It’s that time of year again-Black History Month. You know, that month of celebrations of the achievements, skills, accomplishments, and history of one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States. A group whose members do not typically learn of the historical accomplishments of their people in public schools or universities. A group comprised of people whose scientific and artistic achievements are not widely known by the general populace. A group that has traditionally experienced discrimination and marginalization in USAmerican culture. But I’m not here to talk about Black History Month. And why is that? Because it has come to my attention-again-that members of another racial group feel it is unfair that African-Americans get One Whole Month to discuss their history and accomplishments. Leave aside the fact that the history of this other racial group is taught in schools and colleges around the country as the default history. Never mind that the histories of African-Americans are considered ‘electives’, rather than part of the default discussion of U.S. history. None of that is important. What is important is that many members of this other group feel left out (marginalized, even) and believe they too, should get a month to honor their achievements. And who can tell them no? Not I. In fact, I feel kinda sad that white people don’t have an entire month to learn more about their history. It really isn’t fair. Therefore, in response to the calls for fairness that I’ve seen on Facebook and Twitter year, after year, after year, I give you White History Month. Enjoy!
For the benefit of those white folks who wish to learn more about their history, feel free to explore the following links to expand your knowledge and understanding of white history:
Day 1: Genocide of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Day 2: KKK
Day 3: Internment of Japanese-Americans in WWII
Day 4: Trail of Tears
Day 5: Human zoos
Day 6: Forced sterilization of Native American and Puerto Rican women
Day 7: Lynchings
Day 8: Redlining
Day 9: 1921 Tulsa Riots
Day 10: “The Birth of a Nation“
Day 11: Civil War
Day 12: Anti-miscegenation laws
Day 13: Minstrel shows
Day 14: Violation of treaties with American Indians
Day 15: Blackface, Brownface, Yellowface, Redface
Day 16: Jim Crow Laws
Day 17: Labor discrimination
Day 18: Violation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978
Day 19: Literacy tests
Day 20: Terrorist attacks on African-American churches
Day 21: Dispossession of Native peoples from their lands
Day 22: Housing discrimination
Day 23: Chinese Exclusion Act
Day 24: Dred Scott
Day 25: Educational oppression
Day 26: Stand in the Schoolhouse Door
Day 27: Dakota/U.S. Conflict
Day 28: Tuskeegee Experiments
Day 29: Cultural appropriation
Day 30: Forced assimilation of American Indians
Day 31: Slavery
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As a White Person, I soooo appreciate this! FINALLY! We are getting the recognition we deserve!
Although, I must say that some of my people’s greatest accomplishments appear to be missing. I refer, of course, to:
-racially skewed mass incarceration, for profit, including legalized slave labor
-routine racist police shootings with no accountability
-bombing, invading, destabilizing, and occupying the countries of brown people in illegal wars for resource exploitation
-the War on (black and brown people who use) Drugs
I’m sure there are MANY other accomplishments of my people worth of celebrating, too!
Iris:
Dangit! I wonder if there’s enough to fill up another month. Or another 11 months.
Or another 11 years.
Funny thing, Tony, I had the very same idea…