*Why I’m Not Celebrating Black History Month

A few weeks ago Mitch McConnell said the quiet part out loud when he remarked that "African-American voters are voting in just as high a percentage as Americans". And there you have it. In the minds of many white people, Black people aren't actually Americans. For them we are now, and always have been "other".

Black history in the U.S. is part and parcel of the history of the U.S. There is no separating the two, no matter what Mitch McConnell may think. That is why we make a mistake when we take a month and say that we are going to celebrate Black history, Native American history, Women's history or the history of any other group that makes up America.

I absolutely believe in celebrating the cultures that are part of this country and the individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to our society. But we should celebrate them as integral to the American experiment, not cultures and people outside of it. 

We should be able to recognize what we owe them and how we've been influenced by their contributions as part of a larger whole. This country, to a great extent, was built by enslaved Black people, and to ignore that is to ignore American history. To ignore the genocide of Indigenous people on this land is to ignore American history.

These “celebrations” strike me as one of the ways that those in power try to keep that power for themselves. They throw a holiday or even a month in our direction and expect gratitude, but it doesn't actually mean anything if at the same time they are undermining voting rights. In fact, it's worse than nothing because this performativity  attempts to get us to look at the thing they've given us in hopes we’lle forget about all that they are taking away. It’s insidious.

I appreciate the commemorations of Black History Month, and I appreciate people being spotlighted that far too many of us know far too little about. But at the end of the day – or the month – I'm more interested in creating a society where we don't need to celebrate Black History Month than in perpetuating a society where we do.

This week, I ask that you think about the places where we are directed to feel good about something rather than do good about something. Then choose one, and see what action you can take..

*This was originally a post to those on my Activist Micro Action List. If you would like a weekly action that you can do in 10 minutes or less sent to your inbox put your info in the boxes below.