(Formerly published March 5, 2024 to LinkedIn.)

It is March and I cannot help but contemplate February for a few minutes.  I love seeing and hearing the positive contributions of black people throughout the month of February. It is important for all people to understand American history. I appreciate Black History Month’s original purpose of highlighting black contributions to United States history, combat racism, and bring the nation together as people who appreciate each other. It dates to 1926 and Carter G. Woodson. He was determined that the U.S. celebrate the rich cultural heritage, contributions, and struggles of all black people. Launched by Woodson as Black History Week, it was formally extended in 1976 to Black History Month.

Growing in popularity are three additional heritage months. Each was established to celebrate the rich cultural heritage, contributions, and struggles of recognized groups.

·        National Hispanic Heritage Month, too, began as a week in 1968. It was later expanded to a 30-day period (September 15 – October 15) by President Ronald Regan in 1988.

·        Asian Pacific Heritage Week originated with Congress in 1979. Starting out as a week in the month of May, Congress extended it in 1992 to the month of May.

·        November was established in 1990 as National Native American Heritage Month. It had been previously named by Congress as Native American Awareness Week, formally recognizing Native Americans as the country’s original inhabitants.

The addition of more national heritage months is likely. There is nothing wrong with that. The U.S. is a country populated by immigrants, all who have made terrific contributions; they have also brought with them unique cultures and encountered their own unique struggles from which we can learn. I have to say, however, that all of this seems a bit strange when we acknowledge the racially polarizing narrative that currently blankets our country. Celebrating heritage months while embroiled in identity politics further polarizes.

Candidly, I wonder why we need these months. Perhaps our educational systems are sorely lacking in how they teach students “who” actually did build America; in how they go about making sure our children know the sacrifices made by so many people of all races and colors; in how they communicate the dreams, ventures, and indomitable spirits of those who failed and yet tried again. Ironically, why do we have people who want to remove parts of our history, like the slave trade and internment camps, from our curriculum? What country prospers from eradicating its past? It is our history. We should learn it. We should talk about it. We should grow from it. We should not repeat its obscenities.

I want us to know the actual rich history of our country, warts, and all! Our country was built by a lot of great people. It was shaped by those who had the best interests of all people at heart, and those who had only their own interests at heart. We want to be proud of those who worked together and, in spite of others working against them, accomplished common goals, dreams, and advances. Additionally, we dare not forget the lessons learned from those who worked hard to keep the disadvantaged suppressed. We did great things; we did offensive things. What we do not want to do is remain mired in past battles.

That said, I wonder why so many people are eager to celebrate a month that, by its very nature, limits black history to just four weeks. Those outside the “choir” may falsely assume that after February, we dare not utter a thing about black history and black contributions to our country. This is wrong. Black history is so much more than just a February celebration. Black history is American history. I refuse to be reduced to one month. I also refuse to be judged and classified simply by my appearance. Yes, I acknowledge that others may but that is beyond my control.

One look at me and everyone I meet for the first time classifies me as an African American. They do not bother to meet me first, with no presuppositions, so that they can “know me,” to listen to “my story.” I am not an African American; English is not my first language. Few people know this. What a strange thing, to be judged first and only by the color of my skin but this is America…for now. As we continue to segment each other into color, we are moving further and further away from the original thesis that we are all “created equal” (even though the Founders were wrong, the theme still resonates and is part of our American psyche). Separate but equal did not work out too well in our history but here we are, advocating for separateness one month at a time, one initiative at a time, one identity politics debate at a time. Can’t we just be people?

This leads me to question what we miss by focusing on the obvious. Black History Month and its articles, events, media, and influencer coverage calls out the now-famous Harriet Tubman; Rosa Parks; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and so on. What it misses are the long-ago and current heroes found in our elementary classrooms, high schools, universities, employing organizations, mothers, fathers, doctors, lawyers and nurses, plumbers, emergency responders, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, social workers, and so on.

I wonder what we might become if we dedicate every year to recognizing, supporting, and celebrating these people who have, by the way, every imaginable skin color in the world. How about the two little Nebraska girls who helped each other through elementary school, one Native American and one white? What about the young black student who hid white students (innocent bystanders) from black rioters? What about the self-made black man who helps young people, regardless of color, who demonstrate initiative and honor? How about the disabled man who refused disability, yet found a way to support his family while mentoring those less fortunate? What about the resource teacher who hugged all her kids, from all levels of society regardless of how they looked or smelled, when they were hungry for positive human contact? These people are not united or divided by their appearance. They are united by their commitment to humanity, their determination to see people for themselves, their willingness to hear everyone’s story on its own merits, to recognize potential in everyone, and to help create opportunity for everyone who comes their way. I have benefited from many of these heroes along my own journey. I also strive to be that person, regardless of race or appearance.

I also wonder if the place of Black History Month causes us to miss something else, our kids’ need for help, a lot of it. They need people taking personal interest in their lives to help them dream big, work hard, accept responsibility, and seek a healthy future.

One place to start is the sad fact that many of our children are being raised in single heads of house. They do best with stable homes and two parents. Recent Census Bureau findings report that “mothers maintain 80% of single-parent family groups” out of the “10.9 million one-parent family groups with a child under the age of 18.” Fathers head up the other 20 percent. Unfortunately, “Children living with a mother only is the second most common U.S. living arrangement, a number that has doubled since 1968” (Census Bureau). The Census Bureau Current Population Survey depicts the following:

“Hispanic children were half as likely as Black children to live with their mothers only, with almost a fourth living with their mother only. About 13% of White, non-Hispanic children and about 8% of Asian children lived with their mothers only.

The percentage (5%) of White, non-Hispanic children living with their father only did not differ statistically from that of Black children. About 4% of Hispanic children lived with their father only. Asian children were less likely to live with their father only (about 2%) compared to children in the other race or Hispanic origin groups.”

Single heads of house, across all groups of people, do not bode well for the children. Children in single heads of house are much more likely to live below the poverty line (OJJPD). Living arrangements come with “implications for children’s outcomes, such as academic achievements, internalizing problems (e.g., depression and anxiety), and externalizing problems (e.g., anger and aggression)” (Census Bureau Story). It is a fact that childhood poverty is closely correlated with adult poverty, and adult poverty with crime and crushed dreams. I do not think that any of us want that for children. So, what if, instead of devoting most of our energy celebrating black culture one month each year, Hispanic heritage another month, Asian Pacific heritage one month, and Native American heritage a fourth month, we change our focus?

I submit that we devote our energy to 12-month efforts through which each one of us becomes an active mentor, an unsung hero, to our children and young people in all walks of life and of all skin colors. The behavior of Harriet Tubman; Rosa Parks; and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed the world. Our own behavior can change the world for one child at a time, one young person at a time. It is easy to talk, it takes a lot out of us to act, especially as unsung heroes. Recognition, acceptance, and advancement do not usually happen through loud voices, celebrations, and new policies. They happen through truth telling, supportive interaction, and investing in one person at a time.

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author.