Wiki History: What is Black History Month?

Wiki History!

What is Black History Month?

Black History Month is a time for learning about the African American experience, which includes the history and other issues, events, and experiences that are important to the African American community. And might actually be important to all Americans. After all, we are one country.

This is a time for learning about the contributions of Black people, learning about the struggles, the victories, the difficulties, and the successes of African Americans. As a child, Black History month was a time when we would change the focus from great American figures like Thomas Jefferson to “other” great Americans like Martin Luther King. But we wouldn’t stop there. We would learn about “lesser known” African American “greats” like Benjamin Banneker, Bass Reeves, and Mary McLeod Bethune, Ida B. Wells. Just recently, I learned about Bessie Coleman who was the first Black woman aviator—she wasn’t permitted to learn to fly in the United States, so she taught herself French, moved to France, and learned to fly! There is so much more about this woman I can say but she was just one example of the great stories that are “hidden” about Black people.

Black History Month is a time for learning, but it is also a time for celebration. This is a month that we enjoy Black culture, food, music, dance, and art. It’s a great time to go to a jazz concert or attend a concert of African drummers, go to an Ethiopian restaurant, or watch X by Spike Lee (again). Spend the month reading Roots by Alex Haley (yes, it is about 500 pages) or visit one of the African American history museums opening throughout the country. Have a barbecue (inside if it’s too cold) or attend a lecture on African American literature. There are many, many ways to celebrate Black History Month while learning and enjoying Black culture. The list is endless.

I just started reading Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin. Wow! What a great book about a white man in the 1950s in Louisiana who through a chemical process turns himself black. He has some interesting, scary and dangerous experiences that I’m not going to spoil for you but it is his insight into living in a white world and living in a black world that are so amazing. It reads so easily but it definitely gives you food for thought. Speaking of food, I thought that, in honor of Black history month, I would make one dish from Black culture every day. Today, I made Jollof rice, which is actually a dish from the Gambia in west Africa. I made a big pot (I probably won’t have to cook for a few days) but I will add something to it tomorrow like plantains (Caribbean) or fried okra. These sound fantastic. By the way, if you want to see my Jollof rice, I have a picture of it on facebook, where you can find me at Robin Lofton or better the facebook page that I manage called, Remembering History. Or you can follow me at waikoloarobin (spell it). Waikoloa is a town on the Big Island of Hawaii where I spend every summer. (say and spell it again).

Back to Black History month: There is something for all ages, genders, and interests to make it a month of learning and celebration. Just spend the month focusing on things African American.

Is Black History Month just for African Americans? No way!

The month focuses on the Black experience but it is not only for African Americans. It is for all Americans—Caucasian, Asian, Latinos, people of Arabic descent and the list goes on. The stories include the full range of emotions and human experiences so everyone can find and connect to an aspect of African culture.

Still, I understand that every issue does not affect every one directly. Every ethnic, racial, religious group feels that they deserve respect and acknowledgement. Both women and men feel that need for acknowledgement. Everyone deserves compassion. But I do think that Black history month is a great time to remember the contributions of African Americans, African Caribbeans and Africans living on the continent. Remember, we are one world.

Black History month is a time to bask in the glory of being Black. Every Black man, woman, and child can deepen his or her knowledge, feeling, and understanding of this great culture. And everyone, absolutely everyone, can learn more about the Africans, the African Americans, and the African Caribbeans who built their countries and made important contributions to the world.

And don’t remember to spend time learning, but also spend time dancing, eating, reading and remembering the ancestors. Let’s celebrate Black History Month.

Stay tuned: Tomorrow we will learn the fascinating story of who initiated Black History Month.

And please visit robinlofton.com to leave your questions, comments and thoughts. I would love to hear how you celebrate Black History month or just what you think of Black History month. And I hope that you have visited my Facebook page at remembering history to tell me what you think of my Jollof rice picture. There’s gonna be lots of food pictures this month so keep coming back.

Finally, I want to remind you that for everyone who views this podcast or any of my podcasts this month, I will donate $1 to Blackpast.org, which is an online encyclopedia of African American history. It is also a great resource for research or just for curious minds who want to know more about history of Black people. Blackpast.org.

Hope you enjoyed this podcast. See you tomorrow to learn who started Black History Month. It really is a fascinating story. See you soon at robinlofton.com.