Is Black History Month Endangered?

Historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland established a society for the study of Negro life in the early twentieth century. In 1926, they created a Negro History week in February. They chose the second week in February to honor the birthdays of President Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, which were commemorated during that week. According to History.com, the idea for a Black History month was formally presented in 1970 and was signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1976. It has been observed annually across the country since that time.

The month currently also is celebrated in Canada, the United Kingdom, and several other countries, so the story is understood to have an international interest. The names of people prominent in the Civil Rights movement, those accomplished in literature and history, music, and entertainment, are taught to students worldwide. Now, because of the movement against racial truth-telling, the laws being passed in at least 19 states prohibiting the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) may threaten subjects being taught during Black History Month.

According to an article in the New York Times, the Oklahoma legislation is like laws in other states and notes: “educators are barred from teaching that people are responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex and cannot tell students that anyone should feel discomfort, guilt or anguish. …because of their race or sex.” An Oklahoma teacher reported that he might have said previously that white residents In Texas worked to preserve slavery, but now would hesitate to say “white”. In the article, some teachers described the legislation’s effect as chilling, causing them to worry about termination if they misspoke.

Legislation passed in Texas and New Hampshire caused one teacher to remove the Black Lives Matter sign from her classroom, even as the governor claimed that the legislation does not prevent anyone from teaching about racism, sexism, or slavery. Clearly, the issue of race must be mentioned in any discussion of slavery, after all, who were the plantation owners (white men), who did they enslave (Black people); seems pretty straightforward to me. Certainly, slavery should not be mentioned as describing plantations as places where the enslaved lived comfortably and who were well cared for, as some have claimed.

Black history is more than slavery, of course, but the achievements of many historical figures that the students will learn about need to be understood against the shadow of the obstacles in their way. I wonder, will the students will be taught, for example, about the massive resistance to school integration, the closing of all Virginia public schools, the virulence of the white mobs protesting integration, and the assault by law enforcement officers against peaceful voting rights marchers? If this may not be taught, just what is permissible?

The Washington Post also had an article about some changes Florida is implementing in its so-called anti-woke campaign. Laws have already been passed that allow parents to challenge or sue schools over curriculum items they believe can cause discomfort. Other bills under consideration can allow book banning, prohibit teachers from discussing sexual orientation in primary school and allow parents to review curriculum content they consider improper. They promote teaching the Declaration of Independence and patriotism but discourage teaching about world wars, the Civil War, and civil rights. Teachers say teaching about the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and slavery is bound to cause some discomfort, but that is why it must be taught.

Some say these measures are being promoted to enhance Gov. DeSantis and his quest for the Republican Presidential nomination, should the current front runner-DJT-fail. So, he is trying to outdo the already outlandish anti-vax positions currently in play, to woo away the MAGA crowd. This may also be the reason he was so much against vaccinations and mask mandates. He complained that the Biden administration would not give his state enough Monoclonal Antibodies to treat his COVID victims, even though that drug would not work against the Omicron variety. DeSantis was opening clinics to promote the drug instead of giving vaccines. Recently President Biden spoke out against proposed anti-LBGTQ legislation named “don’t say gay” which is making its way through the Florida legislative bodies. The closer one gets to 2024, the more outrageous the ideas being concocted may become.

There are some parental groups forming to speak out about excesses such as these across the country. Heather Cox Richardson mentioned a group of suburban women who created a group called Red, Wine, and Blue in 2018, as did the Washington Post.

They can be found on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/redwineblueusa

In Florida, some parental groups are forming in opposition to the groups challenging school boards and curriculum decisions from the right in attempts to make the educational system responsive to all parents and address the diverse needs of those in the system. They emphasize fact-based teaching from textbooks based on actual truths. I do hope that these types of groups will expand before the mid-terms.

The January 6^th Select Committee continues investigating events around that day and recently requested former trade advisor Peter Navarro to give a deposition; of course, he declined, citing he needed permission from the former President. He has written a book about that day, but cannot testify, interesting. The National Archives made news as it demanded the return of some 15 boxes of documents, some labeled top secret that were improperly taken to Mar-a-Lago by the former president. In any other universe, this would be a criminal offense, but DJT does not seem to believe he has to follow any rules. Reports by both the Times and the Post this week again addressed his refusal to follow rules about document preservation and noted that he regularly tore up important papers; the staff went behind him and tried to tape the torn-up papers back together. He also reportedly tossed torn documents down the toilet in the White House and on foreign trips; plumbers were called in to unclog the pipes. Doesn’t this seem really strange to you? It does to me. The White House staff are not supposed to use everyday shredders, but rather place particular documents in “burn bags” for secure and non-secure documents with further evaluations later.

On the local front, Governor Hogan announced he would not run for the Senate seat currently held in Maryland by Democrat Chris Van Hollen; Senator McConnell had been encouraging him to run. Hogan left open queries whether he would run for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2024. He has been trying to promote the idea of moderate Republicans, an ever-decreasing number, it seems. Leader McConnell spoke out against the Censure movement voted in by the RNC last week chastising Reps. Cheney and Kinzinger, leading to further divisions in the party. In another example of the lack of intelligence exhibited by some members, Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene railed against the Gazpacho police spying being promoted by Democrats on House members. Some are now referring to the Soup Nazis of Seinfeld fame. It has been a week!

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Covid is still with us, but the number of cases is decreasing and are down some 75% from recent weeks. Lagging indicators, deaths, are still high; we are still tallying 2500 deaths each day. Several states are dropping mask mandates as their numbers improve; the CDC is urging caution. Pfizer did not get as much immune response in its tests for the 2-5-year-olds getting the vaccine, so they have held off asking for an emergency approval from the FDA. Parents of toddlers sighed yet again.

COVID stats – NY Times:

US Totals: Total Cases: 77,629,672. New Cases: 174,592.

Total Deaths: 948,373. New Deaths: 2,465.

Maryland Totals: Total Cases: 970,566. New Cases: 822.

Total Deaths: 13,917. New Deaths: 28.

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As I write, the stand-off by the truckers on the US-Canadian bridges and city streets is being broken up by Canadian authorities after a state of emergency was declared by the Governor of Ontario. The protests, supposedly against vaccine mandates to enter the US, but which attracted many fringe elements, have paralyzed much of the auto industry in the two country areas, as supplies have been disrupted. Estimates of lost wages over the week of the protest are in the billions. Fox News and other right-wing media have been supporting the movement, the MAGA mobs and the former president also jumped on the issue, egging on the protesters. Perennial vagabonds, Senators Cruz and Paul had to get in on the glory as well. FYI, over 85% of Canadian truckers were already vaccinated; the Teamsters are not supporting these efforts.

That’s all folks- LA Rams won the Super Bowl; in case you didn’t watch.

“Til next week-Peace!