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Black History Month

Farmer Ted Feb 19 2006 09:17 AM

The local TV stations are rotating commercials celebrating Black History Month. I caught one last night during the Olympics which featured Derek Jeter. Black History Month or Semi-Black history month. Which is it?

Nymr83 Feb 19 2006 03:01 PM

the whole idea is lame to begin with, where is native american history month? what about women's history month? both those groups got ignored as much or more than blacks in the past and i'd have to say that important native american historical figures remain far more unknown today than blacks do to the general public.

TheOldMole Feb 19 2006 03:25 PM

I'd be for a Native American history month.

A Boy Named Seo Feb 19 2006 03:26 PM

Maybe the general public knows more about black historical figures than Native American historical figures because of Black History Month.

metirish Feb 19 2006 03:30 PM

When Morgan Freeman was on ' 60 minutes' he had some things to say about 'Black History Month', basically he hates it, is insulted by it and asked some of the same questions Nymr83 asks.I have no real feelings on it.

KC Feb 19 2006 03:56 PM

I'm not particularly proud of how America was acquired, but the Native Am- ericans are a conquered nation. War sucks, losing a war sucks even more. I don't care what Morgan thinks either, I like him as an actor - he's very talented. I've learned more about black history the last number of years because of black history month. That isn't a bad thing.

Frayed Knot Feb 19 2006 09:04 PM

Derek Jeter represents all peoples and all races.

DocTee Feb 19 2006 09:45 PM

Native American History Month: November Women's History Month: March

Edgy DC Feb 19 2006 10:25 PM

March is also Irish history month. Usually. Congress has to re-vote it every year. Keeps the lobby working harder than one permanent vote. Funny to complain about the groups being ignored.

Yancy Street Gang Feb 19 2006 10:30 PM

I agree that black history should be taught throughout the year, but I don't object to it getting special focus in February. Black history is a key part of American history. There's no denying it.

Frayed Knot Feb 19 2006 10:35 PM

I want a month dedicated to Blond-Americans. We're a neglected minority and are less numerous than many others. We have to constantly put up with jokes made about us which depict us as dumb, jokes that hurt our self-esteem and yet are not even considered to be hate crimes. I'm also calling on the Minnesota Vikings to drop their mascot as it's an insulting caraciture which depicts my people as violent and warlike.

Nymr83 Feb 19 2006 10:40 PM

i didn't know you were blonde! your posts will now be viewed with suspicion and assumptions that you are wrong.

Frayed Knot Feb 19 2006 10:54 PM

See, I'm already being discriminated against!!!!

OlerudOwned Feb 19 2006 10:56 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: See, I'm already being discriminated against!!!! Where'd ya learn a big word like that, blondie?

TheOldMole Feb 19 2006 10:57 PM

After we kill Black History Month, which has meant a great deal that's positive for a great many people, what else shall we do for Morgan Freeman?

Elster88 Feb 20 2006 08:50 AM

Freeman is taking a beating in this thread. I disagree with his opinion, but I respect his right to have it. I'm getting dizzy up on this soapbox.

HahnSolo Feb 20 2006 09:38 AM

I have no problem at all with Black History Month. I just wish the television networks expanded their "We Celebrate Black History Month" profiles beyond Rosa Parks, MLK, and Jackie Robinson.

ScarletKnight41 Feb 20 2006 10:45 AM

This is slightly off topic, but two years ago we were visiting Kansas City, and we took the kids to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. There was an introductory film about the history of the Negro Leagues. Jackie Robinson was mentioned, but only in passing. After the film, MK was miffed that more wasn't said about Robinson, because he was the one who broke the color barrier in the Major Leagues. We explained to him that the museum was about the Negro Leagues, and Robinson was only in the Negro Leagues for about a year. But MK wouldn't be placated. I found it really funny to be in the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum with a blonde, blue-eyed little child who wouldn't stop complaining about Jackie Robinson not getting his due.

TheOldMole Feb 20 2006 02:00 PM

Elster -- I didn't mean to beat up on Freeman, though I know it sounded that way. Of course he has a right to his opinion, and he has a right to respect for the body of work he's done.

TheOldMole Feb 20 2006 02:01 PM

Good for MiniKnight, and good for you. Both sides had merit.

Edgy DC Feb 20 2006 06:56 PM

In his way, Jackie Robinson destroyed the Negro Leagues, which, I guess, merits attention.

MFS62 Feb 20 2006 07:15 PM

Edgy DC wrote: In his way, Jackie Robinson destroyed the Negro Leagues, which, I guess, merits attention. Why do you say that? Later

Edgy DC Feb 20 2006 07:17 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 20 2006 07:28 PM

By integrating the major leagues, he made the Negro Leagues obsolete. They lingered for a decade and faded into irrelevancy.

KC Feb 20 2006 07:28 PM

Mole: >>>Elster -- I didn't mean to beat up on Freeman<<< I don't think anyone beat up on anyone in this thread. Re-reading the thread and seeing someone post that Freeman is taking a beating kinda makes me question why someone would say so. It didn't happen. Is it a reading comprehension thing? Is it a need to stir the pot? Is it nothing? We discuss* all kinds of stuff, I hate when it's made up stuff. *OE: I changed "argue about" to "discuss".

Willets Point Feb 20 2006 10:00 PM

The downside of the Negro Leagues is that they represented the racial inequality of the nation and the fact the some of the best ballplayers in the world were barred from participating in Major League Baseball. The upside of the Negro Leagues is that many of the franchises were sucessful black-owned businesses at time when fiscal success was a rare achievment among blacks because of racism and segragation. While the integration of the major leagues started by Jackie Robinson was a good thing, it was done in the worst possible way for the Negro Leagues. The major league teams plucked the best players away, attendance fell, and the black business men who ran the teams went bankrupt. I've read writers who think a better form of intergration would be for 2-4 Negro League teams to join the major leagues. Obviously at the time that was a bit of a pipe dream, but it's quite a great "what if" to think if the Homestead Grays and Kansas City Monarchs played against the Yankees, Dodgers, and Cardinals.