A## Automatic-Folio-Appears-Here pubname
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Black History Month
A painting dedicated to the founders of Black History Month, the Black United Students at Kent State University, by Ernie Pryor. Wikipedia photos
Why we
remember The Black United Students’ first culture center, where many events of the first Black History Month celebration took place.
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
T
he creator of what’s now known as Black History Month hoped for a day when it would no longer be required. Half a century after the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson, working with the Association for the Study of Negro (now African American) Life and History, created Negro History Week to be observed during the second week of February. The key to the date was that it coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, said Janus Adams, an Emmy Award-winning journalist, historian, author and nonprofit founder/publisher. Born into slavery around 1818, Douglass “essentially had to invent his birthday,” Adams said. “His mother was sold away from him by the age of 5, and he had to cobble together stories to come up with his birthdate.” A February birthday was deemed appropriate because oral history said that Douglass’ mother called him her little valentine, Adams said. Woodson, the Father of Black History, is best known for writing “The MisEducation of the Negro,” and “that means the miseducation of everybody,” Adams said. In 1926, black Americans and their
Carter G. Woodson (1875–1950)
“If you don’t know African-American history, you don’t know American history. There’s a missing piece of the puzzle. These stories have been expunged from history. It’s trying to fill in a missing piece of U.S. history.” Janus Adams
accomplishments were rarely — if ever — mentioned in schools. Remember, this was during the days of segregation, when “separate but equal” public schools was the law of the land. It wasn’t until 1954 that the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which was successfully argued by future Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall, found that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” Woodson’s goal in creating the weeklong event was to incorporate the teaching of the history of American blacks/the African diaspora in the nation’s schools. “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated,” Woodson wrote. Black History Month was first celebrated at Ohio’s Kent State University in 1970 and was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976, when he urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history” during the nation’s bicentennial. Why it’s still needed Black History Month often sparks
a debate over why a month dedicated to the accomplishments of one race is needed. “The issue isn’t white or black history; it’s United States history,” Adams said. Plus, “every month is White History Month.” “If you don’t know African-American history, you don’t know American history. There’s a missing piece of the puzzle. These stories have been expunged from history. It’s trying to fill in a missing piece of U.S. history,” Adams said. Adams rejects the people who joke about Black History Month being the shortest month of the year. It’s held in February because it evolved from Negro History Week. In addition to giving black people a sense of pride and purpose, Black History Month gives all Americans a better sense of our multicultural heritage, Adams said. Woodson believed that racial prejudice “is merely the logical result of tradition, the inevitable outcome of thorough instruction to the effect that the Negro has never contributed anything to the progress of mankind.” For more information The Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s website is asalh.org.
A## Automatic-Folio-Appears-Here pubname
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Monuments to history By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
Black History Month
African-American contributions to culture, history and society are often overlooked. Need proof? Take a look at the monuments around your city or state or when you travel around the country. A common definition “states that a monument commemorates something or someone, in order to uplift and keep it in public memory — an enduring symbol of our lives. A monument can be a statue or structure, erected to honor a famous person or event. It might be a building of historical importance. Here in Philadelphia our city is full of monuments, many crafted in bronze and marble. There are monuments to individuals, to war, to culture. They can represent, elevate, inspire. But they also can be statements of power,” said Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “Philadelphia has one of the most storied collections of public art,” yet it took until fall 2017 for the first public sculpture of an African-American, Octavius Catto, to be erected, Golden said. The Octavius V. Catto Memorial, outside Philadelphia’s City Hall, recognizes the activist and educator who was gunned down by a white mob on Election Day 1871. Catto fought successfully to integrate the city’s trolley lines and pushed for Pennsylvania to approve the 15th Amendment that granted African-Americans the right to vote. Catto is seen striding forward toward a granite representation of a 19th century ballot box. Power equals pedestals The struggles of people who don’t have the power, the resisters — “black people, poor people, brown people and women” — don’t get the same recognition as the people who have traditionally inherited power, said Marisa Williamson, one of the artists from the Mural Arts Philadelphia Monument Lab. In September and November 2017, Monument Lab was a public art and history project that invited people to join a citywide conversation about history, memory and the future. “Both in Philadelphia and around the country the monuments we have speak to and for us all,” but they speak to only a sliver of the population, Golden said. “Monument Lab aims to address this skewed picture through a collective reckoning with the core values of our city.” The people with power are the ones who traditionally are put up on pedestals. Monuments to struggles for power are rare. “They can threaten the delicate system through which power has been passed from one privileged person to another,” Williamson said. “The Civil War monuments are interesting in this way. In a war in which two privileged sides were fighting to maintain their way of life, the life of the Confederacy was dependent on the violent exploitation of enslaved blacks. Their demands were ones that sought to maintain power over black people’s bodies and labor. They wanted to pass that power down to their children. To get rid of Civil War monuments today is to disrupt that process and end the transfer of white privilege,” Williamson said. Time is now Helping people understand the past is a way to understand the future, said Robert Luckett, associate professor of history, Jackson State University in Mississippi. “It’s long past due to tell the story of African-Americans that’s been completely whitewashed. Throughout history the disregard for black lives is systemic,” said Luckett, director of Jackson State’s Margaret Walker Center, dedicated to AfricanAmerican history and culture. Monuments play a powerful role in creating a national history, Luckett said. “We need a national movement to add more” monuments and memorials to African-Americans, Luckett said. “It’s an opportunity to impact the national dialogue.” A few pieces remain from the temporary Monument Lab project that are well worth a visit. Jamel Shabazz, a photographer from New York City, created a photographic mural, “Love Is the Message,” that is a tribute to African-American veterans and their families set against the backdrop of
Panoramic view of Harpers Ferry from Maryland Heights, with the Shenandoah (left) and Potomac (right) rivers. Wikipedia
Germantown’s historic Vernon Park. Williamson’s monument “Sweet Chariot” and its accompanying app create an interactive video scavenger hunt through Philadelphia that uncovers the stories of some incredible black Philadelphians past and present. Visit sweetchariotml.com. Monuments to visit “Monuments help tell the story of our country. They are tangible reminders of the people and events that have influenced our collective culture and society,” said Kathy Kupper, spokeswoman for the National Park Service. Here’s a list of monuments to African-Americans and other places of interest to check out: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Storer College and its significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, Harpers Ferry is also the home of John Brown’s Fort, where Brown and several of his followers barricaded themselves during the final hours of their ill-fated raid of Oct. 16-18, 1859.
Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham, Alabama A gathering place for large-scale, peaceful protests in the 1960s, the 4-acre park in the Birmingham Civil Rights District, just across the street from 16th Street Baptist Church, now pays tribute to the foot soldiers, heroes and martyrs of the Civil Rights Movement.
Texas African American History Memorial, Austin, Texas Unveiled in early 2017, the memorial includes sculptures and statues of representative figures and specific historical figures, like Estevanico, one of the first enslaved Africans on record to step foot on North America when his Spanish ship wrecked in the early 16th century.
The Texas African American History Memorial in Austin. Justraveling.com/Wikipedia
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Washington, D.C. Honoring Dr. King’s legacy and the struggle for freedom, equality and justice, the memorial’s centerpiece is a 30-foot statue of King’s likeness carved in stone with the inscription: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”
Toni Morrison’s Bench by the Road, Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina First of several erected by the Toni Morrison Society in 2008, the Bench by the Road is a 6-foot-long structure with a small bronze plaque mounted on its back. The name “Bench by the Road” is taken from Morrison’s remarks in a 1989 interview where she spoke of the absences of historical markers that help remember the lives of Africans who were enslaved and of how her fifth novel, “Beloved,” served this role.
The President’s House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The only federally funded slave memorial in the United States explores the paradox of slavery and freedom at the nation’s first executive mansion, in which Presidents George Washington
and John Adams lived during their terms and where nine enslaved people served the first president.
Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment, Boston, Massachusetts Across Beacon Street from the State House, the memorial serves as a reminder of the cost paid by individuals and families during the Civil War. In particular, it serves as a memorial to the group of men who were among the first African-Americans to fight in that war.
Spirit of Freedom African American Civil War Memorial, Washington, D.C. Located at the African American Civil War Museum, founded to recognize the contributions of the United States Colored Troops, the memorial honors these American soldiers who fought for freedom during the Civil War.
Carter G. Woodson Statue, Washington, D.C. Located in Carter G. Woodson Park, the statue is dedicated to the Father of Black History.
pubname
Automatic-Folio-Appears-Here
A##
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Never too early Raising color-blind kids may seem like a good idea, but it’s really not possible. “From a very young age children notice race. Studies show children as young as 2, 3 or 4 are not color-blind,” Ortiz said. There’s nothing wrong with observing differences, especially for young children who may describe a new classmate as having a black or brown face, Ortiz said. “It’s not racism if they’re simply observing skin color,” she said. When your young child makes a racial observation, acknowledge what they’ve said, place value on what they’re saying, and ask follow-up questions. You can say, “That’s an important question or observation, I’m so glad you shared that with me.” Then ask follow-up questions like, “Why do you say that?” and encourage future conversations, Ortiz said. Race is inherently taught “In terms of racial differences, things can be more complicated because we live in highly racially segregated neighborhoods and go to racially segregated schools. Kids will not ‘see’ race unless we teach them, and we will teach them about race difference without even realizing,” Pelak said. “Judging when a child is ready for a hard conversation about any issue may start when your child asks you about that issue.” Talking about race and racism is difficult and fraught with emotion. At Border Crossers training, the goal is to strive for a “brave space” rather than a “safe space.” “Transformation happens when you’re in a yellow zone. When you’re uncomfortable or uneasy, that’s when you learn something,” Ortiz said. Inquiry can help keep the conversation going, even if a parent doesn’t have the answers. It’s OK to say “‘Let’s look for the answers together.’ Or, ‘I’ve got to do my homework on that and get back to you,’” Ortiz said. Rather than having all the answers before talking with their kids, Pelak suggests that “parents become more comfortable and knowledgeable about the difficult hot-button issues so that they can model respectful dialoguing and healthy coping behavior.” Make it personal Some parents are concerned that talking about race will radicalize kids, but not talking about race actually allows stereotypes and generalizations to go unchecked, Ortiz said. Pelak agrees: “One problem facing white parents is that we have been taught to not talk about race and racism. Thus we white folks need to start talking about race and racism, particular white supremacy and the idea that so-called white people
Black History Month How to talk with kids about
in person or online might be a good place to start,” Pelak said.
racism By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
In these tumultuous times, the conversation about race is increasingly important, especially for parents who should be having direct conversations with their kids. “The current climate in our country is pushing for these conversations to be had. Because of what’s happening right now there’s an opportunity to have explicit conversations about race and racism,” said Natalia Ortiz, training director at Border Crossers, an organization with headquarters in New York City and Dallas, Texas, that provides training for educators, parents and communities on how to talk about race and racism with children. “All people are impacted by racism, even white people. White people benefit from racism,” Ortiz said. For people of color, the conversation about race often starts early out of necessity, but white families may not be having the same conversations, said Dr. Cynthia Fabrizio Pelak, assistant professor of sociology at New Mexico State University. “Parents of black and brown kids don’t need to be told by experts that they need to have conversations with their kids about racism. This is because their child’s very life and body is where the racism lands in our society,” said Pelak, who is an expert in the areas of race and racism, gender and sexism, and social change through sports. Imagery of racism is impossible to ignore in the age of social media. Kids have most likely seen images of white nationalists marching in Charlottesville, Virginia, and NFL players taking a knee for racial equality and justice on television or their phones. These events need to be talked about before children encounter them on their own. “Kids will pick up conversations, media coverage, and all the emotions that adults and other children express,” Pelak said. “We are in an extraordinary moment in which our social norms of respectable discourse and nonviolent communication between individuals are currently being challenged. We are also in a political moment in which race and racism are being used to gain and maintain political power and control.”
should be in authority/power.” Another strategy to get kids talking about race is to bring up a time when the parent experienced or felt uncomfortable about racism, Ortiz said. How did you handle it? What did you say? Would you handle it differently now? “Parents need to continue to learn and question what is the right approach,” Ortiz said. Depending on the age of one’s kids, another idea is “to start a family project of learning more about the contributions of African-Americans and other people of color (depending on which region of the country one lives) to our communities and nation. Visiting a local or national museum/civil-rights centers
An African-American military policeman on a motorcycle in front of the “colored” MP entrance, Columbus, Georgia, in 1942. WIKIPEDIA
Be honest Young children especially shouldn’t have their words shut down. Instead of saying, “That’s not something we talk about,” try to get more information, Ortiz said: “That’s an interesting comment. Why did you say that?” When talking about history — for example, Columbus sailing to America — be honest with your kids, Ortiz said. Did Columbus really “discover” America? What really happened to the Native Americans who were already here? “If you don’t talk about history truthfully, then your kids may think (institutionalized racism) is the fault of the black or brown people,” Ortiz said. “When we are dishonest with our kids they will know. Children might not be able to verbally express themselves but they generally know more than we think they know,” Pelak said. If you don’t know something or don’t understand something, tell your child you are trying to figure it out yourself. Ask them what they think. “Questions that allow them to explore their thoughts and feelings will be more productive than trying to cover up a problem,” Pelak said. “It’s better for children to see parents trying to figure something out,” Ortiz said. It’s great to revisit a conversation after you’ve learned something new — even better if you checked something out and found a better answer, she said. Take action Talk to children about what it really means to be anti-racist. Teach them to stand up and say something when they encounter racism, and model the same behavior as a parent, Ortiz said. “Think critically all the time,” she said. When you’re toy shopping, notice whether all the dolls have white faces or if all skin tones are represented, for example. Parents who enjoy privilege or shelter based on their whiteness must remember that there is a long legacy of racism in the country, Pelak said. “It is not a matter of being racist or not racist as individuals. In our society, we all learn to do racism. The challenge is to understand those lessons that have been imposed on us and not teach those lessons to the next generation,” Pelak said. Rather than dreading conversations about race, view them as opportunities for empowerment and growth. “Life is a journey of learning,” Pelak said. “This might be a moment for all of us, particularly white folks in the U.S., to collectively challenge ourselves to face our fears and embrace learning. We are all in this together.”
A## Automatic-Folio-Appears-Here pubname
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Telling their story
Black History Month
Movies that depict life, race, untold history
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
Great movies engage people with story, characters and cinematography. They can spark conversation, impact an individual viewer, and even bring change to our culture and country. Powerful and inspiring stories about African-Americans and people of color may be more rare, but they are just as daring, original and essential. From the films of Spike Lee and comedies starring Eddie Murphy to documentaries that tell America’s often-overlooked history and classics that still resonate today, these films are worth seeking out. “Spending time together watching TV or movies as parents and kids or adult couples together is important” and can inspire conversations about race and diversity, said April Reign, an activist for diversity and inclusion and creator of #OscarsSoWhite. In 2015 after the overwhelmingly white group of Oscar nominees was announced, Reign tweeted “#OscarsSoWhite they asked to touch my hair.” Her hashtag went viral and continued to flame on in 2016, when that year’s roster of nominees failed to improve in diversity both behind and in front of the camera. Change takes time, but many in the film industry and around the world got on board to demand it. There is a perception that #OscarsSoWhite is a black thing, “but it isn’t binary. It’s about all facets of race, age, gender and ability,” Reign said. It’s a movement that calls for fair representation and recognition of all people in film. Asked about “black films” to watch during February’s Black History Month, Reign said, “the term ‘black film’ concerns me.” Labeling a film as “black” marginalizes it and limits it at the box office, she said. After all, what film is a white film? “Is ‘Schindler’s List’ a white film? Is it a Jewish film? No. Don’t pigeonhole or you will limit the people who will want to see the film,” Reign said. Movies can be an ideal occasion to open up and learn something new. “They can be a great entry point to talk about race and what’s happening in our country right now,” said JeffriAnne Wilder, a sociologist and scholar specializing in diversity, race relations and gender issues at University of North Florida in Jacksonville. “The best movies to do this are engaging but not horribly uncomfortable or overly confrontational. They also don’t sugarcoat. Find something that strikes a balance and leaves them wanting more. A film that teaches you something and makes you ask, ‘why didn’t I know this?’ The same problems (in our country) keep occurring because we don’t know our history beyond what we learned in elementary school,” said Wilder, who is the founding director of UNF’s Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations. Encouraging diversity in the film industry is about “casting a wider net” not “about a quota system,” Reign said. “It’s important for all people to tell their stories,” she said. Incremental changes are happening. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited its most diverse membership and has vowed to double the number of women and people of color included by 2020, Reign
said. Director J.J. Abrams, notably of the updated “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” franchises, has changed his hiring practices on all future projects to reflect the country we live in, which is roughly 50 percent women, 13 percent black, 18 percent Hispanic and 6 percent Asian. Looking for a great movie to watch? Try one of these: “Crash” (2004) Directed by Paul Haggis with an all-star ensemble cast that reflects the real-life diversity of Los Angeles, “‘Crash’ cuts across all racial and ethnic groups,” Wilder said. It deals with the microagressions — the small slights both social and racial — that people deal with when interacting with others and how they manage them. The characters’ stories intertwine over two days in this intense film that explored the dangers of bigotry.
“Hidden Figures” A film that made many people ask, “How did I not know this?”, “Hidden Figures” is the story of three female African-American mathematicians at NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. These women crunched the numbers as “human computers” to get John Glenn into space and home safely in this film based on a true story. “Zootopia” Tackling racism, stereotypes and diversity, “Zootopia” wasn’t all furry fun. Underneath the surface laughs are real lessons about how we categorize each other without directly saying “race,” Wilder said. Plus, it’s got a cool soundtrack. “For non-parents of color it can help them ask basic questions and help teach kids about race,” Wilder said. Anything by Spike Lee Lee blazed a trail with films like “Get on the Bus,” “Malcolm X” and “Crooklyn.” For Reign, “Do the Right Thing” is his seminal work. “There aren’t a lot of films that show everyday black life,” she said. An instant classic that resonates today, the film was written and directed by Lee and opens up the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, during a summer heat wave. Tempers flare, interracial friendship is threatened and conflict spirals out
of control as the oppression and discrimination of the late 1980s make the characters ask what’s the right way to answer prejudice. “Raise the Power” This PBS threepart documentary asks, what if we suddenly discovered that our most basic assumptions about race were false? The series scrutinizes the very idea of race through the lenses of science, history and social institutions and challenges some of our most deeply held beliefs. “Bring it On” This cult classic starring Gabrielle Union and Kirsten Dunst is about a white cheer team from San Diego that realizes its perfectly choreographed routines were stolen from a hip-hop squad from East Compton. At its core it examines race and class relations, cultural appropriation and economic inequality, yet is still a fun-to-watch high school comedy. “Imitation of Life” This 1959 socially conscious romantic drama stars Lana Turner and Sandra Dee as well as gospel star Mahalia Jackson. When little white Susie goes missing at the beach she’s found by an African-American single mother. The black daughter, Sarah Jane, breaks her mother’s heart by attempting to pass for white. It was a soapopera success at the box office but also a powerful examination of racism that was ahead of its time. “Creed” A wonderful comingof-age movie and a continuation of the “Rocky” films, “Creed” stars Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone and is a story of good versus evil. It’s full of life and humor, with a knockout of an ending. “13th” Ava DuVernay’s galvanizing documentary is a sweeping treatment of the history of racism. Watch it to help understand the insidiousness of cultural, societal and economic oppression and how Americans came to accept things like slavery and Jim Crow laws. It should be required viewing in schools, Reign said. “Moonlight” This Oscar winner directed by Barry Jenkins and starring Mahershala Ali is the rare depiction of an LGBT coming-of-age story. Beautifully shot, this R-rated film is a tender and heartbreaking portrait of the lives of young African-American men. “Marshall” Starring Chadwick Boseman as a young (and future Supreme Court justice) Thurgood Marshall, this
biographical drama benefits from skipping the moralizing civics lesson. Instead it preserves a piece of history as the lawyer defends a black chauffeur accused of sexual assault and attempted murder of a white socialite. With the help of a Jewish lawyer, they fight racism and anti-semitism while muzzled by a segregationist court. “Coming to America” Comedian Eddie Murphy plays a pampered prince who’s rebelling against an arranged marriage and arrives in America looking for a bride. Everybody has a favorite quote from this silly film chock-full of snappy one-liners. “Glory” A stirring tribute to AfricanAmericans who fought for the Union cause during the Civil War but whose contributions were ignored by history. “12 Years a Slave” The story of Solomon Northup, a New York-born free AfricanAmerican man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841 and sold into slavery for 12 years before his release. “Amistad” Based on the true story of the 1839 mutiny aboard the slave ship La Amistad, this film shows how the abducted Mende tribesmen managed to gain control of their captors’ ship and the legal battle that followed after the ship is captured by U.S. forces. Opening in February: “Black Panther” The 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa who, after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as king. When an old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king and Black Panther is tested when he is drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the world at risk. Also stars Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Andy Serkis. “A Wrinkle in Time” This new adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s fantasy/sci-fi story is directed by Ava DuVernay and stars Storm Reid, Mindy Kaling, Oprah Winfrey and Chris Pine. It is the first film with a budget of over $100 million to be directed by an African-American woman.