Categories
Black people Politics United States

Yes, Black History Month is Relevant in 2013 – Part 2

Publisher’s Note: Below is another response I received after reading a piece in the New York Daily News on the relevance of Black History Month. I’ve opened a forum for- discussion on  this topic. The piece, called “Black History Month, it is time to get rid of this celebration,” drew some strong feelings among the EzKool community. This post was written by Renee Brown, a lawyer from Texas.

By Renee Brown

It is hard to believe that black history month and whether it is worthwhile is even an issue still being debated. I recently read an article posted by a young man in the New York Daily news which argued that Black history represented division, and a continued promotion of segregation between the races. He even went on to say that black folks should be insulted by the idea of black history month – given that it is celebrated during the shortest month of the year.

I was saddened by his misunderstanding of black history month.  I was appalled that he would suggest that the celebration of black contribution to American and world history was somehow divisive.  He indicated that he was a tutor.  However, I do not believe that it is history.  If so, surely he would be well aware of the fact that still today little attention is given to the history of African Americans or any other groups that have contributed to our society and the world at large. While he may be true that there are no other specially designated months to celebrate Asian or Hispanic history – I want to address why black history was created and is still relevant today.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro history week, believed that the study of black history was especially important to blacks because it was a counter to white chauvinism and racism.  Wilson was deeply committed to the advancement of black people and understood that the self-esteem of young black men and women was deeply connected to such information.  Moreover, he believed that if whites knew more about blacks other than the racist propaganda they too would have a greater respect for blacks.  Furthermore, American history books failed to address the contributions blacks made to the history of this country.  This dearth of information withheld from history classes and textbooks helped to reinforce negative stereotypes that not only did whites believe, but so did many blacks.  As such, he found it of great importance to celebrate African heritage and championed the idea of black history week.  In 1926, black history week was created.

When did black history week become black history month?  It was not until nearly forty years later, during the civil rights movement did understanding and appreciation of black history expand beyond the black community.  Why was February the shortest month of year chosen as black history month?  The month was chosen by the NAACP mainly to in recognition of the birthdays of famed abolitionists Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln.  The fact that February was the shortest month was not intended to slight the importance of black history in anyway.

Still today, our history books have failed to adequately address the accomplishments, challenges and contributions of black Americans and other minority groups.  This failure has forced minority communities to educate their members and the larger society about their heritage, thus, giving rise for the need of celebrations such as black history month.  A modern example of this lack of historical accounting in education regarding the challenges and achievements of blacks, Hispanics, and Asians can be found For instance, in May 2010 the Texas State Board of Education elected to alter the curriculum in its social studies text books that would leave out critical events and people in history.  So if the information is not given at school in the textbooks there is an even greater need for celebrations like black history month to raise awareness and educate black students and others about our history.

If the standard curriculum for history and social studies was more inclusive to all minority groups perhaps there might not be a need for black history month.  On the other hand, even if the textbooks did a better job of educating the populous about the tragedies and triumphs of black Americans I would argue that there would still be a need for black history month.  Every group has a duty to educate its own about their ancestry and heritage for the purpose of passing down values and standards.  Unfortunately, in 2011 there are still a large percentage of blacks who do not know of Dr. Woodson or the many other blacks that made significant contributions to the advancement of black Americans.  As an educator, I would argue that not only is black history month necessary, but more should be done to encourage black self-awareness.  Given all of the negative imagery of black Americans on television today, it is imperative for blacks to study and understand their history if we are to continue on the path of positive advancements initiated by ancestor like Dr. Woodson and the many before.

Facebook Comments
Categories
Barack Obama Bill O'Reilly Bill O'Reilly Egypt Super Bowl

Fox News Bill O’Reilly Makes An Ass of Himself, Again!

President Obama is the ultimate chess player. He already knows what FOX NEWS and their Republican-pushing hosts think about him, yet he grants them interviews. Why?

The only reason for giving interviews to those who consider you the enemy is to prove to all watching that you are above the foolishness. In this case, President Obama successfully achieved his goal — using this interview to show America and the world, that FOX NEWS and more specifically, Bill O’Reilly have an agenda, and nothing the President says or does will be approved by him and his  partisan, so-called news organization.

The game is on and the President clearly has checkmate.

Facebook Comments
Categories
Featured Health insurance New York Repeal United States

Congresswoman Votes for Repeal, But Didn’t Know Who Pays Her Health Care

Apparently, not all Republicans in Congress who voted to repeal the Obama Care Health Law know that their Health Care is paid for by the Government. That appeared to be the case with Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle, Republican Representative from New York.

The freshman Congresswoman held her first town hall meeting in Newark NY, and had to be told by a staff member that her Health care is paid for by tax payers. Reporting the story is Marnie Eisenstadt:

“Buerkle, who voted to repeal the health care reform act, was twice asked about the health insurance she receives as a government employee. At first she said she couldn’t understand why people were so interested in her health insurance, and that taxpayers didn’t pay anything for it. She later corrected herself after being handed a note from a staffer. Like most employees, she pays for a portion of her insurance and her employer, the government, pays the rest, she said.”

Seems to me that the wrong person got elected here. Can we hold another election and get her staffer instead?

Facebook Comments
Categories
Barack Obama Christian Politics United States

President Obama Again Defends His Christian Religious Beliefs

We’ve heard it all before. Without any proof whatsoever, Conservatives go on the radio waves and on television and continue the lies and propaganda that President Obama is a Muslim. And although the Constitution specifically says there shall be no religious test to be president, this particular president is constantly under scrutiny about his religious affiliations. How amazing is the fact that the same people pushing their love for the Constitution of the United States in the media are the same ones putting President Obama through a religious litmus test that– if they had truly ever read the Constitution– they’d know was a worthless effort.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Facebook Comments
Categories
Egypt Egypt Egyptians Protest

Egypt Protester Shot By Secret Police – Video

This Youtube video by Moustafa Mahmoud shows a birds-eye view of what started out as a peaceful protest in Alexandria Egypt, until about 1:30 seconds into the video, when an individual walks up an alley, hands raised and jacket opened. A few moments later, he is shot by Egypt’s secret police.

The Youtube video is called, “Death in Alexandria.”

Video below.

Facebook Comments
Categories
Egypt Republican Sarah Palin Sarah Palin United States White House

There She Blows, A Hump Like A Snow Hill. It Is Sarah Palin!

I mean really! Why does anyone take Sarah Palin seriously is beyond my pay grade. She again opened her mouth and my’ ignorance detector’ went crazy! This time, the Republican goddess gave an exclusive interview to Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody, in which she once again, spoke of things she knew nothing of.

In an excerpt given to the media, Palin  answers a question on how she believes the President is handling the uprising in Egypt, and instead of  following her usual cartoon character skit on foreign relations – where she’d  look over Mr. Brody’s shoulder with a confused look on her face, point and ask, “is that Russia over there?” – Palin ventured into unfamiliar territory and once again spoke on a topic she knew nothing about.

This is what she said. No editing needed, just the words of  The Palin;

“And nobody yet has, nobody yet has explained to the American public what they know, and surely they know more than the rest of us know who it is who will be taking the place of Mubarak and no, not, not real enthused about what it is that that’s being done on a national level and from D.C. in regards to understanding all the situation there in Egypt. And, in these areas that are so volatile right now, because obviously it’s not just Egypt but the other countries too where we are seeing uprisings, we know that now more than ever, we need strength and sound mind there in the White House. We need to know what it is that America stands for so we know who it is that America will stand with. And, we do not have all that information yet.”

I’m still waiting for the official explanation of that gibberish. I’ve always believed that Sarah Palin spoke another language. Remember earlier on during her run for vice- president,  she was asked a question on foreign policy? Those very infamous words to the interviewer were;

As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right next to, they are right next to our state.

How could anyone take this cartoon seriously?!

Facebook Comments
Categories
Martin Luther King Tid Bits United States

Do Away With Black History Month? – Part 1

This post is in reference to this===>, “Black History Month, it is time to get rid of this celebration,” 

Ah, the famous debate continues. Should we or should we not celebrate Black History Month?

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to this question, but there are a few things I would like to dwell upon. I oftentimes  see the argument that it is time to do away with Black History Month because we should ignore someone’s race or color of their skin. Hmmm, but I wonder why? Why should we ignore this? Do you ignore the fact that someone is male or female, that they’re standing 4’9″ or 6’5″ tall, or maybe this person is limited to wheelchair usage? Why should anyone ignore any part of what makes a person who they are?

It’s not about ignoring or pretending their race or culture doesn’t exist. Real unity comes with embracing one’s differences and seeing that individual as an equal. To be able to look at someone of a different race, creed, or religion and acknowledging with acceptance of those differences is the equality Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned. My race, cultural background, gender, religion, etc all shapes me into my unique being and I would never deny or pretend those qualities didn’t exist within me. So, I don’t feel that’s the right reason for getting rid of this celebrated time.

It is also interesting that there is always a debate around Black History Month. Many other cultures are recognized each month: Jewish, Asian, Hispanic, Irish, Italian, etc. Yet, there is a continued and feverish debate around Black History Month and not so much with the many other celebrated cultures. The sole purpose of these designated months is for celebration, awareness, recognition for accomplishments, and remembrance of trials and tribulations towards progressive freedom in a world where freedom has been hard to obtain for many. I don’t see the need to get rid of that celebration and recognition for any culture. I think many are also forgetting that the reason Black History Month was established is because many educational textbooks would leave out the global impact and ramifications of Black history (not just Black American history).

Now, should culture appreciation start and begin with a selected month? Of course not. However, I don’t see the harm in using that time to focus on a selected cultural background. One thing I do know, if you take away one’s cultural month, then you take away the others. They either all stay or they all go. There was a time not so long ago, when having the freedom to outwardly celebrate differing cultures in a national sense would have been deemed impossible. And even though we are still on that long road to cultural unity, the steps forward have been many.

And to be honest here, the debate whether Black History Month should or should not be celebrated is not what concerns me really. What I find more disconcerting is why anything to do with Black/African American culture is constantly surrounded by aggressive arguments, debates, and/or conspiracies? It should make us all wonder…

Facebook Comments
Categories
Politics

For Security Concerns, Bush Can’t Go To Switzerland

Former President George Bush has a love affair with conservative Republicans and the Teaparty here in America. As far as they are concerned, the 43rd president could not do no wrong and was the best thing that ever happened to America, next to their supreme idol, Ronald Reagan that is. But in Switzerland, it’s quite a different story, as they took the initiative to cancel a scheduled fund raiser by the former president, because of “security concerns.”

The organizer of the event in Geneva, the United Israel Appeal, informed Bush of the cancellation on Friday. The Associated Press reports the following;

The Swiss daily newspaper Tribune de Genève reported Saturday that the charity feared that protests against Mr. Bush planned by left-wing groups could result in violence.

“The calls to demonstrate were sliding into dangerous terrain,” the charity’s lawyer, Robert Equey, told the newspaper. “The organizers claimed to be able to maintain order, but warned they could not be held responsible for any outbursts.”

Other possible reasons for the cancellation? The report continues;

Several human rights groups including Amnesty International and the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights had planned to ask Swiss prosecutors to open a criminal investigation against Mr. Bush over the admission in his recent memoirs that he personally authorized the waterboarding of terrorism suspects.

“Whatever Bush or his hosts say, we have no doubt he canceled his trip to avoid our case,” the Center for Constitutional Rights and others said in a statement.

Facebook Comments
Categories
Russia

S.T.A.R.T Treaty Goes Into Effect Today

Finally! After the all unnecessary political fighting by Republicans to stop a treaty that even their ‘God-send-measuring stick’ President Reagan supported, America and Russia today put into effect the START treaty.

Below is a report from The New York Times:

MUNICH — The United States and Russia on Saturday formally put into force New Start, a strategic arms control treaty passed by the Senate in December after a long political battle by President Obama.

On the sidebar of a high-level security conference here, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, exchanged legal documents ratifying the treaty, which puts new limits on strategic nuclear warheads, heavy bombers and launching vehicles. The United States and Russia have 45 days to trade details on the number, location and technical specifications of their arsenals. Inspection can begin in 60 days.

The chilly relationship between the United States and Russia began to thaw a bit after a meeting in 2009 when Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. called for the countries to “reset” their relationship after the chilly Bush years.

In addition to the ratification of New Start on Saturday, the so-called quartet — a group that deals with the Middle East consisting of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations — convened. This meeting was intended to reaffirm support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, even amid the turmoil in Egypt and the Arab world.

Read the Times article here

______________

Related articles
Facebook Comments
Categories
Barack Obama Republican Ronald Reagan Sarah Palin Sarah Palin United States

My Ignorance Detector Goes Off Everytime Palin Talks

One of the hardest things for me to do is ignore ignorance. And although some have pledge not to cover any news about Sarah Palin for the rest of this month, I’m not one of those dudes. So on Friday when Palin opened her mouth at a tribute to former President Ronald Reagan and said America is on “the road to ruin” because of President Obama and his policies- well- my ignorance detector went off full blast.

According to a report from Reuters;

Palin said Obama had revived the era of big government, and she ridiculed the infrastructure spending and investment he outlined in his recent State of the Union speech. “The only thing these investments will get us is a bullet train to bankruptcy,” the 2008 vice presidential candidate said in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, California, part of two days of festivities marking the late president’s 100th birthday.

Palin, as usual is stuck in one mode: attack mode. Her bullet train to bankruptcy analogy was also heard after the President outlined his plans to invest in America’s future at the State Of The Union Address. But what Palin doesn’t seem to get is that this is exactly what other countries are already doing – investing in their futures. Countries like China and India have realized the need for this and have made large gains in the areas of transportation, education and technology over the years and are now reaping the benefits.

America, once the leader of the world, is now being overtaken by countries like China, and what do ignorance-producing talking heads like Sarah Palin have to say about it? These knuckle heads put it all under the heading of “big government spending”. They attack the very  policies  that will allow America to maintain and surpass it’s competitive edge over the rest of the world.

America cannot maintain 1980 policies in a 2011 global economy. We cannot be the leaders of the world when we can’t see past our own noses. The rest of the world is adapting to a changing world and it’s time America led in this effort. Investing in our future is investing in us.

Facebook Comments
Categories
Featured Supreme Court of the United States

Wife of Supreme Court Justice Is A Teaparty Lobbyist

The controversies surrounding Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas just never seem to end. We witnessed this during his confirmation hearings and now, his wife seems to want a piece of the notoriety too.

The New York Times is reporting that Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is now a lobbyist and self-appointed “ambassador to the Tea Party movement.” The Times reports;

Virginia Thomas, the justice’s wife, said on libertyinc.co, a Web site for her new political consulting business, that she saw herself as an advocate for “liberty-loving citizens” who favored limited government, free enterprise and other core conservative issues. She promised to use her “experience and connections” to help clients raise money and increase their political impact.

Ms. Thomas’s effort to take a more operational role on conservative issues could intensify questions about her husband’s ability to remain independent on issues like campaign finance and health care, legal ethicists said.

Wait a minute! There’s  something wrong with this picture!

The Supreme Court, often called the court of last resort, is the final say on how laws are interpreted in this country. According to Article III, §1, of the Constitution, “the judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court.” The court has jurisdiction over all cases, including Laws and Equity, to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; to Controversies between two or more States; between a State and Citizens of another State; between Citizens of different States.

Every judge takes a lifetime oath to uphold and form decisions on cases based on the law. How can any judge be objectionable when he/she comes home and is greeted by a lobbyist spouse?

The Teaparty is in a push to get the Supreme Court to declare President Obama’s Health Care Law as unconstitutional.

A Virginia Thomas is lobbying for the Teaparty.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is married to aforementioned Virginia Thomas…

Yeah!–something’s fishy up in here alright!

Read the rest of the article here.

Facebook Comments
Categories
Egypt Egypt

The Muslim Brotherhood Wants To “Dissolve” Israel’s Peace Treaty

Shocking turn of events in the Egypt uprising. Eli Lakes of the Washington Times reports on an interview in which a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood calls for the withdrawal of Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel.

A political leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Thursday called on any government that replaces Hosni Mubarak’s regime to withdraw from the 32-year-old peace treaty with Israel.

“After President Mubarak steps down and a provisional government is formed, there is a need to dissolve the peace treaty with Israel,” Rashad al-Bayoumi, a deputy leader of the outlawed movement, said on Japan’s NHTV.

The interview contrasted with earlier signals from the group. On Feb. 1, Mahmoud Ezzat, a spokesman for the brothers, told CBS News that his organization “will respect the peace treaty with Israel as long as Israel shows real progress on improving the lot of the Palestinians.”

In the past, Muslim Brotherhood leaders have supported the Palestinian branch of the brotherhood, Hamas, that rejects any negotiations with Israel and pledges to destroy the Jewish state.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the world’s largest, most influential Islamic group. It was formed in Egypt in 1928 their stated primary goal include reinstatement of the caliphate and reunite the “dar el Islam” (Countries where Muslims are free to practice their religion).

Although they preach non-violence, The Brotherhood is believed to be the group behind previous attacks in Egypt, and the assassination of Mahmoud an-Nukrashi Pasha, the Egyptian Prime Minister in 1948 and the president of Egypt in 1981.

Facebook Comments
Exit mobile version