Dammit!!
Anyway, I voted unnecessary, but it COULD be racist as well, depending on certain contexts.
Why? Because all those huge cultural advances from sub-Saharan Africa are being ignored by our racist educators? You know, like the novel, Shakespearian plays, Algebra, Calculus, representative government, music theory, Bach, Beethoven, ocean navigation, Christianity, modern medicine, air travel, space exploration, nuclear power, Hollywood, Broadway, skyscrapers, shall I go on?
There have certainly been non-Europeans who have made advances; Muslims come to mind in the fields of math and science. The Chinese in paper, silk, and pyrotechnics. But entire regions, if not continents, are woefully lacking in contributions to technology and culture that have advanced human civilization. I can’t think of any from the pre-European Americas or sub-Saharan Africa.
We study European history because of its direct link to the world today, not because we prefer white people. And we ignore the Eskimoes not because we hate them, but because their contributions to modern society have been relatively minor.
Lemme put down my french fry dipped in ketchup made from tomatoes and corn syrup to see if I can think of any agricultural advances from the Americas. Anything that might have affected the world at large. Hmm, thinking, thinking…nope, can’t come up with anything.
As for Native American History month et al, look, I can claim any month to be whatever I want to claim it as. I would be good money that during Native American History month, American students learn at least ten times as much about white people history as they do about Native American history.
And the first novel is generally agreed to be the very Japanese Tale of Genji.
Others have already made the point that American history is already centered around the white viewpoint. To further emphasize the point, let me ask as a hypothetical what would be the curriculum in a class in white history? What people and events would be mentioned in a white history class that aren’t already part of an American history class?
The only apparent purpose for promoting the idea of white history seems to be to exclude non-white people from American history. So the best thing you can say for the idea of white history is that it’s unnecessary - we’re already teaching the subject to our students. But if you scratch off the surface of white history, you can see the idea is covert racism.
In the sense that this is a dog whistle, I suppose that White History month is covert racism. Really, though, I’m not sure how much more overt it could be without being clad in a white hood.
Yikes! I stand corrected. Native American studies curriculum: contributions to modern world = corn and tomatoes. I’ll add coffee, chocolate, and tobacco. “Study those for the exam, kids. Class dismissed.”
I voted “other” – it would be idiotic.
Fair enough–and since you mentioned pre-European Africa, I’ll ask you to cite significant advances from pre-African Europe. Or, y’know, you might decide that your criteria are meaningless gobbledygook anyway.
Ironically, your post betrays your ignorance of both Native American and African history.
Privilege and majority is irrelevant, unless people purpose heritage recognition only for perceived minorities. Ir is simply unfair for 'power’to have a color except white. Discouraging recognition of one’s heritage is a disfunctional act and breeds more negative feelings in all parties.
I voted other. It’s close to racist - it would certainly have among its supporters lots of racists - but mostly it would be just whiny butt-hurt people believing their own sophism about reverse discrimination.
So worse than unnecessary, but I’m not willing to just say, “racist.”
I figure whiny butt-hurt fits into “other.”
Most African-Americans have no idea which group or groups their ancestors belonged to. Because the slavetraders & their masters made a great effort to erase their history. Certain practices of these cultures can be traced to African-American folkways. Which have contributed much to this country. But individuals can’t *know *where their folks came from…
Most of my folks came from Ireland rather recently, as history goes. The earlier ones also came from Ireland–Presbyterians from the northern parts. Anyone with European blood has numerous chances to celebrate their own roots if they wish.
I have no desire to “bond” with inbred yahoos proud only of a melanin deficiency.
I vote “other”–a combination of racist & unnecessary. With a heaping side order of stupid.
My parents used to tell me that Mother’s Day and Father’s day were necessary because the other 363 days a year were kids’ days. Might be the same for Caucasians.
As a lily white person I sure as hell am not worried about the matter.
I’m sure I am ignorant of a great many things; the origins of coffee being just one of them. I hope you’re happy; you just excised 20% of my Native American Studies syllabus.
But my larger point remains: our curricula are Euro-centric because the modern world is Euro-centric, at least in The West. And the world is Euro-centric because of the tremendous advances to just about every field made by Europeans and their cultural descendants, not necessarily their racial descendants.
European history matters today. Eskimo history…eh, not so much. Kids need to study the Reformation so that they understand why there’s a Lutheran church right across the street from a Catholic one. Eskimo myths certainly may have literary value, but they lack the cultural importance of Luther’s 95 Theses.
Black History Month is all I’ve ever heard it called. And if you ever hear me referring to myself as African-American, you may assume I’m a pod person.
The cool thing is how you know this despite not knowing much of anything about Native American or African history. The system works!
Would this White Caucasian History Month be sponsored by the Department of Redundancy Department, or would it be devoted specifically to the history of white people from the Caucasus region?
I would be fine with it but it would be one Hell of a diverse month. I’m central Siberian and while I’m considered white I have less in common (genetically or in terms of tradition) with say a German or Brit than I do some minority groups.
Enlighten me. I’m particularly curious about these vast contributions that advanced mankind. You’ve already cited ketchup. Good call. So we’ve established that the native Americans were clever enough to find food from native vegetation that was not poison. A glorious achievement, to be sure.
What else ya got? Go ahead, put those Europeans to shame.