Celebrating Black History Month

As ATS members are likely already aware, February is Black History Month. I won't make this a lengthy expose on the accomplishments of POC, and will instead take a moment to recognize the contributions POC have made to our country and society, especially in the cause of advancing civil rights.

Visionaries like Dr. MLK Jr. (even his daughter, CSK), Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Dred Scott, Rosa Parks and many more should be celebrated this month for both their personal accomplishments and bold societal contributions.

Happy Black History Month, ATS. Here is an interesting link for those interested

www.blackpast.org...

totallyhistory.com...

a reply to: JBurns

Thanks for the reminder!

And we're kicking it off with the highest rate of Black employment ever!

a reply to: carewemust


Indeed, a major accomplishment!

Now if we could only get lawmakers to stop passing laws that take black men away from their family/children over minor, victimless offenses.

Regardless, this is a huge win for POC and the entire country for that matter. A strong people is a strong nation

Personally I'd prefer a Chinese history month or a South American, or Greek or European history month...or year.

A little history of how and why Black History Month got started.

time.com...

a reply to: Hecate666


I agree, we should have all of the above. There is nothing wrong with any race/ethnicity celebrating their history/origins/ancestors. I'm proud of mine, and I fully expect everybody else to be proud of theirs.

originally posted by: kaylaluv
A little history of how and why Black History Month got started.

time.com...

Very interesting link! Thanks for sharing

I didn't realize Carter G. Woodson or James Baldwin were so instrumental in the creation of Black History Month. It is good to see a lot of old ideas and misrepresentations challenged and overturned. Such a dark period in our history must never be forgotten. What makes our species unique is not only our ability to bounce back, but our ability to learn from our mistakes (no matter how grievous they may be) and to ultimately do the right thing/stand on the "right" (morally good) side of history.

The Constitution protects all Americans equally, and I am grateful for individuals like Dr. Woodson and Mr. Baldwin.

Thanks to Trump for the lowest black unemployment ever. He should be celebrated this month for accomplishing what no other president cared to do. Enjoy this month my fellow Americans.

originally posted by: JBurns

originally posted by: kaylaluv
A little history of how and why Black History Month got started.

time.com...

Very interesting link! Thanks for sharing

I didn't realize Carter G. Woodson or James Baldwin were so instrumental in the creation of Black History Month. It is good to see a lot of old ideas and misrepresentations challenged and overturned. Such a dark period in our history must never be forgotten. What makes our species unique is not only our ability to bounce back, but our ability to learn from our mistakes (no matter how grievous they may be) and to ultimately do the right thing/stand on the "right" (morally good) side of history.

The Constitution protects all Americans equally, and I am grateful for individuals like Dr. Woodson and Mr. Baldwin.

Have you seen the list of books Carter wrote? Interesting.

originally posted by: kaylaluv
A little history of how and why Black History Month got started.

time.com...

I think it is important since before the 1960s history was mainly white history. This is understandable since the main players in our history were predominately white, so I'm not saying this was actually wrong, but it didn't really put light to many other branches of history dealing with those not on the main timeline so to speak. Its not just Blacks, but Asian, Latinos, Irish, American Indian etc that all played maybe not leading rolls in our history, but very notable supporting rolls that should be told.

originally posted by: LSU0408
Thanks to Trump for the lowest black unemployment ever. He should be celebrated this month for accomplishing what no other president cared to do. Enjoy this month my fellow Americans.

And thanks to Obama, since the African American unemployment rate went down steadily 9 points from 2010 to the end of his second term.

a reply to: kaylaluv

Well I mean it started low in 2008 and then increased to a crazy amount, so technically it lowered about 1% under Obama. I digress, happy black history month.


data.bls.gov...

a reply to: kaylaluv

I'm not here to start an argument about who is responsible. Trump is in office and if he was out to destroy blacks for any reason, this would have been the perfect chance. Plus I believe black unemployment was pretty terrible under Obama for some time.

a reply to: avgguy

Yeah, there was a little thing called the recession, maybe you heard of it? Thankfully, things got better every year after that.

Happy Black History Month!

a reply to: JBurns

So, does this mean it can't be celebrated when it isn't February? Does Black History only have value in February?

I never understood why there's "Black History" month. You shouldn't need a dedicated period of time to celebrate or revere history.

Why not just celebrate it whenever it's needed and not single it out? Makes it even more 'us and them' when Black History is set aside for a special period, implying it isn't as unique or valid for the other 11 months of the year.

Seems silly and disingenuous to human beings.

a reply to: Hecate666

Asian history month takes place in May.

Let's not forget the Buffalo Soldiers, or the Tuskegee Airman.

originally posted by: kaylaluv
a reply to: avgguy

Yeah, there was a little thing called the recession, maybe you heard of it? Thankfully, things got better every year after that.

Happy Black History Month!

Yeah.... You might not want to use "recession" as a talking point under the obama administration. It's counter productive. It's not going to help your case.

originally posted by: noonebutme
a reply to: JBurns

So, does this mean it can't be celebrated when it isn't February? Does Black History only have value in February?

I never understood why there's "Black History" month. You shouldn't need a dedicated period of time to celebrate or revere history.

Why not just celebrate it whenever it's needed and not single it out? Makes it even more 'us and them' when Black History is set aside for a special period, implying it isn't as unique or valid for the other 11 months of the year.

Seems silly and disingenuous to human beings.

Who said it best....

a reply to: noonebutme

It’s just a time to remember and celebrate. You know, like Veteran’s Day and Christmas.