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African-American history should be celebrated 365 days a year

It is an amazing milestone and I won’t discredit that however I don’t feel as Black History Month should be restricted to just one month.

My entire school life I have been forced to take general American History that blatantly glosses over the impact African-Americans have made in the U.S.

Personally, I don’t believe it’s fair that black people are practically only allowed to learn black history during one month of the year as if it is not part of true American History.

a true mark of the racial oppression of black people across the U.S.

The worst part about it is I think it works because the education system blatantly ignores the existence of black people until February. And it is so watered down. Students are limited to learning the same thing about the same people each year.

who are important to black history than just Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcom X, Fredrick Douglas, or Harriet Tubman.

There should be more lessons on people like Angela Davis, Ida B. Wells or even Zora Neale Hurston. All three women were overlooked in their efforts to help improve the quality of living for African-Americans.

Tatyana Ross

Editor-in-Chief

Many people don’t know that Black History Month started off as Negro History Week and has since become a national observance recognized in other countries and cultures around the world.

It always feels like American History leaves out pivotal movements and accomplishments from the African-American community. But I know it’s just to push the agenda that there is no race that will be better than their own.

I will say that I think the main cause is that our true oppressors don’t want us to know or understand black history in fear of losing control. And to me it shows

Even now, Florida will not allow a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies to be offered in its high schools, stating that the course is not “historically accurate” and violates state law.

The study of AfricanAmerican contributions are still being limited. Not only to the shortest month of the year, but to be excluded all together.

Unless you were one of the kids interested in learning black history or your own or had parents that encouraged the subject the topic was and remains obsolete.

There is more to people

For instance, Davis was often mistaken as being a part of the Black Panther Party because of their shared beliefs but she was actually a member of the Communist Party.

Wells was a pioneer for African-Americans in journalism; she was unafraid to speak her mind and continued to challenge authority and eventually became co-owner of the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight.

Hurston was more than just an author but she worked as an anthropologist studying all aspects of black people everywhere. Even in the countries some of us dream of visiting today. Black history consists of events other than just the Civil Rights Movement, The Selma to Montgomery March, or the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

And black history definitely yielded more Supreme Court Cases than just Dred Scott v Sanford (1857), Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), or Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. All in all, it is time to change up the content and learn black history over the course of the year to help prevent history from repeating itself. It is ultimately your choice on what you want to learn in regards to African-American history. You should be living it daily as shining examples of what our ancestors fought and died for.

The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represent the views of The Blue & White Flash.

Rico Anderson Junior Entrepreneurship Chicago, Ill.

“I don’t really have a problem with it because we kind of get celebrated every month.”

“I

Jadon Thomas Sophomore Marketing St. Louis, Mis.

“Black History Month is BS because it only reminds me of what we’ve been through and only talks about the same people every year.”

Jaylyn Smith Freshman Healthcare Admin. New Orleans, La.

“I think we need a longer month but I’m going to celebrate every month.”

Sydnie Huddleston Sophomore Social Work Chicago, Ill.

“I feel like Black History Month is every day but to have it during the shortest month of the year to me is anti-black.”

Za’meek Sparks Junior Entrepreneurship Albany, Ga.

“I don’t have a problem with it but I’m going to celebrate my roots any time of any month regardless.”

Emily Vorchae Freshman Entrepreneurship Chicago, Ill.

“It used to be a week, now it’s a month and I feel like that’s good.”

Aryonia Hale Freshman Social Work St. Louis, Mo.

“Black History Month is and should be 365 days a year.”

“I

Jayla Jones Freshman Political Science/English Pine Bluff, Ark.

“Honestly, Black History Month shouldn’t be more than one month but it should be taught and celebrated on the same level as white history and white holidays.”

Camille Charter Chemistry/Pre-med Sophomore Memphis, Tenn.

“Black History Month should be every day, week, and month so we all can learn about where we come from.”