Throughout the month of February, the Clarion has been discussing Black History Month, attempting to gain a better understanding of the month while coming to an agreement about its significance on campus.
After much debate, a consensus has been reached.
Black History Month is losing its luster. Some students feel that the month is too short, or that it is being overshadowed by a certain romantic holiday. But the truth of the matter is, some of us just do not care.
African-Americans as an ethnic group suffered for entirely too long and thankfully, we as a society finally realized that and made the necessary changes. But have we already forgotten the importance and reasoning behind the celebration?
Some think that the month is just a way of an informal apology, recognizing African-American leaders during their most heralded instances of rebellion and protest. But the fact of the matter is that setting apart an entire month for recognition is somewhat a form of segregation itself.
Why is black history not a part of general history? That question is still to be answered.
Black History Month is really emphasized during our early years in life, most likely to entrench those significant events of history in our young minds. But after grade school, we become so busy and so caught up in our own lives that we devalue the significance of the month as a whole.
Sinclair does a good job of reminding us about the celebration. The MLK walk that was held on Jan. 16 is one good example (although it’s not actually in February). Another is the presentation of the Authentic Negro Leagues baseball collection that will be held on Feb. 22 in Building 8. So we can’t really accuse Sinclair of not trying to recognize the importance of the month.
Truely, we can only blame ourselves. By forgetting the true meaning of the month we inevitably regress as a society and show how little we truly care.
An old cliché goes, “You can’t know where you are going, unless you know where you have been.” And it applies very well to the devaluing of the celebration of Black History Month.
Black history not only happened in the past, but it happens every day and hopefully that is the message that everyone will learn throughout the month of February.