Black history is history!

Now in the early beginnings of Black History Month (BHM) 2010, I can’t help but wonder if I should be excited or not.  Yes, it is a month when we should be appreciating the heritage that we have come from and pay tribute to all those activists, heroes and heroines who fought for us to have a voice but, when we look at what BHM really is, is it being put in our calendar for the right reasons?

The fact that BHM had been implemented in our society for more than 30 years astonishes me, as I for one do not feel as though this month which is supposed to signify the history behind the roots and beginnings of us as Black people, gives the impact that you would expect it to.

Let’s be realisitic, depending on the area in which your children attend school will represent the type of recognition days that are learnt about and the type of inset days that are dedicated to them. I for one know of a little sweetheart who has already had a day off for Eid and will surely be antipating a day off for Diwali and Guru Nanak’s birthday. And although she is taught about various holidays that are celebrated in aide of Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity (Christmas), I’m wondering what part of their curriculum included learning about elements of Black history?

Why shouldn’t our children and children from other cultures be taught about certain historic characters from within the Black community. Characters like Madam C.J. Walker, who is the first Black woman to become a millionaire back in 1914, by producing a range of black haircare products as a result of her hair loss.  Telling our children of inspirational role models from our history would allow them to see how much they can achieve if they put their minds to it. Madam C.J. Walker started her empire with only $2 to her name and was able to recruit 1000 employees with the business that she was able to build from scratch.The beauty of this story was that although Madam C.J. Walker was born to former slaves and was orphaned from a young age, she was still able to overcome her struggles and make a difference in her life and to the lives of many in her time.

So why isn’t characters like these part of our children’s history lessons? Yes we live in a country where World War 1 and 2 played a major role in  the way in which the country was effected at the time. We are constantly told to remember the poor war veterans who lost limbs and in many cases their lives in order to fight for ‘our’ country. And yet we are living in a multicultural country, where ethnic minorities are granted a month which is not truly acknowledged for its’ worth.

Black people are an intrical part in our history and if it weren’t for many of our ancestors, we may not be here to tell the tale. Why is there such a big red tape around the issue of celebrating Black culture, when people from the Asian community do not have to experience the same stigma. Yes, I recognise the fact that as a community we have been graced with a whole month of being able to celebrate the fact that we are Black but, if we don’t take responsibility to fully implement the meaning behind BHM, then what is the point of having it?

Logistically, Black people in the UK are mainly found in the main cities such as London and Birmingham but what happens when you travel further out? Do people in these areas even think twice about celebrating BHM?

I think not, as why would they need to if schools are not teaching them about the story behind it. Why would they care that BHM was an idea stemmed of Carter G. Woodson in 1926 whom intiated Negro History Week.

The Government are very good at trying to implement things which they feel will make them look better in the eyes of the public but, as our youths are battling with peer pressure, violence and gangs, I think it’s time that they were shown their roots so that they can fully understand the error of their ways and start to establish their inner strength and passions.

Without our guidance, they will never see why ‘Black on Black’ crime is a kick in the teeth to all those activists who strove to gain equality for us in hard times. We shouldn’t have to go backwards to come forwards, as we need to stand as one to help our future generations succeed.

Let’s not make our black history ‘history’, instead use it as a stepping stone in helping our dreams and aspirations for the future.

Key people in history:

1. Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, circa 1818 – February 20, 1895) – American Social Reformer
2. Garrett Morgan (March 4, 1877 – August 27, 1963) – Invented traffic lights
3. Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731 – October 9, 1806) – Made the first clock in America
4. James McCune Smith (April 18, 1813 – November 17, 1865) – First Black doctor
5. William Edward Burghardt DuBois (1868-1963)- First Black person to obtain a Ph.D.