Carter G. Woodson
February is Black History month. It originated in 1926 as Negro History Week through the leadership of the Black historian Carter G. Woodson. He chose the week in February that includes the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Dr. Woodson saw the need to emphasize the struggles and contributions of Black people to American history at a time when the injustice and oppression of racial segregation was an accepted “way of life” in most of the country. One of his best known books is The Mis-Education of the Negro in which he makes a powerful case that how one is educated or mis-educated contributes to perpetuating or challenging racial injustice. The following quote from the book exemplifies this point:
“The only question which concerns us here is whether these “educated” persons are actually equipped to face the ordeal before them or unconsciously contribute to their own undoing by perpetuating the regime of the oppressor.”
This quote struck me as especially timely in light of executive orders and legislation in several states outlawing the use of “Critical Race Theory” in public education. As we celebrate Black History month, these efforts by state governments actually threaten to undermine and/or eliminate the reality and depth of Black history as American history. The video posted below provides an example from the state of Florida. It shows how much of the “conversation” around teaching about race minimizes the voices of the majority of Black people in favor of minimizing the “discomfort” of white people. It reminded me of another quote from Dr. Woodson’s book:
“Cooperation implies equality of the participants in the particular task at hand. On the contrary, however, the usual way now is for the whites to work out their plans behind closed doors, have them approved by a few Negroes serving nominally on a board, and then employ a white or mixed staff to carry out their program.”
As people of faith who are committed to belief in the image of God in all humanity, it is essential to value the experiences and voices of all people, especially those who have been historically marginalized. The “discomfort” that comes with learning about the depth of racism in our nation’s history is the foundation for working on a way forward toward greater levels of justice for all people.