Black history month was set aside because in school we were not taught about historical black people in our history? really? so we never learned about MLK, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Jessie Owens, Joe Frasier, Coretta Scott King, etc.... to say we never learned about historical black people in school and therefore we need a month dedicated to them is nonsense.
All the people you mentioned are people whose place in history was earned after the civil rights movement. There are many black people that are noteworthy long before that time, but until black history month the majority of Americans had never heard of them. An example is Crispus Attucks who was the first casualty of the American Revolution.
the united ***** fund was formed to allow black people who were prevented from going to college? there are far more poor white kids in this country that cannot afford to go to college then black. so that argument makes no sense at all.
The UNCF was founded to provide funding for kids that were disqualified for scholarships due to their race. They give scholarships to historically black universities (which in turn were founded due to non-admission of blacks at other schools) who allow entry to all students regardless of ethnicity.
Being prevented from attending and being financially unable to do so are two totally different things.
since when are black women not allowed to enter the Miss America contest? I cant remember at any time in my lifetime that prevented black women from entering the Miss America contest. what would happen if white women wanted to participate in the Miss Black America contest? and ill bet ALL of those black women have white people in their genealogy at some point.
In 1968 when the Miss black america pageant was created there had not been a single black, latina, asian, or native american contestant, let alone winner. Unfortunately history predates your, my and everyone else breathing today's lifetime. Just because you don't remember it doesn't mean it didn't happen. You are probably correct when stating that all the contestants in the Miss black america pageant have white people in their genes, but please understand that they identify as black because our society has taught them that. From a legal standpoint 1/8 black meant you were considered black, and some states and individual communities went so far as to institute a "one drop" rule. Just like it sounds, one drop of black blood in your gene pool meant you were considered black. Seems ridiculous now, but that's the way it was.
Ebony magazine happened because blacks wernt represented in mainstream print? I can understand that one but the fact remains that if there was a magazine listed "White magazine" and dedicated to white people only I can assure the NAACP would be all over it. again, seperating oneself from everyone else.
All the available magazines were listed "White magazine", if not on the cover then by the total absence of anything but white people contained within. That was my point. The NAACP didn't exist back then, so they could hardly have been all over it.
BET was created to promote positive images of black people? I think many black people would disagree with you. BET is racist imo and often shows blacks as a one demensional people who listen to hip hop music and use slang terms. BET displays urban stereotypes that many black people dont conform to. would WET be acceptable? do you think the NAACP would object to a network called White Entertainment Television?
Again, all the networks were "WET" by default, hence the need to create BET. I think BET is racist, and does promote negative stereotypes sometimes, that's why I don't watch it often. That doesn't change the fact that it is enormously successful and continues to be a valuable tool for advertisers. Someone's watching it, just not me.
all these programs and titles only serve to seperate blacks from mainstream society not make us a melting pot of one.
Blacks were been separated from mainstream society long before any of these programs and titles were created, there was that whole slavery and 3/5 of a man thing thing....
In a melting pot all the ingredients lose their individual flavor, I prefer the gumbo or salad bowl analogy. Each ingredient brings something distinct, and the overall flavor is enhanced by all.
and yes we are decendants from our ancestors that come from all over the world but we are Americans and dont have a continent representing our heritage like black people do. and yes far greater people in numbers came from europe then Africa.
Umm, you have a continent that represents your heritage, if you are white it's Europe. If you're something else it's somewhere else. St Patrick wasn't from Africa as far as I know, but I've drank plenty of green beer!
bottom line is if were going to be a nation of one then we should lose the titlements that refer to one particular race vs. another when referring to a magazine, beauty pageant, college fund or a month dedicated to a particular race. personally I dont really give a chit one way or the other but many white people in this country see it as racism and I can assure many black would to if whites had magazines and beauty pageants named after them. those do little to promote unity among one another.
From your statements I can infer that you see it as racism, and you are entitled to that opinion. I happen to agree with you on that. I was simply trying to provide some perspective as to why these things came to be in the first place. I think that the time has come to drop such divisive programs, but in order to do that we must first understand why they were necessary.
this isnt 1960. its 2012.
True, things have gotten much better, but 1960 wasn't that long ago. Until 1968 (2 years before my birth) inter-racial marriage was illegal in Virginia. It took the U.S. Supreme Court to correct it.
