Is Black History Month getting diluted?

Associated Press ^ | 02/15/07 | ERIN TEXEIRA

[rlmorel]

Yes!

[ichabod1]

I can't believe Bush only focused on it one day out of a whole munt.

[Monterrosa-24]

Booker T. Washington is getting less and less attention while his contemparary W.E.B. Dubois gets more and more attention. Washington advocated getting ahead via practical education, a work ethic, disciplined personal spending, and other traditional American means. Dubois advocated socialism and top-down legislation.

The fall of the Soviet Union should have debunked Dubois. But it is too popular to believe that Washington's work ethic "sucked up to the Man". It is too bad that Washington's book UP FROM SLAVERY is not read more often in our schools.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

And Irish history month (we do have St. Patrick's Day)

[rlmorel]

ABSOLUTELY! I just read 'Up From Slavery' last year for the first time...a remarkable man.

Exactly what you said. It is a shame. HE should have been the model for black success. What he did, worked.

[L98Fiero]

Is Black History Month getting diluted?"

I call it "Black History Two Months". At the last two places I've worked, the decorations seem to go up mid-January and come down mid-March. Maybe that's why it's diluted.

[wbill]

When it comes to these 'faux holiday' months, I like Morgan Freeman's attitude.

When asked about 'Black History Month', he said something to the effect of 'Why only celebrate Black History for one month? Who's to say that one month is long enough?'

I agree completely, and would do away with all of the foolish things. Celebrating one race/culture/whatever at the expense of another, is just sanctioned discrimination.

[GOP_Raider]

[Gabz]

All that you named were on the list of Black Americans that the 3rd graders at my daughter's school were assigned to do reports on this month.

In talking with teacher I happened to ask her how she chose who to assign which person to and she told me if a student knew who someone was they didn't get that person. she tried to assign ones the kids didn't know.........thus my daughter wound up doing a report on Arthur Ashe instead of Sowell, Thomas or Rice.

[wbill]

I lived in an old farmhouse in Maine that *really* was a part of the underground railroad to Canada.

The house had a basement, and 'root cellar / sub-basement' connected to it. There was a "secret" underground tunnel between the sub-basement and the stable. Cool stuff, when you're a kid.

[jackieaxe]

I write this as a very white person but here's my input. Blacks have contributed to the history of the US. Blacks fought in every US war. Blacks are responsible for at least 50% of America's music if only in influence of the sound if not the quantity of publications. Economically, they contributed in the West, building the railroads and of course in the agricultural Antebellum South. Blacks and all Americans should be proud of the great Black Citizens the US has produced.

I think they should change Black History month to January since MLK Day is in that month, and black leaders should push the NFL to schedule the Superbowl to the Sunday before MLK Day Monday and see how many people would suddenly have that holiday.

At Drexel University in Philadelphia, February events range from panel discussions about affirmative action....
Also, I think Affirmative Action needs to end immediately. History has given us many great Black Americans. They didn't need Affirmative Action to rise to greatness. It's time to end the premis of decreased expectations.

[Tokra]

Please ignore the fact that shirtlifters can't procreate

We should ignore that - since I know many married homosexuals who HAVE procreated.

[DeFault User]

I find myself fascinated with someone like George Washington Carver.

There was a terrific documentary on him several days ago on Discovery or History Channel. That was one man to be celebrated.

Both Henry Ford and Thomas Edison tried to hire him with 6 figure salaries but he remained where he thought he could do the most good, helping farmers to grow better, more productive crops--as well as creating new uses for the crops grown.

I had never known he was also a painter and had developed interests in numerous other fields. A renaissance man born into slavery.

[puppypusher]

I don't want black history month diluted,I want it eliminated as it serves No purpose other than promoting racial separation.If anything so called black history is part of American history whether we like it or not.

Spending an entire month promoting one race of people this time in history is ridiculous as well as wasteful.

[presidio9]

I know many married homosexuals who HAVE procreated.

Assuming you are talking about lesbian. They do not lift shirts. You may know a few faggots who have managed to impregnate a woman, but they are few and far between. Not many of them have interest.

[presidio9]

Both Henry Ford and Thomas Edison tried to hire him with 6 figure salaries but he remained where he thought he could do the most good, helping farmers to grow better, more productive crops--as well as creating new uses for the crops grown.

Carver was a brilliant man, but the six figure salary story is apochrypal. Ford and Carver were indeed friends, but Ford never tried to higher him. The two worked together on an alternative fuels project in the thirties. The only evidence we have that Edison tried to hire Carver at all is because Carver said so himself. But only after Edison died.

[Albion Wilde]

When will we get Italian history month?

Assolutamente! Gli italiani sono bravi!

We should also have Scotch-Irish history month, although each group is so influential in America, they deserve two months!

[GunnyHartman]

This is a disgrace, it is CHOCOLATE History Month!

[Sawdring]

For Black history month I decided to read Uncle Tom's Cabin.

[Continental Soldier]

Black History Month? Why a month? Why not a week or a day or an hour? Just asking. :)