February is supposed to be Black History month, that is unless I didn't get the memo that things have changed. When I was a kid I remember watching movies about the underground railroad, Miss Jane Pittman and other stories that delivered real messages. Fast forward to the late 90's or early 2000's and I remember turning away in disgust as the late night movie for Black History month was Booty Call. Now in 2011 Mc Donalds released a Black History poster which featured news anchors and other figures considered to be our local success stories. I recognized most of the faces and I was pleased until I spotted a backwards cap wearing Funkmaster Flex who was donning a scowl on his face. It was probably the last image that I would want to present to the youth as an example of what they could become.
Now today, two days away from the end of Black History Month I finally see the VH1 Black History month movie and it is, drumroll please...."What's Love Got to Do with it", the Tina Turner Story. Now I understand how important her story is when you consider what she has gone through and what she has contributed to music overall, but I think Black History month should be about so much more than that.
Many say that Black History should be 365 days a year and I agree but since that hasn't happened, is this what we are left with?????
Have you seen positive Black History month images, round table discussions, movies etc. in your area?
Your thoughts.
3 comments:
i agree, there was NO black history anything that i've seen and now a days i'm not sure that i want to see what people represent us with if random rappers are "our story"
I created the 28 days of Black Beauty series to celebrate Black history month: 28 days of black beauty
SOcialiteDreams- thanks so much for responding. I love your 28 days of Black beauty- fab!!!
pjd
I was thinking the same thing. Although we should educate ourselves and our children about the contributions and accomplishments Blacks have made in this country, seems like when we are celebrated in the media its in a "ghetto fab" type of manner. If I was from another country visiting the U.S. during the month of Feb, I would not have known it was Black History Month.
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