Parents in Utah school opt their children out of Black History Month

[Danthemailman]

I like what Morgan Freeman says about Black History month.

You can't let your past hold your future hostage. - LL Cool J

 

[KCfromNC]

Can my kid opt out of white history? SMH.

To be fair, there were are a lot of classes I would have loved to opt out of in school. But this particular choice of subjects to keep one's child ignorant of seems quite suspicious.

 

[KCfromNC]

I've heard that black students don't have much interest in white history, except as it relates to slavery.

Who did you hear that from? And exactly which black students were they talking about?

Honesty, this one reads a lot like "many people are saying...", in that it is a good way to throw out a random opinion and pretend that it is supported by anything more than wishful thinking.

 

[Landon Caeli]

In 1986 Congress passed Public Law 99-244 (PDF, 142KB) which designated February 1986 as "National Black (Afro-American) History Month.” This law noted that February 1, 1986 would “mark the beginning of the sixtieth annual public and private salute to Black History.” The law further directed the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe February 1986 as Black History Month with the appropriate ceremonies and activities. President Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5443 which proclaimed that “the foremost purpose of Black History Month is to make all Americans aware of this struggle for freedom and equal opportunity.” This proclamation stated further that this month was a time “to celebrate the many achievements of African Americans in every field from science and the arts to politics and religion."
African American History Month | Law Library of Congress

Parents wanted to opt their children out of Black History Month. A Utah school 'reluctantly' let them.

If you guys have never had authentic Ethiopian food, I highly recommend it. There's a place called Abyssinia Restaurant here in OC, that I tried and liked quite a bit.

...Those flat spongy looking things in the basket are very unique, and tasty.

 

[Landon Caeli]

With it, you might choose to have some Ethiopian imported beer... Which they do offer at most Ethiopian restaurants.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Won the lottery?

The Equal Rights Acts of the 1960's.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

What lottery did they win? And they are still being abused in America. Black history is a part of history. It's not my problem if you're afraid of it being taught. And it should be taught. Along with Native history .

The Equal Rights Acts of the 1960's.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

So you do not believe the subject of US or world history should be taught in schools? Kids should only be taught to look to future rather than learn anything about their past? Or is it only the history around minorities that should be ignored?

Either way, what a great way to ensure we continue to make the same mistakes over and over.

We learn from the past, failures and successes, but we live in the present and plan for the future.

It's our nature to repeat our failures. Christianity is all about overcoming that nature. We can't overcome the nature of another person.

What in the history of blacks is preventing them from moving ahead in the future? If they are celebrating their achievements of fighting against racism, oppression, and discrimination, what are those achievements?

Of course you could say that securing the passage of the Civil Rights laws is an achievement, but what has been the result of that victory? That's also history that needs to be examined.

 

[SilverBear]

The Equal Rights Acts of the 1960's.

a law affirming that minority actually have the rights guaranteed them by the Constitution is the lottery?

 

[Landon Caeli]

...I've never tried Nigerian, but I'm really tempted to try it sometime this month...

 

[OldWiseGuy]

a law affirming that minority actually have the rights guaranteed them by the Constitution is the lottery?

Lots of benny's came with it, notably the various affirmative action laws.

Regardless of the Constitution people generally have to fight for their rights. But it's how we fight that determines the outcome. Blacks have often chosen litigation and protest over education and economics.

 

[Landon Caeli]

 

[Ironhold]

I'd take bets on most of those being Mormons---historically racist. They deny it now and say they did finally include blacks into their priesthood---

It's a Montessori school, not a public school.

I've already had people dogging me about it because of anti-Mormon sentiment, so I've looked into it.

 

[SilverBear]

Lots of benny's came with it,

having the same rights as everyone else isn't a "benny"

 

[Mayzoo]

We learn from the past, failures and successes, but we live in the present and plan for the future.

It's our nature to repeat our failures. Christianity is all about overcoming that nature. We can't overcome the nature of another person.

What in the history of blacks is preventing them from moving ahead in the future? If they are celebrating their achievements of fighting against racism, oppression, and discrimination, what are those achievements?

Of course you could say that securing the passage of the Civil Rights laws is an achievement, but what has been the result of that victory? That's also history that needs to be examined.

You say we learn from the past, but you want to obliterate all history from schools, thus no chance to learn from the past. We have seen how well kids learn subjects when forced to rely on parents alone as teachers. Parents simply do not teach what they do not wish to discuss. So history will simply repeat itself over and over as we remain in willful ignorance. No more learning about any of the wars (Independence, civil, WW I, or WW II. No learning about the holocaust or the desimation of the Native Indians as that is all just dwelling on the past.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

having the same rights as everyone else isn't a "benny"

Tell them that.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

You say we learn from the past, but you want to obliterate all history from schools, thus no chance to learn from the past. We have seen how well kids learn subjects when forced to rely on parents alone as teachers. Parents simply do not teach what they do not wish to discuss. So history will simply repeat itself over and over as we remain in willful ignorance. No more learning about any of the wars (Independence, civil, WW I, or WW II. No learning about the holocaust or the desimation of the Native Indians as that is all just dwelling on the past.

I have no problem with learning history. But we can't live in the past or dwell on the past. We also shouldn't politicize or weaponize it to seek reparations or retribution from others. Every day is a new beginning. Celebrate that.

There are many 'histories'. Past history, and recent history. Not the same thing. In the case of Blacks recent history is more important (my opinion of course).

 

[SilverBear]

Tell them that.

I'm telling you that because you are the one claiming that it is.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I'm telling you that because you are the one claiming that it is.

If "keep your eyes on the prize" is a black mantra, what is the prize?

 

[SilverBear]

I have no problem with learning history. But we can't live in the past or dwell on the past. We also shouldn't politicize or weaponize it to seek reparations or retribution from others. Every day is a new beginning.

Exactly why we need to stand up to the revisionists and the one seeking to edit out parts of the past they personally find objectionable.
Chattle slavery, systemic racism, segregation, Jim Crow, lynching, WWII interment camps, smallpox blankets, race based massacres, forced resettlement, boarding schools, ice pick lobotomies, forced institutionalization, forced sterilization and racial profiling all happened, some are still happening. These things are part of our past, they shape who we are as a nation now and will continue continue to shape it for generations. White washing the past won't change where we are now and it won't change the future.