Talk:Black History Month

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Insert non-formatted text here

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Black History Month article.
Please sign and date your posts by typing four tildes (~~~~). Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic. New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Ask questions, get answers. This is not a forum for general discussion about the article's subject.	Be polite Assume good faith No personal attacks Be welcoming	Article policies No original research Neutral point of view Verifiability

	This article is part of WikiProject African diaspora. This WikiProject aims to improve the quality of articles related to topics concerning persons of African descent and their cultures. If you would like to participate in the project, you can choose to edit this article, or visit the Wikipedia:WikiProject African diaspora for more information. (See: Category:WikiProject African diaspora for more pages in this project.)
B	This article has been rated as B-Class on the assessment scale.
Mid	This article has been rated as Mid-Importance within African diaspora.

Contents 1 Page Protection 2 UK 3 February shortest month of the year 4 Abraham Lincoln 5 Malcolm X a militant? 6 Preachy paragraph 7 Relevance of rationale for choosing February 8 Insulting/immature redirect 9 Morgan Freeman 10 Semi-protected 11 related groups info removed from infobox 12 Introduction: African American? 13 Week/month

[edit] Page Protection

Due to repeated vandalism of this page, I have page protected it. To edit this page, please contact an administrator. Grutness|^hello? 07:05, 3 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] UK

Black History Month is celebrated. Perhaps someone can add to the article to qualify this statement. It may be celebrated, but by whom ? Not many black British that I know have heard of it. The article at the moment has the distinct and misleading inference that celebration is widespread in the UK, whether amongst the British people at large, or considering black British people as a separate group. On either account, there is little widespread knowledge currently of this celebration.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 219.77.133.103 (talk • contribs) 21:03, August 7, 2005 (UTC)

The following comment was inserted into the above comment without indicating that it was inserted. Thus I am pasting it below to clear up authorship. --User:Ibn Battuta

Black History Month is about celebrating our heritage for what our African Americans did for us and changed the laws to make it better and worthwhile staying in this country without having to be segregated or having to be punished because the color of our skin but by the contenent of our character.So keep that thought in your mind so you won't be judged by your skin color.

—Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.160.43.1 (talk • contribs) 18:17, 23 January 2008 / reformatted by Ibn Battuta (talk) 01:34, 30 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] February shortest month of the year

Unless it can be proven that Woodson was not aware that February is the shortest month, I think this statement should be removed. —Fleminra 04:01, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

"February was chosen as Black History Month because the birthdays of the esteemed black abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the celebrated black poet Langston Hughes fall during that month. It's also the month the NAACP was founded. It just so happens that February is the shortest and one of the coldest months of the year." <http://www.freemaninstitute.com/woodson.htm> a google search turns up many references to it being an odd coincidence that February (shortest and coldest month), even going so far as to debunk conspiracy theories. —User:66.82.9.57 (aka User:66.82.9.33?)

If you find a quote from Woodson that says "I did not realize that February was the shortest month," then I think the statement could stay. Otherwise, it would probably be more fair to say "Woodson either failed to realize that February is the shortest month of the year, or did realize it but decided that the month's length was less important than the fact that three important black-history anniversaries fall in February."

Can you elaborate on your argument above? I'm pretty sure I don't understand, but is it:

1. Three important events in black history occurred in February.
2. This outcome is an "odd" (i.e. improbable) coincidence.
3. An improbable outcome suggests the existance of unknown ("secret") factor(s), i.e. a conspiracy.

If this is where you're leading, what is the theoretical conspiracy and who are the conspirators? What evidence supports (not debunks) the theory? Your last statement seems to contradict my #3 above, which is what I'm confused about. Thanks.. —Fleminra 19:57, 29 December 2005 (UTC)

You must note that I am not the same one who added it the article, I was just looking around and saw that and decided to see if I could verify it. I do not believe that he literally failed to realize it, as whoever added that put, but I do think that it may be noteworthy to mention in that it is quite the coincidence, being how ironic it seems. With a quick search of the internet it is quickly evident that many do wonder why this month was chosen and it is often discussed whether the shortest month thing is a conspiracy or not (which, most likely, is not the case). So, I suppose what I am saying is that, he didn't necessarily fail to realize it as the author says, but, instead, the case is that it is just an unlucky coincidence. 204.38.166.4 19:28, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

---

Actually, this is silly to argue about. Black History Month didn't occur until the 1960s. According to http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmintro1.html, Woodson chose the second week in February to be Black History Week back in 1926. This was apparently due to the birthdates of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. The site above lists a number of events that make it all the more appropriate to pack it all into 28 1/4 days (on average). So it's probably time to give up the conspiracy stuff. Woodson apparently thought a week was sufficient to draw attention to the richness of Black history. February is simply more appropriate than any other month for a lot better reasons than length. User: nora1262

[edit] Abraham Lincoln

Am I the only person here who believe abraham lincoln was not black. Lincoln has very little to do with black history. I don't want to here he emancipateted the slaves because by the time Lincoln won the war the south had pretty much already abolished it or was pretty close to it. Also black history month is in Canada, I know that first hand http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=340&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 How has Lincoln affected black history in Canada. Unless someone has some evidence to support these claims I think it should be disembowled from the article.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.31.232.8 (talk • contribs) 13:08, February 2, 2006 (UTC)

which claims? i'm pretty sure that this is about AMERICAN black history, and i'm pretty sure he did play an important role. and whether or not you believe this to be true, it doesn't matter, february was chosen, partly because of his birthday, so i'm pretty sure he is worth mentioning... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by R66y (talk • contribs) 15:50, February 10, 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Malcolm X a militant?

I don't even like Malcolm X but it is going on a limb calling him a militant. wiki defines a militant as a neutral term for soldiers who do not belong to an established military. I couldn't find any reference to X having or belonging to a military or engaging or ever encouraging any form of violence. That may need re-wording. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.31.232.8 (talk • contribs) 14:28, February 2, 2006 (UTC)

Well, there was that whole "by any means necessary" thing... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 131.183.98.237 (talk • contribs) 07:57, February 3, 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Preachy paragraph

The last paragraph in the first section sounds a little preachy to me. Maybe it would be better to say: "In the opinion of Foo, who is an expert, Black History Month exposes the harms…". In other words, {{citation needed}}. —Fleminra 22:06, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Relevance of rationale for choosing February

Black history month is world wide, so technically the reason for choosing February as the month for black history month worldwide is irrelevant, Abraham Lincoln had nothing much to do with the initiation of Black history month in Britain. Does France Germany, Italy have a black history month, I don’t think they do and u notice that the social divides are more pronounced there than in our, I hate to use the word, multicultural Britain. Personally I have the opinion that is a bit divided, black history should be appreciated in all the cities and countries were it made an impact and it should be just as important as the roles of Asiatic, and other cultures. This would be more free thinking and radical than simply placating the masses with a month of GOOOOO black people. Essentially I think black history week/month was started with good intention but as in many cases the saying "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"

Legenda91 20:40, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Insulting/immature redirect

Someone please fix the redirect. Its insulting and immature. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 168.122.208.102 (talk • contribs) 22:27, November 29, 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Morgan Freeman

Is this man a historian, A culture icon, i dont think a actor (performer) should be used here. I mean how silly is the statment there is no white history month? It is a White country you dont need history for the dominant culture, history for them is 24/7. Yes there is issues with Black history month, like having a month to sum it up. But the childish statement about color and racism is "childish" human beings will always see difference pretending it isnt there as opposed to confronting it is just madness.--HalaTruth(ሐላቃህ) 12:06, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

I don't see any African nations celebrating White History Month. Any date that "celebrates" the culture of a presumed race only serves to segregate and force a grudging tolerance rather than engender acceptance between two aesthetically dissimilar types of human being. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Heptapod (talk • contribs) 19:14, 11 February 2007 (UTC).

I think something better would be a universal "heritage month",celebrating wherever you have come from, from Africa to England, Scotland to Australia.--70.158.160.6 17:20, 23 February 2007 (UTC)(User:Viridis, but logged out)

I wonder why an African culture colonized by Whites would need to celebrate a culture they celebrate every single day, todayalmost every African nation has a European language as the official language. Today Every African nations leaders where the dress of europe. In African schools the history of Europe is taught everyday. thus they celebrate European history every day. Black history month is for a disempowered people living among a colonial/oppressive system--HalaTruth(ሐላቃህ) 20:45, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

I know Africa is just one big colony right now owned by the Brits, Spaniards, French, Dutch, Germans, Italians, and Portuguese. Not one African, besides the Arabs, are free. (Note the saracasm). Casey14 22:06, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

No body is free, and some ask why you need a month (only a month) for Black history when you had 500 Years destroying the history. Some people are something else. Everyone got it bad, but Arabs didnt lose their history--only their lands and government.--HalaTruth(ሐላቃህ) 23:10, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

Lost their history? Tribal skirmishes for thousands of years don't exactly constitute a history. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 138.163.0.46 (talk) 16:58, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

I think that is VERY IGNORANT I DONT EVEN WANT EXPLAIN —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.182.107.195 (talk) 07:03, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Semi-protected

...what a relief! My fingers were getting tired from doing the walking :-D  uriel8  (talk) 23:50, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

Just removed a line of self promotion from the top User:justinmcl Justinmcl 03:50, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] related groups info removed from infobox

For dedicated editors of this page: The "related Groups" info was removed from all {{Infobox Ethnic group}} infoboxes. Comments may be left here. Ling.Nut 22:53, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Introduction: African American?

Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in African American history. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in the month of February, while in the UK it is held in the month of October.

Is it true that Canada and especially the UK remember African American history? Sounds a bit US-centric to me... but maybe I'm wrong? --Ibn Battuta (talk) 09:50, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Week/month

I'm English, and not 100% about the details, but I assume this is an error:

"Woodson, creator of Negro History >>Month<<, hoped that the >>week<< would eventually be eliminated, when African-American history would be fully integrated with American history."

Was it started as a week, or should that read "hoped that the MONTH would.." 138.38.217.149 (talk) 13:26, 1 February 2008 (UTC)Italic textthey for the african american