By: Savanah Namome
Black history month should be taught in schools since it is one of the topics we are not taught. The purpose of Black History Month is to celebrate African Americans' sacrifices, contributions and achievements in the United States and throughout the world. Some of us were educated in schools where Black Americans' perspectives, experiences and discoveries were not integrally incorporated into our education. It is an opportunity to learn about Black British people, who are underrepresented in books, films and television.
Faith Misi, “For me, it was hard to truly express how I felt, especially when something upset me or a person teased me. As a black female, I was worried I would be labeled ghetto, rude, or just angry as that's a stereotype that's unfairly held against black women and girls. Yet as I mature and learn to prioritize myself over other people's opinions of me, I realize I'm more than these stereotypes, and I deserve to be angry, sad, and frustrated. In spite of this fear, I never stood up for myself whenever someone mistreated me because of my skin color. This fear I held still affects the way I communicate with people. Maybe my habit of hiding my emotions has caused me to hold certain things that bother me (such as racism) to myself unconsciously. Although I know it is better for me to speak out when something is wrong, it is sometimes uncomfortable to do so, even though I shouldn't feel uncomfortable. It makes me feel like I'm not taken seriously whenever I do that. When it doesn't make sense, I get told, "just chill", "it's just a joke", or "I'm just playing." Racial insensitivity is not funny. Discrimination is no joke. It is disgusting to mock other people's cultures.
Kasi Kalebu, “Black History Month has a lasting impact because then we see ourselves as well as new ways that we have never encountered before. I wasn't able to see many girls with my kind of hair or things that represented my culture growing up and I know this will definitely help little kids feel good about themselves and have a good sense of self-worth as well”.
Bethany Anderson, “Race is just a color and is not important, but it does matter because it was created due to society. Regardless of someone's skin color or who they are as a person, it's their culture and ethnicity that makes them who they are, and what helps people to come together is ethnicity, not their skin color. Today, the color of one's skin determines whether you get along with another person or not. It should be ethnicity that brings people together”.
It seems like most black people have been charged for their color and bullied, and in order to stop this, schools need to teach more about black history month rather than just celebrate it. We live in a society that makes it difficult for many black people to express themselves so let's change that.
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