Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Why No White History Month? It is the month of February again, and I am very excited about the Black History month. As a young African American elementary school teacher, I make sure that I fully take advantage of the Black History month in my lessons with my 5th graders. Yesterday, we were talking about important African American political figures, who made life better for all Americans. During this lesson, one of my students raised her hand and asked why there was no "White History month?" "Were White Americans not as important?" I did not have a good answer to her question. I must be doing something wrong to have a student feel this way. How would you answer this question? Do you think it is problematic to integrate African Americans to all my lessons during February? How can I fix this? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) In this scenario, I recommend providing your students with background knowledge about Black History Month which began as Negro History Week in 1926. February was chosen for Black History Month because of two individual birthdays that are important to the history of African Americans, President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. The goal of Negro History Week was to provide historical information about African Americans to school children. The civil rights movement of the 1960s coupled by the negative connotation of the word, Negro, paved the way to Black History Month. It wasn't until 1976 that we began to celebrate Black History Month as we now celebrate it. Not everyone advocates Black History Month. African American actor Morgan Freedman has been vocal in contesting Black History Month. Instead, he proposes that every month should include teaching the history of all ethnic groups. On that note, other heritages are recognized and celebrated throughout a designated month including Irish-American Heritage Month in March; Jewish American Heritage Month in May; National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 to October 15; Puerto Rican Heritage Month in November; and Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in June. Without understanding the oppression African Americans have endured throughout our history, our children may not understand the significance of Black History Month. As our nation becomes more and more diverse, eventually, if not even today, we may decide as a nation that White History Month is necessary to allow students opportunity to learn about White Americans who contributed to the history of our nation. To answer your specific question, I do not believe it is problematic to integrate African Americans to all of your lessons during February; however, if one integrates ALL Americans in their lessons throughout the school year, the celebration of Black History Month may evolve to an actual celebration of recognizable individuals rather than a month of informing students about the contributions of African Americans.