Happy Black History Month

Happy Black History Month!

I would like to start off by discussing a comment made by actress Stacey Dash during a recent interview that made her a trending topic.

“I think it’s ludicrous,” Dash said at the time. “We have to make up our minds; either we want to have segregation or integration. If we don’t want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET [Black Entertainment Television] and the BET Awards, and the [NAACP] Image Awards, where you’re only awarded if you’re black.” (http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/mark-judge/stacey-dash-bet-and-black-history-month-shouldnt-exist)

I understand where she’s coming from. In fact, Dr. Maya Angelou expressed a similar sentiment in our interview in 2012.

“We want to reach a time when there won’t be Black History Month, when black history will be so integrated into American history that we study it along with every other history.”

While the ideal of total integration is ideal, the reality is, it probably won’t happen any time soon. If it were going to happen, it would have been done by now.

This is why we have BET, the BET Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the United Negro College Fund and other initiatives for African Americans only. This is our way of celebrating our greatness when other people could care less.

This is also why Dr. Carter G. Woodson started spotlighting the accomplishments of formerly enslaved people in the early 1900s.

Up to that point, most perceptions of black people were negative and they did not exist in history and academic books. Dr. Woodson changed that in 1915 with a “national celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation sponsored by the state of Illinois.” (http://asalh.net/blackhistorymonthorigins.html)

This event turned into Negro History Week in February 1926 and then Black History Month in February 1976.

Here’s the catch-22 of being black in America. On the one hand, we’re tolerated, not totally accepted. On the other hand, when we go out on our own, we’re criticized for being racist.

So, here are my thoughts on Ms. Dash’s comment.

We don’t have to make up our minds about integration or segregation because decisions are made for us and without us.  Although integration is ideal, we have to segregate ourselves in order to be acknowledged, honored and celebrated for the powerful people we are.

We want to own our own media properties so we can dispel the stereotypes and negative images that are portrayed by mainstream media. So we can hire talented producers, actors, actresses, radio personalities and other media personnel. So our young people can see real black people working real jobs.

Until black history is integrated into American history, and until Black people are fully woven into the fabric of American society and have the same rights and opportunities as white people, there will be a need for BET, the BET Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the United Negro College Fund and other initiatives for African Americans only.

What do you think? What would happen if there were no black only initiatives? How would black people be portrayed in the media, history books and society? Would black people have the opportunity to get an education or even a job?

As you ponder the above question, be sure to read, watch and experience black history this and every month.

 

Image: www.naacp.org