Black History Month: Mixed Feelings

I've known Black History Month, which began as Negro History Week in 1926, by Carter G. Woodson, since I was 4-years old. Growing up in a largely Black, West Indian community, it struck me as comical that I was learning about what Blacks had faced in the South, and even what the slaves had faced in the Virgin Islands.

It wasn't until I was in the third grade that it started to make sense and I began to appreciate the contributions by so many determined and selfless Black people. Still, I was perplexed because there were so many contributions made by White, Yellow and other folks, that I struggled to understand why another person would look down on another human being for being 'different'? It took alot of explaining and patience on my parent's part, and, certainly, on my grandparent's part, having been born in 1920 in the British Virgin Islands.

Still, today, some argue that Black History Month should become a thing of the past, because the United States has the first bi-racial (some would argue and say Black) President.

Some see Black History Month or as officially proclaimed by President Obama on Februar 2, 2009, "National African-American History Month.". Obama called for," all people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs that raise awareness and appreciation of African-American history."

While Black History Month has become a fixture in schools, some would ask if we still need to celebrate it in the new century?

Some would argue that Black History Month should be eliminated because it does nothing more than promote division, because of the stain of guilt that many Whites feel. Does this hinder people's growth of accepting differences and having frank conversations about them? Some would say that it does.

So, as I write this on the first day of February 2010, I write this knowing that it's important to know the history and give voice to those that struggled and even died, so that I can write such a piece, as a Black man.

As a race of human beings, we have to learn how to have those uncomfortable conversations without jumping to conclusions; we have to allow human beings to be just that, human beings.

Education, open dialogue,s willingness to learn and think beyond the self is key and that goes for Black, White, Yellow and Brown. We are, after all, One Nation Under A Groove!