History Is Black
by Renee' Johnson

The month is February, and people all over America are celebrating. February. Black History Month. I mean, to some people, Punxsutawney Phil is the focus of February, because we all know that if that damn groundhog sees it's shadow, we are doomed to bad weather for the next 6 weeks. Do you know that we will be feeling the effects of Punxsutawney Phil's phobia (try saying that 5 times real fast) even when Black History Month is over? You DO know that February only has 28 days in it, right? I'm sure you know that you can learn EVERYTHING that Black people have contributed to American history in  28 days. I mean, it IS the designated month to indulge, so some of y'all better get steppin'! The first week is almost over!

Oh wait, then there is Valentines Day. And you know how important that is. Ahh, the day of  L.O.V.E. Loot Over Values and Ethics. There are people right now, planning romantic endeavors. People plotting new and creative ways to surprise that person they've been stalking. Women wondering if that 'special someone' will even remember that chocolates and roses are a must and they must receive them or someone must pay dearly. There are so many different legends behind the martyr, St. Valentine. One story has it that on February 14th, 273 A.D., a Roman priest named Valentine was beheaded by Emperor Claudius II. The emperor had outlawed marriages because he felt they decreased the male's zest for battle. Valentine was condemned to death because he ignored the emperor's decrees and continued to perform marriages for young lovers.

*blank stare*

Another legend states: Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.

*blank horrified stare*

The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goat hide strips.

*I wish a mf would stare*

People spend thousands of dollars to declare their love, all for one day. Just like some people, from ALL nationalities, sit down and decide that February is the month that you need to learn about Black authors, inventors, entertainers, judges, lawyers, civil rights activists, and the list goes on. BUT ONLY ONE MONTH Y'ALL. I walked into a military exchange store and much to my... let me think of the word. Surprise? No, no, that's not the word. Disdain? No, no, that's not it either. AMUSEMENT! That's it! I was amused, even laughed when I saw that they had quite the selection of Black movies strategically placed at the entrance of the store. Historical, educational, thought provoking blockbuster hits such as Black Knight starring Martin Lawrence, The Sixth Man, starring Marlon Wayans and Kadeem Hardison, and for the action lovers, Pitch Black, starring Vin Diesel!!

Now, I'm not staring.  I'm closing my eyes and shaking my head.

Don't get it twisted. I am glad that there is a month where people actually organize events in which the contributions of African Americans are highlighted. I just don't understand why all the hoopla ends on February 28th. You can best believe that all of the informational posters will come down. All of the dashiki's and ethnic garb will be placed deep into the closet where they live for the remainder of the year. Because yes, Black people, we're guilty, too. Why is it that once a year, for one month, some Black people are 'more Black', some white people are even blacker, the education system is inundated with 'tidbits', 'Black History Facts',  and book stores have 'special savings' on select Black literature? Can I get a TIDBIT on May 16th? How about some special savings on Black literature during regularly scheduled, weekly book sales?? You know what else?? Since we're talking about sales, why don't the department stores have those 'Saturday Only' sales during Black History Month?? They have them during Labor Day weekend! Stop the damn presses! Somebody is SLIPPIN'!

School history books would have you to believe that the only history Black people have is that of slaves, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. The importance of the contributions and sacrifices made by these very people and many others, cannot be adequately discussed nor can our children learn about them by referring to the single paragraph on page 225.  Educating ourselves about the contributions made by Blacks THROUGHOUT history shouldn't  be something that is only 'relevant' during the lone month of February. Of course in a perfect world, it would be incorporated in everyday life, a balanced part of the educational curriculum, and people would acknowledge that the information is necessary and accessible 365 days a year.  But then in a perfect world, all of that would go without saying. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves and our children about the contributors to American history by all nationalities, and not only during February, or throughout the year, but throughout our lives. Be responsible. Know where you come from so you can make an educated decision about where you want to go.