With Black History month set to begin in February again this year I reflect on just what we are talking about. I assume it is black or Afro American history as it applies to the United States of America. History by definition is "the study of the past, particularly how it relates to humans. It is an umbrella term that relates to past events as well as memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of information about these events." The "interpretation" is the part of the definition that I have a problem with, particularly with the history which I was taught and is still being taught in America's schools today.
"The history that's presented to people, that they can interact with, is the product of power. It's about who had the resources to tell the story and what story they chose to tell." The story of the pilgrims in true history is nothing like the tale of John Smith and Pocahontas. Nor is the settling of America anything like the movies and history that is written in our history books. These were trying and cruel times and the Europeans that colonized this country were powerful, rich and ruthless to say the least. The Civil War that divided this country was probably much worst than anything that is going on in Syria or the middle east during these days.
In America the history books were tools to foster nationalism and patriotism, and give students the official line about national enemies. They are sponsored by the government and are written to put the national heritage in the most favorable light. It is no wonder that common history books in our schools show the good side of America and never any of its negatives. We are always fighting for right and being portrayed as the "good neighbor or ally."
George Santayana states that "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This is true and can be seen everyday. But what past are we talking about. The same issues of our past still drive many of our most fervent public debates. After the Civil War history changed with the abolishment of slavery. One of the most white washed part of our history that there every was. The Klu Klux Klan established in 1867 was the American alQaeda exist today. They probably killed more people in Reconstruction than Osama Bin Laden managed to do. Changes to the constitution back then defined citizenship, voting rights, state rights, federal overreach, and terrorism. These are issues we death with again in the 1960's and now in the 21st century.
The only reason there is a need for a Black History month is because the history of blacks in America was omitted in most cases by our public schools. The history of America was written by whites and with a white perspective. America claims to be a melting pot but really nothing is presented as a combined history. Those with wealth and power paint a picture of a country that was strongly held together by the Anglo Saxon Caucasian that colonized this land. It had nothing to do with the fact that the less fortunate did the work, fought the wars, and carried the burdens which built this great nation. I applaud the Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and any other minority that lives and dies in America, to try and present their history from their perspective. For it too is American history.
