Black History Month...OH YEAH
Hello Friends,
Its that time of year again, Black History Month! The Afro-centric commercials, programming, and general Black hoopla rises up and then quiets down again in about 28 days. I'm always fascinated by this celebration of Blackness, as it only exists one month out of the year.
PBS is running a show called African American History where they trace the family tree of famous Black people. But, the people featured are those who are universally excepted in the mainstream: Oprah, Quincy Jones, Chris Tucker. On TV Land (obscure cable channel), there is a special running called, "That's What I'm Talkin' 'Bout!" Its hosted by the very friendly Wayne Brady and guests join and talk about Blackness in entertainment and politics. It's only running this month. When I was telling my boyfriend about the show he said, "Who's Wayne Brady?" Then he said, "Oh the Black guy." My first response was to give him the dirtiest look I could followed by a "shoe on the other foot" lesson. Then he helped me realize, its not his fault nor is it the fault of most people, even Blacks who commit the same descriptive foul every day.
Black people made no impact on him because he never saw any in a positive light. If a person's only Black reference growing up was Martin Luther King, Jr., what can I expect? Black Americans are for the most part only constructed as negative images. Well, except this one month of the year when they get to be stars! The other 11 months, we are...well, I don't know yet. I'm waiting for a positive Black identity that is continuously shown in the media. Great pains are taken to no longer reflect too many of the negatives, but I feel like we are still waiting for full integration. For every MLK, there are many more who left marks as well. Where is their history written or being shown? Not just at a museum, mind you, but general knowledge! If they hadn't been effective, who knows if I'd be writing this posting? I hope that our children will learn more than either of us did about an important part of American history. Although our children will be mixed, I do not want them referred to simply by their skin color (which will likely be a lovely shade of caramel).
Sometimes I can go days in a row in Portland without seeing another Black person. I go to work sometimes and think, "WOW, its really only me." Other days I read magazines or watch TV and movies and I feel sad for the lack of color. Its hard not seeing anyone that looks like yourself.I wish I could put into words exactly how it feels, but I can't. But its kinda lonely. Lest you think I dwell on it, I don't. But every once and a while, I do a little.
It is my hope that we can continue to diversify history and media to make it inclusive of all the people that make up our country (I hate that the only Black centric shows are on Mondays on UPN. I can't make it every week!). What an achievement that will be. But until then, when you talk about me, don't refer to me as "you know, the Black girl," because I - and all the rest of us - are so much more than that.
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February 3, 2006 |
Karol Collymore | Comments (17 so far)
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Posted by: Betsy Wilson | Feb 3, 2006 11:09:49 AM
Thanks for the post, Karol. Portland is indeed a strangely white city and we all have room to learn and grow...
Tom Lehrer, oh how we miss you (this was written back in the, er, 1960s I believe, with supreme sarcasm)
It's called "National Brotherhood Week"
One week of every year is designated National Brotherhood Week. This is just one of many such weeks honoring various worthy causes. One of my favorites is National Make-fun-of-the-handicapped Week which Frank Fontaine and Jerry Lewis are in charge of as you know. During National Brotherhood Week various special events are arranged to drive home the message of brotherhood. This year, for example, on the first day of the week Malcolm X was killed which gives you an idea of how effective the whole thing is. I'm sure we all agree that we ought to love one another and I know there are people in the world that do not love their fellow human beings and I hate people like that. Here's a song about National Brotherhood Week.
Oh, the white folks hate the black folks,
And the black folks hate the white folks.
To hate all but the right folks
Is an old established rule.
But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
Lena Horne and Sheriff Clarke are dancing cheek to cheek.
It's fun to eulogize
The people you despise,
As long as you don't let 'em in your school.
Oh, the poor folks hate the rich folks,
And the rich folks hate the poor folks.
All of my folks hate all of your folks,
It's American as apple pie.
But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
New Yorkers love the Puerto Ricans 'cause it's very chic.
Step up and shake the hand
Of someone you can't stand.
You can tolerate him if you try.
Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Moslems,
And everybody hates the Jews.
But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
It's National Everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood Week.
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you.
It's only for a week, so have no fear.
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!
Posted by: Karol | Feb 3, 2006 11:16:17 AM
Hi Sid,
America still needs Black History Month for one important reason; Black history is not considered part of American history, therefore not included. If there was an effort on behalf of the history writers to make that curriculum, it would be much easier for me to let go of the notion of Black History Month. Ideally, there wouldn't need to be one. And yes, even in mostly White Oregon, Black history is part of their history and why can't those historical accounts be valid to more than just Black people? I know that is not what you are saying, but it needs to be said that I've learned more White history and probably can speak to it more than most White people I know, but I am not as well versed in Black History. The primary reason was that I was a good student in 1st through 12th grades and general (aka White) history was taught. Not much more than a month a year did I hear about Black people - or Hispanics for that matter and I'm from New Mexico.
Back to the point, however. Celebrate every culture everyday. Don't continue to segregate me by giving me one month. That's not the situation however. So, until that happens, I'll take the month.
Posted by: Becky | Feb 3, 2006 12:52:46 PM
During the year I spent in Zimbabwe I gradually forgot I was white to the point where I'd jump with surprise when I saw my reflection in a mirror. It was an odd experience to look so different from everyone around me, so I can relate to your feelings to some degree.
You write, "Great pains are taken to no longer reflect too many of the negatives" - and I have to disagree to some extent. One of my pet peeves is those CrimeStoppers commercials on the radio. They're always looking for a black man. It's a subtle reinforcement of a stereotype that is allowed because, of course, we all want to stop crime. Who would say "no" to running them? But I cringe every time they air. In fact, it seems the "great pains" that are taken tend to call so much attention to themselves that a subtle message is sent that black folks just wouldn't make if if we didn't help them. So I still think we have a lot of work to do.
I'm glad my kids are growing up with heros like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and George Washington Carver. I'm glad they're learning about them in school all year, right alongside all the other heros we've learned about for decades. I see this as a very exciting improvement and am pleased that my kids do not seem to harbor even the most subtle forms of racism. It makes me very hopeful for the future. For my kids, Black History Month is a time in which to emphasize both how far we've come in the Civil Rights movement and how far we have to go. We need that reminder still, and probably will for another generation.
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Feb 3, 2006 1:05:28 PM
Race remains one of the least-discussed major issues in American society, so for that reason alone, it seems like a good idea to have black history month. And while it's always a sticky point, the postmodernists were right: the standard version of American history is the one that was written by whites and reflects and obvious white bias. I marvel that almost every news outlet has a "business" section, but not a "labor" section. American history is like that--it places priority on--surprise!--those areas in which white Americans have been most visible.
On an unrelated point, it's well to note that while Oregon is undeniably white, it's far from the most white, and it's getting more colorful. According to the census, it's now only the 21st whitest, way behind New England. Based on current trends, we'll continue to diversify as immigration (both from within and without the country) increases. On the other other hand, we are still one of the least black--41st, with only 1.9% black webfeet.
Posted by: Bill Holmer | Feb 3, 2006 1:40:38 PM
Jeff,
I always enjoy your commentary, and my response is somewhat off topic. But I must ask if you also marvel at the lack of a "capital" section in the news? I don't believe referring to the "business" section of the newspaper is indicative of a bias against labor. Labor is a crucial component of business, just as is capital.
Posted by: torridjoe | Feb 3, 2006 2:48:35 PM
Karol--
thanks for your posting. I wanted to ask a question, personal only because you included personal information. You said of your boyfriend:
"Black people made no impact on him because he never saw any in a positive light."
Doesn't he see YOU in a positive light? I'm of the mind that using celebrities and political figures to build your understanding of African Americans distorts the picture almost as much as pure ignorance. Understanding IMO comes from relating to ordinary black folk in everyday life, just as you would with anyone of any other race. I sure hope you're making an impact on him!
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Feb 3, 2006 3:29:09 PM
Bill, I see your distinction, but I don't agree. Almost every story in the business section is a "capital" story--written from the point of view of the business owner or invester. Labor is either not mentioned or, more often, mentioned as a barrier to profits. It's not even wrong or evil, but rather--to tie it back to Karol's post--just an issue of the lens you use. In the case of history and business, you may miss nonwhites and workers if you use a particular filter.
Posted by: Mari Margil | Feb 3, 2006 4:41:04 PM
Thank you, Karol. Well said and much appreciated.
Posted by: Garlynn | Feb 3, 2006 5:26:35 PM
First off, let me say that I'm a big fan of Black History month... just because it seems be a good time for more unconvential stuff to happen. Like, you know, regular art being replaced by african art, or some styles of music being played and enjoyed by people who might otherwise not give them the time of day.
Also, for the State of Oregon, I think it would be good for everybody to learn the non-white history of the state.
Sure, Black history is important: very little prior to World War II, then a huge influx to the shipyards during the war, the destruction of the city of Vanport during the 1948 flood, the relocation southward into the N/NE neighborhoods, and an enduring presence since then in Portland.
But also, the Chinese story: massive presence during the 19th century with the building of the railroads, then some endurance afterwards as service workers, running laundry stores, etc., but then a general disappearance afterwards due to... racism, mostly.
You can't forget the Native American story: first civilization on this land, brutally repressed when the white civilization arrived, coralled onto reservations with active attempts to destroy the culture during the first half of the 20th century by making enrollment in Indian schools mandatory, where the only allowable language was English.
Finally, the Hispanic story (I'm skipping the Japanese and other ethnic groups here because...well.. somebody else needs to tell those stories)... wow, when were Hispanics first in Oregon? Certainly after the War, to help with the fields. But before the war? I'm drawing a blank here. ANybody help me? The Hispanic story, it seems to me, is the most dynamic, as their population group is growing pretty much the fastest of all ethnicities in the state currently.
Maybe these numbers will change over the next 50 years, but you know, everybody says Portland is such a white city. I'd like to compare it to San Francisco, which everybody says is such a diverse city:
PORTLAND SAN FRANCISCO
White 78.7% 51.4%
Black 6.9% 6.5%
...also:
Am. Indian 0.9% 0.3%
and then:
Asian 6.9% 32.7%
Pac. Island 0.3% 0.4%
2 or more 3.8% 3.3%
Hispanic 7.7% 14.0%
So... technically, Portland has a slightly greater percentage of both Blacks and Native Americans than San Francisco, though the greatest difference is San Francisco's massive Asian population, and their Hispanic population, which is a little less than twice the proportional size of Portland's.
Not quite what you might have expected, right? I expected San Francisco's Black percentage to be higher, certainly, in comparison with Portland's. But, of course, San Francisco is right across the bay from Oakland, which is over 35.7% black... and there's no such adjacent black community for Portland.
Anyways, I just thought that was interesting. Any comments?
:-)
cheers,
~Garlynn
Posted by: doretta | Feb 3, 2006 8:39:10 PM
Sometimes I can go days in a row in Portland without seeing another Black person.
Karol, just curious, why do you choose to live in a place where you can go days without seeing another black person? There are many neighborhoods in Portland where that's not possible.
Posted by: NSGN | Feb 3, 2006 9:06:25 PM
Thanks for your post Karol. I remember moving to Portland some years ago, entering Oregon from (yes) the California border, I felt like the darkest person in town. Being of Jewish and Gypsy origins, I blend only in Greece, Italy and the Middle East, so I entered Medford with some trepidation and chose to spend my first night in Oregon in a distinctly Mexican district. Portland is a bit of an improvement, to be sure, but a few months ago I was on a date with a native Portlander, a highly educated 3-rd generation newspaper writer, who, about 15 minutes into the date, asked if I knew Ira Rothenberger (or something like that). I said I did not, and should I? "Well," said my date, "He's Jewish, like you." I laughed so hard my Oregon Pinot Noir went right up my nose. My date thought he scored points for his humor. Actually, I'm still laughing about it now, so I guess he did. The point? When you read those bumper stickers that say, "Keep Portland Weird," that is the downside.
Karol is right when she says Black history is not American history. In my work I have the privilege (albeit frustrating) of helping to resettle African refugees into the community. The fate of the Liberian refugees in particular, keeps me awake at night. In a nutshell, Liberia was founded by a group of American Black freed slaves who went back to their native Africa, beginning in 1823. Modeled on the early US government, the now-wealthy former slaves became so corrupt that they were overthrown and brutally executed during a coup in the late 80s, the result of which has been over a decade of civil war, horrific murders, mass rapes and other crimes against humanity, refugees streaming out to camps on the Ivory Coast and now being resettled by the UN, some to the US. These people have been so traumatized they arrive barely functional, some are HIV+, many are ill and malnourished and they may never get the mental health or medical treatment they need. US immigration policy toward African refugees is one of the places American racism rears its ugly head. These people get 8 months to acclimate before they are assumed by the highly punative welfare system, which pounds on them to find a job, any job, not taking into consideration their former life as farmers, gatherers, barterers, etc... No one teaches them about indoor plumbing, about the bus system, about apartment living or grocery shopping (that can't be actual food in those little plastic packages?), let alone how to find a job. No one tells them that they must know how to read in order to eke out a living here. And we, as Americans ask, "why didn't they learn this stuff if they knew they were coming here?" But, since a refugee's destination is chosen by lottery, they may not have known til the last minute whether they were coming here or going to Denmark (which has a much kinder refugee resettlement policy). Without literacy, chances are these African-American-Africans will never be able to influence politics or policy. And it is my humble opinion that these brave souls (and the ones from Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Congo and the ones that will be coming soon from Darfur), that have hung on long after most of us would have killed ourselves in despair, also deserve a place in Black history month. Sorry for the long post.
Posted by: Chuck Butcher | Feb 4, 2006 11:21:43 AM
As a white person I'm real sure that there's quite a bit of this that I just don't get. There were a number of blacks mentioned in my history classes in public school in Ohio 60's-70, in proportion to historical relevance? I have no idea.
I travel to Portland a couple times a year from NE OR and I seem to see quite a few blacks, but then, I have no "neighbordood-centricity," I have no idea where I "shouldn't go" and don't care. I don't know how many black families live in Baker City, exactly, but a close guess would be 3. Compared to Portland that would qualifiy as distinct rarity in encounters. The blacks that make the newspaper always seem to be on the Business page or Social page, not the police record, I'm sure that's also a difference.
I seem to be race neutral, in that I'm not blind to color or features, I just don't care. Since I'm married, it would be a bad idea for me to date women of any color, but it would be a matter of indifference to me.
I seem to have missed the consistently presented positive image white male in media, though I certainly do not discount where the power base is. It certainly is much easier to be made fun of when you know you have the power card.
Posted by: Karol | Feb 6, 2006 8:46:29 AM
I do live in a more diverse area of Portland, St. Johns. I can go a few days without seeing a person of color because I work downtown, exercise downtown and by the time I get back to my side, its time to go home. I'm happy to say my weekends in St. Johns are full of color and its lovely.
Posted by: Patrice | Feb 20, 2006 9:27:44 AM
Read your post and I'm trying to do something to get Americans to understand the profound contributions blacks have made to this country. I started 1865Co.com because as time goes on, it appears African Americans let our beautiful and profound history move further and further from shore of our collective psyches like so much driftwood. We have tried to escape from everything black willingly sacrificing the community ties that got us through and catalized some
of the most important movements in American history. I believe if we made a concious decision to plug into our past (in our own words and interpretation), as so many other minorities can and have, we would become whole again, proud of our amazing accomplishments and contributions to this country and the world. The whole truth about American history is not something to be swept under the rug as these were the efforts that pushed and even dragged America kicking and screaming closer to the reality of its founding ideals. Some people are beginning to make the connection thank goodness.
Posted by: Yalonda Sinde | Feb 10, 2007 1:50:54 PM
I can certainly relate to the feeling of being the "only" one in Oregon. I'm a newcomer to the area. An African-American professional who came here to accept a job that I love. I moved near my office so that I can walk to work. The drawback is that I am the only black person in my building at work, the only one in the entire apartment community where I live and in most areas where I move about to do my business.
One of the things that surprises me is the sometimes fearful reactions from some of the white folks I've encountered in my now 40 days as an Oregonian.
I dress very professionally for work so on most days am in a suit or business casual attire. I've been told that I resemble the Pine-Sol lady from those commercials (you know, the one). I don't think there is anything scary at all about how I look and especially the Pine-Sol lady.
Anyway, on several occasions upon leaving or arriving to work my presence has startled a few passersby. One of which actually grabbed her daughters hand and crossed the street as I was walking in their direction! I can't help but wonder what must have been going through her mind. How can you be so scared of a woman who looks like the Pine Sol lady? (I'm laughing out loud over here). I almost wanted to tell her in a sweet but very sarcastic voice that last I checked, black folks stopped eating white babies in 1865. But I declined to be a smarty pants because I think it would have caused a scene or scared her cute little girl. I'm a nice lady so I chose the high road, smiled and happily walked along.
This has happened to me at least 5 times that I can count but doesn't bother me as much as it makes me laugh. If some of these folks are scared of a woman like me, I feel sorry for black men. I bet they really catch it from people like that who are overly fearful of black folks.
I mean if a woman is so scared that she grabs her child and crosses the street to avoid crossing paths with me, imagine what she would have done if I were a big black dude.
What balances it out are the friendly greetings I sometimes get from some of the white folks who are so excited to see someone of color that they go out of their way to say hello.
I'm sure I'll get to the point that I won't even notice it anymore. Until then, I'll continue to blow it off as I have too much else going right in my life.
Whew, glad to get that off my chest...
Posted by: Parents go up with their children. If you didn't YOUR CHILDREN ARE REALS!!!! | Feb 10, 2007 5:53:05 PM
Child abduction cases are different for the genders. Boys frequently are peaked euphorically (homo)sexually and are either told telepathically to go with someone or they leave under their own volition and someone is told to take them in and they comply.
Possibility #2 is these children found out their parents complied fully with what they were asked, that they sabotaged their children's lives intentionally because the gods telepathically requested (temptation) and the kids left out of self-preservation. (This is also the reason for all the elder neglect/abuse as well.)
Like so many others Mom may have complied when asked to sabotage her children's lives, to go to the grocery store and buy the specific products laced with the hormone growth poison (explosion of "big people" in the last 40 YEARS!!!), totally unncecessary because Artificial Intelligence can accomplish these results yet still important for justification, an important dynamic for the sake of positioning.
(Artificial Intelligence can do ANYTHING, incuding AIDS:::::The gods instructed their clones to create AIDS as punishment for the hedonism of the 60s and 70s, now inflict it on Africa)
Many times they will peak the child's fear, making them think there is emminent danger from their parents, compelling them to leave for their own well being.
So, assuming foul play wasn't an issue, the numbers would be very telling:::::
1. Most IF NOT ALL girls left because either their fear was peaked or they found out their parents fell for temptation and betrayed their children. It is very rare when they peak females like they do males.
2. Boys potentially could be peaked euphorically for it is JUSTIFIABLE!!!
What percentage is foul play an issue? 10%? 20%? Higher? I know they don't like to admit this because it would expose that they are lying. The emergence of innocculations prevented the gods from justifiably killing the sibling who had to pay for the others, so now they have to compensate in another way, and killing a child with this method may fit the family's legacy of disfavor.
So over half of the three-fourths of missing kids do the right thing by getting out, escaping an abusive parent who falls for temptation and obeys absolutely, thinking they are earning by sabotaging their child's life??? Considering that hormone growth poison in the designated grocery products will make them gargantuon, 1'-2' and 100lbs bigger than they should be, I'd argue they did the right thing (wild profits in this industry was "the rope", temptation for the disfavored investor who incurred evil which limited their time).
The girls end up with broken hearts, crushed by their own parents.
In other cases after making some progress the girls arrange for a new home telepathically and escape to a healthy environment conducive to growth or directly off Planet Earth, sometimes with the parent's assistance, parents being in on the abduction scam.
Leaving a disfavored household is the best thing that could happen to them. They say (my family's daughter) needs to get out of this enviornment or she won't have a chance, but unfortunately she has a legacy of gossip mongering which is going to be a big, big hurdle to overcome.
So what's the purpose of parental betrayal? Did the gods want disposable generations from the 20th century? Was this important during the generations in which we became technological? Is the Apocalypse right around the corner and they needed to justify the deterioration of society, as they did prior to the Noah's Flood event, necessitating employing these deceptive tactics to the undesirable???
More than a few cultures agreed December 21, 2012 was going to be The End!!!!!
Posted by: Sid Leader | Feb 3, 2006 10:49:04 AM
I enjoyed your post, Karol, but I'd like to ask you something.
I got the giggly part of your post, but really, does America need an "African-American Month", or isn't that something to be celebrated every day?
Also, as the Dr. Gates TV special showed many people who think they are black may be mostly European and vice-versa.
I don't have an answer, but as a teacher, I would like to know your viewpoint.
Is it kinda silly, especially in one of the whitest states in America, or is there value there, because we're really white?