What exactly is Black History Month?

BLACK HISTORY OR MENTAL SLAVERY?
By: David L.



Is it just my own pessimistic thoughts and concerns that Black History Month falls on a month with the least amount of days, or is it just another deliberate, well-thought out plot by white media to keep Black people as a collective whole somewhat satisfied in today’s rampantly racist society? Try to look at it at from a logical point of view. If Black people are rewarded just one month out of an entire year to celebrate their history, then exactly what do the other eleven months signify? Does it imply that for the rest of the year the Black race should live off the lies that have been spoon-fed to them from the first day they learned to read for themselves? These like many other are hypothetical questions that we need to demand from ourselves. Questions that demand timely, well thought out answers. As a result of the numerous, distorted history (I mean his-story) books that have for years subconsciously brainwashed the Black race, too many educated people view Black History Month as a long and awaited blessing in disguise. To make matters worse (did you really think it was going to get any better?), the festivities and celebrations that are shoved down the throats of Black men and women before and during this supposedly joyous occasion are usually nothing more than weakly-planned events which disappear from our collective minds somewhere between the first and second days of March. As proven in the Malcolm X hysteria during the mid and late 90’s in which everyone was wildly running around with the “X” emblem on their hats, vendors of every race, religion and creed have successfully exploited the Black market (Black signifying African-American) just to make a quick cash profit at the expense of one of this era’s greatest leaders.

According to a Princeton University online definition for oppression, it is “the act of subjugating by cruelty; the state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority, and/or a feeling of being oppressed by another.” Unfortunately, African-Americans have been oppressed – both in the past as well as presently, however, the dynamics have changed considerably. For the most part, gone are the days of outright and blatant racism and unfair treatment. In this modern era, oppression is much more subconscious and subliminal. Unfortunately, many African-Americans use oppression as a proverbial crutch and complain about not having equal rights – without taking an active stance to do anything about their oppressed state of mind. Think of a birdcage when making reference to illustrate the concept of how an oppressed person thinks towards their oppressor. The oppressor opens the cage door for their oppressed victim, however, the oppressed refuse to “escape,” unable to see past the open cage and fly away to freedom. This is an example of mental slavery at its most effective! Although one may vehemently deny their subliminal and subconscious oppression, it undoubtedly exists. However, change can only be implemented when the oppressed individual (or race for this matter) when the oppressed chooses to relinquish the mental prison that they are unaware that they are in. An oppressive system is only as effective as the smaller sub-system that allows the oppression to continue.

In conclusion, we as Black people not only have a commitment, but a responsibility to learn a collective knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of self and celebrate what needs to be celebrated, and not what we are told to celebrate. Peace.