enough with my own cultural background to be able to see why another group would be perhaps helped by such a thing. Why you arent is for you to address.

I know my own cultural background quite well, I know why my family came here, I know how they were treated when they got here, I even know why they chose to change our surname.

I still don't see the point in engaging in a month long distraction other than to indoctrinate kids.......of course that's the whole point of public education anyway, so I don't know why I would expect anything different.

According to you its a month long distraction. I'm familiar enough with my own cultural background to be able to see why another group would be perhaps helped by such a thing. Why you arent is for you to address.
You remind me of those people on both sides of my family who inform me constantly that I ought to hate the British for crimes against either the Boerevolk or Greece. Frankly, my answer for them rarely varies - I just tell them to get lost, to put it mildly.

I said, quite clearly, that being Irish should give you some empathy with the 'black' situation. That doesn't imply that you claimed superiority, or any entitlement whatsoever.

What does being Irish have to do with being black?

It should be black history 15 minutes, because thats about as much notable history blacks actually have. Month my ass, if you're running around with spears and underpants whilst others have things like navigation, farming and gunpowder, you pretty much deserve your fate.

What you've said wasn't stupid, it was ignorant. The latter is no crime, but the former merely requires the addition of apathy to ignorance.

You have a desperate need to read.

Specifically, read Jared Diamond's book Guns, Germs, and Steel. "Running around with spears" has absolutely nothing to do with the intelligence or motivation of the people, but of geography, available plants and animals suitable for domestication, ranges of similar climate across an east-west axis (like Eurasia) in order to foster the spread of domesticable grains (Africa & the Americas have north-south axes, which hindered such a spread) and other factors that influence the move from hunting and gathering toward food production, which leads to whole segments of a people's population who no longer NEED to hunt or even farm. Those people go on to become artists, scientists, and other specialized castes who can help advance a civilization.

Specifically, read Jared Diamond's book Guns, Germs, and Steel.
I've heard of this book. I wonder, does its author at least factor in that for a group to flourish it (as in its members) must also have the concomitant will to do so? Or is he some sort of hard determinist?

The Office of Wilgrove does not recognize "Black History Month" until all other ethnicity and race have their own month.

Dictated, not read.

It's called every other month. Seriously, black history is part of history but it is under-represented the rest of the year. The need for black history month arises out of this phenomenon. History must be representative of all people in schools in order for us to eliminate this and "women's history month." The problem is that people of color are not seen as substantial contributors to our society and they clearly have been. This is why this month exists.

School was fun today. All the black kids held their fists up and cuased a general ruckus in the classrooms with white teachers. When do we get a white history month?

it's called the rest of the year

Seriously, black history is part of history but it is under-represented the rest of the year. The need for black history month arises out of this phenomenon.
Solely because (a) the curriculum is manipulated so that all black history is talked about during black history month and (b) there were no black figure heads of major eras of Western history, except obviously the Civil Rights movement, which is basically just American history. And due to (a), the "need" for black history month just propagates itself.

I've heard of this book. I wonder, does its author at least factor in that for a group to flourish it (as in its members) must also have the concomitant will to do so? Or is he some sort of hard determinist?
Or are you just some sort of ignorant bigot?

Bwahahaha! I completely forgot. Rawr, my month has arrived! Screw you all.

Hardly. If we say that government ought to handle schooling, I'd argue that it should at least first stop denying reality with cute little mantras such as "race is a four letter word". Race exists, and ought to be debated in both biology and citizenship classes. When and if this is done, specific parts of a history cource can focus on black history. And that will suffice.

Biologically race does not exist. Race means subspecies, in a biological sense, and there aren't any damned subspecies in humanity.

Biologically race does not exist. Race means subspecies, in a biological sense, and there aren't any damned subspecies in humanity.
http://www.gnxp.com/blog/2007/01/race-current-consensus.php

Okay, sure.

(Keep in mind, cats and dogs too are divided into races, more commonly called breeds, without these being subspecies - so whilst in humans it does not denote a subspecies per se, race as in groups with biological differences between them is a fact).

I don't know which leftist to reply to, so I guess this it to all.

Greece -> Rome -> Byzantium -> Renaissance etc.

History, mathematics, literature ...

But the most important proof is as they say, in the pudding, look at the modern world.

History is a European invention? You're high.

Mathematics? Tell me, O Scion of Ignorance, which of those you mentioned invented algebra? Numerals, including the concept of zero, which the Romans had a little trouble with (you ever try doing elementary math without a zero?)? Chess? Gunpowder? Moveable type? Pasta, for fuck's sake?

I understand the need to ensure that no white, European achievement goes unheralded, but can we pull our heads out of our anuses long enough to realize that it wasn't all Europe?

And yes, let's look at the modern world. Where's the world's tallest building? Malaysia.

Look, I know you're proud to be a cracker, and that's fine, I got no beef with that. But to sit there vomiting up the same shit that racists since the Crusaders have been upchucking is really, really, painfully, and willfully ignorant.

Black History month was only created to alleviate the collective "white guilt", nothing else.

Too many teardrops for one heart to be cryin'
Too many teardrops for one heart
To carry on
You're gonna cry ninety-six tears
You're gonna cry ninety-six tears
You're gonna cry cry, cry, cry, now
You're gonna cry cry, cry, cry
Ninety-six tears c'mon and lemme hear you cry, now
Ninety-six tears (whoo!) I wanna hear you cry
Night and day, yeah, all night long
Uh-ninety-six tears cry cry cry
C'mon baby, let me hear you cry now, all night long
Uh-ninety-six tears! Yeah! C'mon now
Uh-ninety-six tears!


Enough whining out of you.

I take it they celebrate "White History Month" over in Africa...no? Ah, well.

I take it they celebrate "White History Month" over in Africa...no? Ah, well.

Every day they speak English, Afrikaans, Portuguese, French, &c, drive a car, hold a rifle, use plastic, &c &c.

I've heard of this book. I wonder, does its author at least factor in that for a group to flourish it (as in its members) must also have the concomitant will to do so? Or is he some sort of hard determinist?

I've heard of a lot of things, but I don't claim to know anything deeper about them until I've investigated them. In the case of a book, you've gotta read it. Nobody's distillation or description will do the experience of listening to the author's own voice. Unless you're intellectually lazy, you have to read it.

"Will" is a subjective term, and is useless in an objective, scientific study of civilization. If your enviroment/topography/climate/whatever does not allow for certain things to flourish, such as the agriculture and food production necessary to spawn a non-subsistence class in your culture -- OR -- if everything about hunting and gathering is working well enough that there's no pressure to produce food any other way, "will" doesn't develop. What you call "will" is the need for the human mind to expand its knowledge and experience (what's over that hill/ocean/moon?), and it cannot develop where subsistence is either unsupplanted by agriculture/food production or even with demand.

Your theory assumes that entire cultures were just "lazy", which is ludicrous at best and dangerous at worst.

I urge you to read. Refute what you read, if you can, but read and discover for yourself.

Every day they speak English, Afrikaans, Portuguese, French, &c, drive a car, hold a rifle, use plastic, &c &c.

So? Taking the sugar isn't the same as thanking the person who passed it to you.

Too many teardrops for one heart to be cryin'
Too many teardrops for one heart
To carry on
You're gonna cry ninety-six tears
You're gonna cry ninety-six tears
You're gonna cry cry, cry, cry, now
You're gonna cry cry, cry, cry
Ninety-six tears c'mon and lemme hear you cry, now
Ninety-six tears (whoo!) I wanna hear you cry
Night and day, yeah, all night long
Uh-ninety-six tears cry cry cry
C'mon baby, let me hear you cry now, all night long
Uh-ninety-six tears! Yeah! C'mon now
Uh-ninety-six tears!


Enough whining out of you.

What does ? and the Mysterians' song about mutual oral sex have to do with this topic? (Original title was "69 tears"...)

So? Taking the sugar isn't the same as thanking the person who passed it to you.

Why would a decent person expect thanks?

Black history month isnt "thanks black people."

What does ? and the Mysterians' song about mutual oral sex have to do with this topic? (Original title was "69 tears"...)

Note the quote it was posted in reference to.

Why would a decent person expect thanks?

Black history month isnt "thanks black people."

Um, celebrating contributions made specifically by, and only by Blacks? I'd call that thanks. Thanking some one is recognising their help, and saying "hey, we apreciate it". We are devoting a whole month to that, not one day, like for the soldiers of ours who died, the hundreds-of-thousands of them who get one stinkin' day, instead we give a whole month to a minority's contribtutions. If that isn't saying "THANK YOU" I don't know what is.

If it was worth knowing, I'd know it. The Germans or the French or the Dutch don't need a month, we know what they've done.

You ever have a blood transfusion or know anyone who has? Part of the reason that's possible is the process for creating blood plasma, invented by a black doctor, Charles Drew. Plasma saved countless lives in WWII. Pretty fucking important, I'd wager.

You like rock 'n roll and everything that's sprung from it? Thank the blues, and for the blues, you thank black Americans like Charles Johnson, Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters and countless, nameless others.

That's just two examples without naming "celebrity" folks like W.E.B. DuBois, Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Jesse Owens, and many more.

I truly pity your ignorance.

You ever have a blood transfusion or know anyone who has? Part of the reason that's possible is the process for creating blood plasma, invented by a black doctor, Charles Drew. Plasma saved countless lives in WWII. Pretty fucking important, I'd wager.

You like rock 'n roll and everything that's sprung from it? Thank the blues, and for the blues, you thank black Americans like Charles Johnson, Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters and countless, nameless others.

That's just two examples without naming "celebrity" folks like W.E.B. DuBois, Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Jesse Owens, and many more.

I truly pity your ignorance.

What I think he's saying is that blacks have made contributions, but so have other groups. Penicillin, the Constitution, cars, most electronics are the work of white and asian people overwhelmingly, but we don't have a whole month dedicated to that.

Personally, I support Black History Month for one reason, and it has nothing to do with achievement of blacks. The reason is because of all the different kinds of people who have immigrated to America, only blacks were forced here. The black experience truly is unique, for better or for worse. However, I wouldn't support a Hispanic or an Asian or a White month because all those people came here of their own free will.

School was fun today. All the black kids held their fists up and cuased a general ruckus in the classrooms with white teachers. When do we get a white history month?

You mean you forgot about the 11 white history months?

You mean you forgot about the 11 white history months?

you know that's getting pretty annoying.

Note the quote it was posted in reference to.

I see. Still, a stretch.

What I think he's saying is that blacks have made contributions, but so have other groups. Penicillin, the Constitution, cars, most electronics are the work of white and asian people overwhelmingly, but we don't have a whole month dedicated to that.

Personally, I support Black History Month for one reason, and it has nothing to do with achievement of blacks. The reason is because of all the different kinds of people who have immigrated to America, only blacks were forced here. The black experience truly is unique, for better or for worse. However, I wouldn't support a Hispanic or an Asian or a White month because all those people came here of their own free will.

Well said.

All I can say is that I was in public school before there was such a thing as Black History Month. I learned about Crispus Attucks, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, read Uncle Tom's Cabin and Roots, the fact that Africans were sometimes the ones selling the slaves in Africa, conditions on a slave ship, The Missouri Compromise, George Washington Carver, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Muddy Waters (music classes), Rosa Parks, Barbara Johns, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, MLK Jr., Medgar Evers, Brown v. Board, 12 Angry Men, Gov. Wallace, Jim Crow, Reconstruction, the KKK, Malcolm X, Jester Hairston, Scott Joplin, James P. Johnson, the Harlem Renaissance, 52nd Street in the 40s and 50s, Tuskegee, Miss Evers' Boys, Glory, The Civil War was less about slavery than it was about sovereignty and economics, and lots more. Some of it was in February, most of it wasn't.

I guess I didn't need a month long before some curriculum airheads thought we did.

I wonder, does its author at least factor in that for a group to flourish it (as in its members) must also have the concomitant will to do so?

Why should he? Any such "will" is hardly non-contigent.

you know that's getting pretty annoying.

Agreed -- but is anyone really saying anything that disproves it? Did I really need to know about Robert Fulton and the steamboat, when it was James Watt's steam engine that was far more important? Of course not, but Fulton was an American, Watt wasn't. US History is a curriculum by committee that does its best to tell a complex story while defending itself from outside interests, governmental crusaders and other groups hell bent on simplifying it to death, all while retaining its status as the most boring subject this side of calculus.

Agreed -- but is anyone really saying anything that disproves it? Did I really need to know about Robert Fulton and the steamboat, when it was James Watt's steam engine that was far more important? Of course not, but Fulton was an American, Watt wasn't. US History is a curriculum by committee that does its best to tell a complex story while defending itself from outside interests, governmental crusaders and other groups hell bent on simplifying it to death, all while retaining its status as the most boring subject this side of calculus.

Yeah about 4 or 8 pages back, depending on your settings we had this little thing where people mentioned all the other minority groups that get the shaft in history classes. Oddly none of them have a month.

I see. Still, a stretch.



Well said.

All I can say is that I was in public school before there was such a thing as Black History Month. I learned about Crispus Attucks, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, read Uncle Tom's Cabin and Roots, the fact that Africans were sometimes the ones selling the slaves in Africa, conditions on a slave ship, The Missouri Compromise, George Washington Carver, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Muddy Waters (music classes), Rosa Parks, Barbara Johns, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, MLK Jr., Medgar Evers, Brown v. Board, 12 Angry Men, Gov. Wallace, Jim Crow, Reconstruction, the KKK, Malcolm X, Jester Hairston, Scott Joplin, James P. Johnson, the Harlem Renaissance, 52nd Street in the 40s and 50s, Tuskegee, Miss Evers' Boys, Glory, The Civil War was less about slavery than it was about sovereignty and economics, and lots more. Some of it was in February, most of it wasn't.

I guess I didn't need a month long before some curriculum airheads thought we did.

Yeah. I've only graduated fairly recently, and, though we had this silly little Black History Month, we still learned "black history" (Damn I hate that phrase. There is no racial history, there is only history. Do I go around talking about, say, blonde history? Brown-eyed history? Hair color, eye color and skin color are no more or less important than each other, that is, they aren't at all.) just fine. Basically, we doubled up. We learned "black (sic) history" when it we were at the point in history when the particular event/person was relevant, but then we also had a month devoted to saying "Hey, guess what? Black people did stuff too!" (No shit! I thought that people with slightly darker skin than I have NEVER did anything, by virtue of the different amount of pigments that they have.)

Yep. Kids in schools all over the US are learning about how George Washington Carver invented the peanut, about the Tuskegee Airmen flying into battle against white Europeans, and about Rosa Parks and her seat. Do any other countries have a special (insert race, religion, whatever) history month?

Anyone else notice Black History Month is the shortest one?

Anyone else notice Black History Month is the shortest one?

it was actually chosen to coincide with frederick douglass' and abraham lincoln's birthdays. also happend to pick up a number of other important events and figures in black history in america. short month, but it's rather busy.

it was actually chosen to coincide with frederick douglass' and abraham lincoln's birthdays. also happend to pick up a number of other important events and figures in black history in america. short month, but it's rather busy.

Hey, learn something new every day!

Yeah. I've only graduated fairly recently, and, though we had this silly little Black History Month, we still learned "black history" (Damn I hate that phrase. There is no racial history, there is only history. Do I go around talking about, say, blonde history? Brown-eyed history? Hair color, eye color and skin color are no more or less important than each other, that is, they aren't at all.) just fine.

:D :D :D :D :D that's all I am trying to say.

Go ahead. Flame me. It wouldn't be the first time. Nor will it be the last.

You must be a fortune teller because that's exactly what I'm about to do right now.

Blah Kerosene Blah Blah Firewood Blah

We celebrate Black History month because black people didn't choose to come here. We 'white people' dragged their asses across the ocean and forced them to live in slavery for over a century and then weren't granted equal rights until the late 1960's. There are still savage backwooded places that don't see that, or are willing to ignore that.

No one ignores the rest of history during February, and to you 'reverse discrimation folk', we don't give black people our money and homes for the month/give up any of our rights.

This is month is a little way of saying:

"Thanks black people for taking all the shit we've done to you, and still are, in stride. Through all that you still managed to provide the world with great things and this our way of saying we're sorry.

^-^
-White People"

In short.

America has Black History Month because we gave them the shaft. I would like to see Native Americans get a little more help, because that's the one thing our history likes to look right through.

There is no such thing as 'objective' history unless you've lived it yourself. Otherwise your going someone else's word, which you always have to take with a grain of salt.

This is month is a little way of saying:

"Thanks black people for taking all the shit we've done to you, and still are, in stride. Through all that you still managed to provide the world with great things and this our way of saying we're sorry.

^-^
-White People"

In short.


I as a "white person" did nothing to the current generation of "black people" that I need to apologize for. I get tired of the entitlement crowd and I don't think they are going away any time soon if we keep saying "oh, we white people suck and you black people have a hard time....we are so sorry, here's special treatment"

I as a "white person" did nothing to the current generation of "black people" that I need to apologize for. I get tired of the entitlement crowd and I don't think they are going away any time soon if we keep saying "oh, we white people suck and you black people have a hard time....we are so sorry, here's special treatment"

thats what going on here too

I as a "white person" did nothing to the current generation of "black people" that I need to apologize for. I get tired of the entitlement crowd and I don't think they are going away any time soon if we keep saying "oh, we white people suck and you black people have a hard time....we are so sorry, here's special treatment"

Yup. So some White people profit from Black slaves, and don't have to do a damn thing about the suffering they caused. So some Black poeple are forced work for dumb white people, and never see any reward.
A while later... White people who didn't do anything wrong, are worried about Blacks who never did the suffering.

Actually, it was us Brits who brought the Africans over. If it wasn't for us and the Dutch, America wouldn't need a Black history month.

Do any other countries have a special (insert race, religion, whatever) history month?

Poland doesn't.