The Los Angeles City Council celebrated Black History Month Feb. 7 with a ceremony in City Hall. The U.S. Department of Defense ordered a pause in the celebration of Black History Month this year, a move columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson called painful and puzzling because of the millions of African Americans that have fought in every war.
Courtesy photo
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Contributing Columnist
There were two things about the Defense Intelligence Agency’s memo pausing the celebration of Black History Month and other major commemorative, historical events by the Defense Department that jumped out at me when I read it.
The first was that the directive issued at the prodding of President Donald Trump “paused” the commemoration of these time and tradition honored events. This clearly was a clever case of Trump hedging his bets to see how much of a public outcry there would be over putting a hold on these commemorations.
The second thing was the double irony that the Defense Department, of all government agencies, would be directed to pause the Black History Month commemoration. This was a painful and puzzling reversal of what had been firm policy for decades by the department and other government agencies.
I say painful and puzzling because of the debt paid in blood and sacrifice for decades by the millions of African Americans that fought and died in every one of America’s wars. They did it even though they knew that during most of those decades, nothing, and I mean nothing, would change them being treated not simply as second-class citizens but as one commentator said, “America’s bums.”
That painful recognition fueled the threat by Black leaders during World War II to practically shut down the war effort if Blacks weren’t given at least a nod toward getting some decent jobs in the war industries. It also inspired the Double V slogan — victory over Hitler abroad, victory over Jim Crow segregation at home.
Of all government agencies the pay-off of that 70-year-plus fight for equality has been the military. It is the most integrated, and opportunity laden for Blacks, from top to bottom of all government agencies.
The Defense Intelligence Agency’s directive also ignores something else that extends far beyond the celebration or commemoration of the month. Black History, as I have argued for years, even with some Blacks, is far more than a month that ticks off the check list of important contributions of many African Americans. It’s much more, or at least it should be.
Far too few adults know that African Americans played a major part in shaping America’s institutions. Black inventors, explorers, scientists, architects and trade unionists helped construct the foundation of American industry. Black abolitionists and religious and civil rights leaders helped shape law, politics and society in America. Black artists, writers and musicians gave America some of its most distinctive cultural art forms.
The 1960s civil rights movement not only broke down the legal barriers of segregation, it opened doors of opportunity in government, business and at academic institutions not only for Blacks but for other minorities, women, the poor, and — despite what the opponents of affirmative action don’t say — many men. The cruel irony has been that Black History Month has done almost nothing to make most Americans aware of this.
Decades ago, pioneer Black historian and educator Carter G. Woodson initiated what he called Negro History Week. He wanted to rescue Black people’s accomplishments from the netherworld of American history and make them a source of pride for Black people and all Americans.
Today, Black History Month, the Defense Department pause notwithstanding, is an established tradition. Politicians designate special days, issue proclamations and sponsor tributes to African American notables. TV networks shove in most of their specials, documentaries and features on Blacks. Then February ends, and it’s back to business as usual. Black achievements vanish from the screen, the concert halls and the speeches of politicians.
It’s long past time to end this annual disappearing act. Black contributions to American society should be celebrated every month. But this isn’t done, and many Blacks blame racism.
They are partly right, but it’s too easy to blame racism for America’s failure to recognize Black contributions. The painful truth is that many Black historians and educators made a big error during their push for Black studies courses during the 1960s. They failed to tell how the Black experience has enriched the lives of all Americans.
This confined Black history to a tiny cubicle “for Blacks only.” When the struggle for equality died down and the backlash against Black studies began, these courses were knocked away like so many bowling pins. Academics and textbook writers treated Black history as little more than a sidelight to “real” U.S. history.
It’s time to end the racist white out — and to correct exaggerations by some Blacks of Black contributions to history. Publishers should revise textbooks that restrict Black people to a few chapters on slavery, civil rights and jazz, and fully incorporate Black accomplishments in all chapters.
School administrators and teachers should make sure that Black contributions are laced throughout the curriculum, from science and technology to the humanities.
So, it’s not just the Defense Department that got it wrong about pausing commemorating Black History Month. A slew of politicians and public officials did, too. They should commemorate Black achievements in ceremonies throughout the entire year. Corporations should regularly feature Black achievements in their advertising and promotional materials.
When the experience of Blacks is accepted as central to the American story, Black history will be what it always should have been — American history. And that can’t be paused.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book is “A Tale of Two Los Angeles Wildfires — Separate and Unequal” (Middle Press Passage). He also is the host of the weekly The Hutchinson Report Facebook Livestreamed.
