An End to Black History Month?
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2012-02-01/end-black-history-month
Black History Month begins today, but some say it's an idea whose time has passed, and that it's doing more harm than good today. We meet a filmmaker who crisscrossed the country to explore race and power in America, including the role African American history plays in our nation's consciousness and classrooms. Join Kojo for an exploration of the debate over how we teach history and who decides what's mandatory.
Guests
Shukree Hassan Tilghman
Filmmaker; Writer, director, "More Than A Month" (airing Feb. 16 at 10 p.m. on PBS series "Independent Lens")
Sandra Dungee Glenn
Former member and chairperson, School Reform Commission, School District of Philadelphia; Member, Pennsylvania State Board of Education; President and CEO, American Cities Foundation
Jonathan Zimmerman
Professor of Education and History, Director of the History of Education Program, Steinhardt School of Education, New York University; author, "Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Schools" (Harvard University Press)
Comments
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A couple of things: I've often thought it would be great to have a "History Month" that would be inclusive, and I think Black History Month has been something that helped a lot of us learn more about the African-American contribution to building the society we have today. If we don't understand history, we don't understand why things are the way they are.
Some years ago I was interviewing historian Gordon Wood, and asked him if our knowledge of women's history and black history had changed the way we look at the American Revolution, his area of specialty. He said yes, they had, that we now understand that the revolution changed relationships within the family, and between masters and servants, irrevocably, and that we now understand what a profound revolution it was.
I don't feel strongly that we should abolish Black History Month, but I think if that happens, we can take some of the techniques it helped develop and apply them to a wider range of history.
I don't know that we should devote an entire month to different history groups. However, I can remember in elementary school and middle school being fascinated by people we didn't always talk about. George Washington Carver for example. I think curriculum should integrate more diverse historical figures rather than just devoting one month.
I would like to think our country is ready for integration, what with our first black president and a host of other important black figures in our government/nation, however, there ARE unfortunately places in the US who would be happy to do away with black history month given their racists views. So, in my opinion black history month cannot hurt...when the time is right, it will integrate into the rest of our history.
I am a 45 year old white man who was educated in an all white school ( with an all white education). I learn something new every Black History Month that I would not have known otherwise. This year I read the Willie Lynch letters and read about the controversy about them.
I notice that students now are taught more about Black history and therefore know more than I do. Black History Month still serves a valuable service and therefore should not be eliminated yet. BHM is more than about students, it is for all of us.
How interesting that this movie is shown during Black History Month. Maybe, I could take this movie seriously if it was shown outside of the month of February.