A call for equal racial credence

Monday was the beginning of Black History Month, the month set aside in 1976 for America to remember and honor the achievements of Black culture in our society.

The entire month of February, the shortest month in the Gregorian calendar, honors those such as Fredrick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Marcus Garvey, and President Barack Obama. 

I have no problem whatsoever in honoring any of the noble deeds done by African-Americans or deeds done on behalf of African-Americans, Black History Month is a time to honor what they have done and what they have been through in history. 

However there are problems with pooling together the deeds of these fine people into a singular month.  It seems tacky and demeaning to spend one month of every year proving that black history is a real part of American history.

Cramming the historical significance of a race of people throughout time belittles the true spirit of black history.  Black speakers fill school auditoriums but get little notice the rest of the year, a school's curriculum changes to educate the youth then jumps back to “regular” history in March, and most every citizen feels the need to honor the work of African-Americans so they too can feel better about themselves. 

Sadly, most of black history is only acknowledged in the month of February and ignored or forgotten due to the fact that our society has crammed it in to a single month.  As Morgan Freeman said, "You're going to relegate my history to a month?  I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."

Another ill effect of Black History Month is the inequality it creates among minorities.  While every demographic has a special month set aside to honor that groups heritage, they are wholly ignored with most people not even knowing they exist.

Did you know March was Irish-heritage month? Or that National American Indian Heritage Month was in November? Or how about that the largest and fastest growing minority group, Hispanic, has Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 set aside? I will assume no.

All parts of our American history should be given equal credence and value in the education system and in our society. I also have no problem in honoring any noble deed done by any American be them black, white, Asian, Latino or American Indian.