“The End of Black History Month” takes on two very different meanings this year. On the one hand it is a simple fact. Friday of this week marks the end of Black History Month for 2025. Yet the need for teaching and learning Black history does not end with February. The challenges and achievements of the Black community have been and continue to be at the heart of the story of our nation. In this sense, Black History Month is not an end in itself but a springboard for our ongoing learning, reflection, and action for our nation to continue the journey toward justice for all.
In another way the phrase could be a question this year, “The End of Black History Month?” That is because it is under threat in ways that we have not seen since it was first observed nationally almost 50 years ago. Under the umbrella of a weaponized and distorted use of the term DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), classes and programs that focus on Black history are being cancelled. The threat of losing federal funding is causing many public institutions and educators to revise how our nation’s racial history is taught. There is increasing pressure to teach in ways that avoid or ignore the truth in favor of a more sanitized version of “patriotism” that does not make white people feel upset or uncomfortable. As Executive Orders are being harshly implemented and people even remotely associated with “DEI” are losing their jobs, we do not know the extent to which this will damage the teaching of history for generations to come. The first video posted below is part of the confirmation hearing for the Secretary of Education. While she maintains that Black History Month will continue, she also refuses to rule out the elimination of Black History classes. What is especially disturbing is her use of the quote by Dr. King that his children not be judged “by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” This quote is regularly misused by people promoting a superficial color blindness instead of Dr.King’s challenge to confront and change the impacts of systemic racism. The second video posted below is a brief history of DEI emphsizing both its purpose of bringing people together and the backlash at different points along the way.
“The End of Black History Month” is an existential challenge this year. While our public educators are under threat, it is especially important for the Church to commit to teaching the truth about our nation’s racial history. The Cornelius Corps is one resource in this ongoing struggle for racial justice. For four Tuesdays starting on March 18, we are offering a class called “Crossing Over – The Legacy of 1965 for 2025.” Please go to our website www.corneliuscorps.org for more information and to register for the class.