Black History Month Essay PDF

Preview

Summary

requird essay...

Description

Secrease 1

Kensha’ Secrease Professor Fraser English 110-17 12 April 2017 Let the Black Legacy Continue America is filled with people who have different political views, religions, and cultures. For instance, some love to celebrate Black History Month and others do not support it. Some people may dislike that the month does not genuinely celebrate people of the African diaspora. In Tayari Jones’s article “Symbolism and Cynicism,” she states that there are “McDonald’s restaurants in the greater Washington, D.C., area handing out copies of A Raisin in the Sun while they push unhealthy foods on African American children.” This shows that certain commercial businesses, like Mcdonald’s, see the month as an opportunity to create capital gain. On the other hand, Black History Month supporters argue that the month is essential because it passes down history that is otherwise left out of teacher’s lesson plans. It allows for the teaching of history from a perspective other than European men. My own view is that Black History Month may have some flaws, however, it is necessary for Black people to continue to celebrate Black History Month as is. Black History Month gives younger African American children a time to learn about heroes, who came before them, that have the same skin color as them. Professors, writers, journalists and even elders continue on the legacy of teaching the history of African Americans. In the past, people of African descent and numerous other ethnicities contributed to the flourishing of the United States, but most of those innovators are nonexistent in our textbooks.

Secrease 2

Carter G. Woodson created a Negro History Week so that Black history could be taught in public schools. Students at Kent State University later proposed an expansion from a week to a month. During this month, Blacks learn history from a perspective that does not include stereotypes or negativity. When Stacey Dash announced on television “There shouldn’t be a Black History Month,” the campaign Because of Them We Can produced a video of kids defending the month. Children in the video know their history and potential as a Black person. Since learning about Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Frederick Douglass can encourage a child to achieve Black excellence, certain schools produce annual Black History Month celebrations. At my high school, we put together assemblies. Students do various things like recite speeches by Malcolm X and sing songs by Billie Holiday. I performed Ghana, hip hop, and Afro-Caribbean dances derived from the African culture. When I perform, I feel empowered as if I am a famous Black Renaissance dancer because the students always give praise. My dance teacher also gave me the opportunity to choreograph my own piece where I used Martin Luther King’s quote “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” I used him as an inspiration to teach others the importance of always doing your best. This is not the only time that I was positively impacted by dance, but I felt even more special as I had the opportunity to make a statement through dance at a remarkable occasion. I see the month as an opportunity for many Blacks, including myself, to be proud of who they are and reflect on what Black people have overcome as a race in a predominately white America. Black History Month additionally gives scholars, who would go overlooked, a time to inspire others. Maya Angelou and James Baldwin showed the world that Blacks can be award

Secrease 3

winning authors. Tayari Jones continues the legacy as a writer and spokesperson for Black history. She wrote Leaving Atlanta, a novel about Atlanta child murderers in the 1980’s. Consequently, a woman thanked her for writing the book, in which made it a rewarding moment for Jones. As stated in her article “Symbolism and Cynicism: On Being A Writer During Black History Month,” her experiences “occurred courtesy of Black History Month.” Some Black writers refuse to speak in February since they are only being recognized for their race, but they are Black everyday of the year. Writers that resist to speak show their ignorance because they are missing an opportunity to educate others. Knowledge is very important and powerful as it allows a person to do anything they put their mind to so we must continue educating. Black History Month is also a time for the new generation of Blacks to tell their stories without being judged by society. Shukree Tilghman’s movie More Than a Month highlights the importance of Black History Month. In the movie, Darrell Scott stated that Black History Month is the longest running and most stable celebration in America. During the month there are plays, music productions, soul food, popular sneakers, and Black ads. The month allows African Americans to be recognized. However, Tilghman believes that Black history needs to be “blended into American history as one” and I disagree because Blacks already live in a country that treats them different so having a month to celebrate our uniqueness seems right. Theodore Johnson said in his article “Black History Month Isn’t Making Life Better for Black American,” Blacks get mistreated because there are stereotypes of “male criminality and recidivism, welfare mothers with babies by multiple men, and dilapidated neighborhoods with shiftless neighborhoods”. The main point both men make is that all Americans need to be viewed as equal and the same. Blacks do not deserve to die because they committed the crime of being Black.

Secrease 4

Black History is significant and effective, and if we continue to teach Black history outside of U.S. history there is a possibility of erasing the stereotypes and negative views of Black Americans. Since Black history is not always implemented into the U.S. history curriculum, Black History Month is important; it allows for an evaluation of the past. is an opportunity for children to look up to brave individuals, and gives people a space to share their stories or what they have to offer to the world. I believe that continuing Black History Month portrays a long going celebration of a powerful race. African Americans went through a lot throughout U.S. History like slavery, segregation, police brutality, and so on. I think a month is just a start for an apology for the past. Some people are not supporters of Blacks and would love to end Black History Month. A major flaw in American citizens is the racism that has been passed down through generations. Racism is present because some elders spread the idea that blackness is uncomfortable. The month is essential in spreading true history and inspiration....