# Black Dopers: Do you think it's racist to have February as Black History Month? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 25, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902 "2005-02-25T17:30:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/1 "2005-02-25T17:30:54Z")
This is a really dumb question, but I’m askin’ it anyway. Do you think it’s racist to have picked the shortest month of the year For Black History Month? Like, if we _have_ to have a “Black History Month,” at least it’ll be over with soon. It doesn’t have anything to do with Lincoln’s birthday being in February, does it? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/2 "2005-02-25T17:59:20Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > It doesn’t have anything to do with Lincoln’s birthday being in February, does it? [Yup.](http://www.historychannel.com/blackhistory/) Frederick Douglass’ birthday, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/3 "2005-02-25T19:53:44Z")
I think it’s interesting that some people think the month was picked _for_ African-Americans or _given_ rather than being deliberately chosen by a [prominent](http://www.virginia.edu/woodson/) gentleman of their own community. IJS. I’ve heard the same thing from black comedians and columnists and it always rubs me the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/4 "2005-02-25T20:09:33Z")
Hmmm, you got a point there. :o ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/5 "2005-02-26T06:53:24Z")
Dedicating a month to any race is certainly _racialist_ and, as such, detrimental in the end. Such racialism fosters the belief that races are different and separate from each other. Otherwise, we ought to have Latino History Month, South Asian History Month, East Asian History Month, Middle Eastern History Month, Central Asian History Month, Western European History Month, and Eastern European History Month. Or if we’re hung up on colors, how about Yellow History Month, Brown History Month, Red History Month, and White History Month. WRS - all are equal under the eyes of Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/6 "2005-02-26T06:55:35Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > I’ve heard the same thing from black comedians and columnists and it always rubs me the wrong way. It’s a cheap shot at white folks which people who know better don’t always find funny. That said, there is no pleasing African-Americans. As long as it was Negro History Week, there was parity with other weeklong celebrations. Expand it to a month, and we bitch because it’s the shortest month --and blame white folks! Ah, my people. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/7 "2005-02-26T07:19:41Z")
> [@WeRSauron](#): > > Or if we’re hung up on colors, how about Yellow History Month, Brown History Month, Red History Month, and White History Month. As John Stewart said on The Daily Show this week (paraphrased): Pretty soon Black History Month will be over, and we can get back to White History Rest-of-Year. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/8 "2005-02-26T07:41:01Z")
My college had a black history themed everything for the past month. What bothered me was that fried chicken was listed on the menu at the dining hall for “Black history cusine”. Yup… Thats dispelling stereotypes. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/9 "2005-02-26T15:37:56Z")
Hey, it’s true. African-American cuisine came out of slavery and chicken, fish and lesser bits of hog are meats blacks ate. Any black restaurant is guaranteed to serve chicken-- even seafood places. You do occassionally get accurate information in college. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/10 "2005-02-26T15:52:34Z")
Hm, ok. sorry then, I just thought that was put together as a false stereotype that was somehow used to mock the race. For about the 5th time this week, thanks SDMB for dispelling my ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/11 "2005-02-26T16:21:00Z")
> [@clayton\_e](#): > > Hm, ok. sorry then, I just thought that was put together as a false stereotype that was somehow used to mock the race. > > For about the 5th time this week, thanks SDMB for dispelling my ignorance. When I was a kid, I always, always clamored to go with my folks when they went over to Reverend Brown’s house because Miss Naomi made the absolute BEST fried chicken EVAH from a family recipe that had been handed down through the generations in her family. (The Browns are family friends since I was a sprite, that is their actual name as well as a description of their skin color) ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/12 "2005-02-26T16:22:24Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > When I was a kid, I always, always clamored to go with my folks when they went over to Reverend Brown’s house because Miss Naomi made the absolute BEST fried chicken EVAH from a family recipe that had been handed down through the generations in her family. (The Browns are family friends since I was a sprite, that is their actual name as well as a description of their skin color) Hmm, now that I’m thinking about it, I haven’t seen them since my wedding, I’m sure they’d love a vist and be happy to roll out the old feedbag… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/13 "2005-02-26T16:43:07Z")
> [@WeRSauron](#): > > Dedicating a month to any race is certainly _racialist_ and, as such, detrimental in the end. Such racialism fosters the belief that races are different and separate from each other. > > Otherwise, we ought to have Latino History Month, South Asian History Month, East Asian History Month, Middle Eastern History Month, Central Asian History Month, Western European History Month, and Eastern European History Month. > > Or if we’re hung up on colors, how about Yellow History Month, Brown History Month, Red History Month, and White History Month. > > WRS - all are equal under the eyes of Heaven. You do know that they do have a Hispanic Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Asian Pacific History Month, Native American History Month, Irish American History Month, Italian American History Month, and German American History Month? This past September was the first celebration of [Jewish History Month](http://www.18below.com/inthenews/prejudice_brager.asp). We even have a [Gay and Lesbian History Month](http://www.tulane.edu/~wc/months/glhm.html). So I’d say we’re all equal, pretty much. It’s just that some months–like Black History Month–garner more attention because of activism by their respective interest groups. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/14 "2005-02-26T16:52:24Z")
Hey, **monstro.** Mind matching up ethnic groups and months? You seem to be the resident authority. ---
**Author:** ![jester21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@jester21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jester21)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/15 "2005-02-26T17:02:46Z")
what’s more racist? that we have all these dedicated months or that no one could care less about any of them other than BHM? ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/16 "2005-02-26T17:09:37Z")
The _assumption_ no one care about them is pretty ethnocentristic and condescending… ---
**Author:** ![jester21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@jester21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jester21)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/17 "2005-02-26T17:11:22Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > The _assumption_ no one care about them is pretty ethnocentristic and condescending… meh. ok, the vast majority of americans. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/18 "2005-02-26T17:16:10Z")
The majority of Americans aren’t women? The largest minority group isn’t Hispanic? The midwest isn’t made up people of Germanic descent? There aren’t notable conmtributions from people of Asian ancestry on the Pacific Rim? Etc. Plenty people care. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/19 "2005-02-26T17:49:46Z")
I’m no expert. I just know how to google. [Hispanic Heritage Month](http://www.factmonster.com/spot/hhm1.html) is in September, flowing into October. Just like [German American Month](http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/gamonth.htm). [Asian-Pacific History Month](http://www.factmonster.com/spot/asianhistory1.html) is in May. [Women’s History Month](http://www.factmonster.com/spot/womenshistory1.html) is in March, as is [Irish-American Heritage Month](http://www.irishamericanheritage.com/webpageirish1.htm). After celebrating [Italian American Heritage Month](http://italian.about.com/library/blniahmspecial.htm) and [Polish-American Heritage Month](http://www.polishamericancenter.org/ThingstoDo.htm) in October, you can celebrate [Native American History Month](http://www.accd.edu/pac/lrc/nativemo.htm), which is in November. And June is Gay and Lesbian History/Pride Month. It was clear to me when I lived in the NYC area that people _do_ celebrate these months. To find out what ethnic group was being celebrated, all you had to do was see what parades were scheduled. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902/20 "2005-02-26T18:02:46Z")
And when you tire of celebrating Native American History Month this November, you can take a break and celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, which is also in November. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-dopers-do-you-think-its-racist-to-have-february-as-black-history-month/291902.md?page=2)