This month, Americans celebrate Black History Month. We celebrate the contributions to society by notable Black Americans. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, etc.
Given the fact that Black History is American History, why the need to celebrate one month out of the year (the shortest month, I might add)?
Everyone was so excited, myself included, in 2008 when The United States elected its first Black President. (Sorry Bill Clinton.)
I thought this was indeed the start of a post racial society for our country.
While President Obama was re-elected for a second term, the racial vitriol is worse than ever. Some people still can’t get past the color of a person’s skin. Now mind you, I don’t think we should have to get past differences. Differences keep life interesting. We can acknowledge the differences without being mean-spirited.
Or can we?
Toure wrote an amazing article where he suggests post-racial is a mythical term, and really has no place in society:
“We are not a nation devoid of racial discrimination nor are we a nation where race does not matter. Race and racism are still critical factors in determining what happens and who gets ahead in America.”
Will we ever get past the negative aspects of race?
I hope
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Leslie Wimes
Latest posts by Leslie Wimes (see all)
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Leslie:
I think that the issue is we need to start with accepting what is. Yes race is an issue in America and it’s not fair. But the more we fight it and resist it, the more it becomes more prevalent. I believe that if we accept it and focus on celebrating the positive interactions between people of different races we’d have a different experience,
I think that by focussing on the problem we exacerbate the problem. After all, energy goes where attention goes. Let’s decide what kind of relationships between people of different races we wish to create. I bet the energy, dynamic and results would be different.
Blessings,
Andrea Scott