I've done a bit of research since my last post and have learned that Black History Month had its beginning as Negro History Week in 1926 in the USA.
Support for the project resulted in the change of name to Black History Month in 1976.
In the UK, Black History Month started in 1987 and continues to be supported.
In Canada, it started in 1995 and continues to attract support.
To be fair, as I am sure we all are on this forum, it cannot be denied that there is a demand by black people, and support from non-blacks , for the event.
Tiberius chose Morgan Freeman to champion the case against, and so what is Morgan Freeman's case? A very short one in a very short interview.
He dismisses the month because it is too short a timescale to cover black history. As RevJeremiah has pointed out, the month acts as a FOCUS , a once-a-year occasion, well-established and supported, to review black history and culture. Freeman's objection is lame and puerile imo.
Freeman's only other objection is that he views black history in America as just American history... period. Well I would like to hear why he takes that position, one can only speculate why a very successful and wealthy black man might do so, when so many fellow black Americans do not. Whatever, it is hardly a strong case against.
It is also worth pointing out that the clip is several years old but Morgan's message certainly hasn't stopped the event in its tracks, nor will it ever, I suspect. The crucial point is that very many Black people believe the event is of value and useful in educational terms for the younger generations coming through. I support their point of view.
As to why white people express such vehement opposition, again one can only speculate.
I speculate in much the same way as RevJeremiah.
Support for the project resulted in the change of name to Black History Month in 1976.
In the UK, Black History Month started in 1987 and continues to be supported.
In Canada, it started in 1995 and continues to attract support.
To be fair, as I am sure we all are on this forum, it cannot be denied that there is a demand by black people, and support from non-blacks , for the event.
Tiberius chose Morgan Freeman to champion the case against, and so what is Morgan Freeman's case? A very short one in a very short interview.
He dismisses the month because it is too short a timescale to cover black history. As RevJeremiah has pointed out, the month acts as a FOCUS , a once-a-year occasion, well-established and supported, to review black history and culture. Freeman's objection is lame and puerile imo.
Freeman's only other objection is that he views black history in America as just American history... period. Well I would like to hear why he takes that position, one can only speculate why a very successful and wealthy black man might do so, when so many fellow black Americans do not. Whatever, it is hardly a strong case against.
It is also worth pointing out that the clip is several years old but Morgan's message certainly hasn't stopped the event in its tracks, nor will it ever, I suspect. The crucial point is that very many Black people believe the event is of value and useful in educational terms for the younger generations coming through. I support their point of view.
As to why white people express such vehement opposition, again one can only speculate.
I speculate in much the same way as RevJeremiah.
A man is born to a virgin mother, lives, dies, comes alive again and then disappears into the clouds to become his Dad. How likely is that?
