HISTORY

Why Some White People Want to Abolish Black History Month

Even though we’re left with a fractured story of America

Three Black women photographed together with protective styles | Photo by Admar Kamosso Oficial via Pexels

American history that overlooks the experiences and contributions of Black people is incomplete. Like a memoir with half of the pages ripped out, it’s impossible to decipher accurately, leaving even the most eager reader with a shallow understanding. Why is this important? Because knowledge of history empowers people to chart a path forward that reflects the wisdom of the past. Without it, we’re practically lost and liable to repeat the same mistakes as previous generations. Of course, in the digital age, the availability of information is not the greatest barrier to learning black history. In this case, the prevailing problem is racism, as some White people shun its inclusion. So, we have the missing pages, the books, essays, and poems written by Black authors, but not everyone is convinced the public should access the whole story.

Take, for instance, a letter urging Defense Intelligence Agency employees to “pause all activities and events related to Agency Special Emphasis Programs” as of January 28th. This includes shutting down plans to honor Black History Month, Juneteenth, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Women’s History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and numerous other…