Malcom X was wrong. "Black" history most definitely did begin in chains. African history began a lot farther back than that, obviously, but that's not the point of black history month. The point of black history month is to try to raise awareness of important contributions that blacks have made to American history and to help raise the collective confidence and consciousness of black America. We can argue about how successful black history month has been, but let's not conflate black history and African history; they are definitely not the same thing. There is no Asian or Hispanic month, because we did not systematically steal these groups from their homeland, enslave them, and then fight a war to ensure that they would be kept in bondage, only to legally codify their sub-human status in law after their freedom was won for another hundred years. No other groups have that history--that's fucking black history.
You should check out thenewgreen's comment below with regards to Asians in America- particularly the Chinese. As for the rest of your comment, why would anyone want to be taught that they can trace themselves back to slavery? Why would you teach only what you call "black" history and not African history as well as African American history? The story you want to tell is, "Long ago you were slaves who came from some backwater place that no one cares about, but despite that some of you have done amazing things!" That's a pretty bad origin story, by my standards. Way worse than the one laid out in this article.
I'm not arguing it's well executed. You'll notice I already covered that. I'm arguing it's atonement for former sins. While Asians were not treated well during the 19th c, their treatment (and that if the Irsish) is qualitatively different. Each of those groups came here willingly, and none was subjected to Jim Crow until THE 1960s (and even that was only nominal; segregation has been de facto ever since). Hell, even your town (in the North) rioted in the 70s when they tried to forcibly integrate the schools. You all are making an extreme false equivalency, like saying that there shouldn't be Holocaust museums, because Christians died during WWII also. Does getting a month of recognition advance the cause of blacks? Probably not. But would anyone else who feels slighted by this recognition trade places with them? Absolutely not. You're a comedian, right? You should check out Chris Rock's bit about the busboy who won't trade places with him. Its brilliant.
It's such a touchy topic, anything to do with race. Take a look at all the comments in this thread and how many people are participating, yet not one comment about "race" has been "upvoted". Why? It's a touchy topic that we are told we should be wary of discussing. Just an observation that I found strange.
There is no Asian or Hispanic month, because we did not systematically steal these groups from their homeland, enslave them, and then fight a war to ensure that they would be kept in bondage, only to legally codify their sub-human status in law after their freedom was won for another hundred years. No other groups have that history--that's fucking black history.
Sounds an awful lot like what happened to American Indians, actually. But I get what you're saying.
That was more massacre. But I would also not complain about celebration of Indian heritage. Complaints about this or that group being slighted because blacks get a month are laughable. I bet most poor blacks would trade spots with you and be happy they don't "get" a month of feigned appreciation.