Black History Month/BET

[Dave de Sylvia]

OK, so I'm reading Adrianne Curry's blog and I stumble across this gem of a blog post:

MY Boycott against BET and Black History Month

Because of my last blog, and all the wonderful feedback I got..it made me think...

This is gonna be hard guys. I LOVE the comedians on BET. I also LOVE the fact that they play my favorite show of all time, In Living Color. However, I do not believe in seperating ANY RACE in America. WE ARE AMERICANS! How dare we have Black History Month! In my eyes, the Native Americans deserve it MUCH more, seeing how we destroyed their ENTIRE SOCIETY. There are hardly any of them left! They also have been proven to have the WORST living conditions on their reservations. I want AN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. One where we learn about EVERY race, ALL OF OUR LEADERS, EVERYONE! I think by having a month dedicated to one race, and not one for any other, is RACIST. Every fund set up to only help people of one race is SICK and RACIST.

Yes, I get it. Black people were slaves here once. You know what? That does suck some major balls, however, it is time to move the **** on. Do we hear the Jews crying that they were made slaves for thousands of years? Do we hear them whine that they should OWN the pyramids in Egypt because THEY broke their backs making them? Do we hear them bitch and moan about Hitler, etc? (my hubby is a Jew)Nope, we dont. It's time for us to UNITE AS ONE. I do not think that singling out one race, giving one race opportunities to go to college (I know a TON of poor white.asian, indian, american indian, etc etc that could use that too!), giving one race the EXCUSE to blame things on others for being whatever nationality they are, is a good way at making sure we NEVER kill racism.

I am over this ****. WE ALL CAME FROM ONE BLACK WOMAN FROM AFRICA, THAT is our EVE! It has been proven by science, and I stand by it. If any other race had a chanel dedicated to just them, we would think it was racist. If any other race demanded a month be set aside for ONLY them, they would be considered racist. I am NOT living by this double standard any longer.

Think I am racist? I am not. I know what racism is. I dated a guy named "Justin" in Junior high. Nothing serious, but I really liked him. He was the blackest of black...BEAUTIFUL skin, kinda like Alex Wek's. He was handsome, and athletic, etc. I was called a ****** lover. But you know what? I was called that by a whole 2 people out of a school with HUNDREDS of students. THAT is why I am NOT buying this racist **** anymore. Let us teach or children that there is NO DIFFERENCE! We are all human. I hope one day aliens land and try to kill us. Maybe THEN we would finally realize that WE are ONE.

So, I will no longer tune into BET. This is going to suck, but I do NOT like the idea of having a chanel for only 1 race. In the year 2007 in a country that is supposed to be the most advanced and equal. This is unexceptable! I will also no longer acknowledge Black History Month. Instead, I will see it the way that Morgan Freeman does (I have the quote at the bottom of my last blog on Obama/jesseJackson, and OJ). AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH! I will read/watch/and learn about ALL the people who made a difference in this country.

I am asking you ALL to join me. Black, White, Indian, Asian, Russian, Australian, etc etc.....lets be AMERICANS together! What happened to the African American community was AMERICAN HISTORY, not BLACK HISTORY. If you want to celebrate in a way that excludes others and singles one race out, count me the **** out! I am soooo proud to be an American. I am SO proud that I have friends of every race, and none of us see each other as anything but what we are..people. Lets change Black History Month to 2 months of AMERICAN HISTORY. We will still learn about all the black leaders and people who made a difference....just not with the racist name of "Black History Month". It has to start somewhere. I am going to do my part in making sure we are all treated EQUAL in a country that CLAIMS we are. NO MORE SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR ANYONE WITH ANYTHING!

It will never happen. At least, that is what many of you will say...FINE! My number one priority here is being able to die and know that I stood up for what I believed in, and that I did not add to the SEPERATION OF AMERICANS!! I love my country, I love the people in it. I love our history, good and bad. We should LEARN from it,not dwell in it and not move forward. That's why I am done with this ****. You are all my brothers and sisters.....even if I think you suck ; ) As Bono said, "One life, with each other..sisters...brothers!"

now, have fun burning me at the stake ; )

Click Here To Subscibe To My Blog!..

Edited Note:: Opinions are like assholes, everyone...we all have em! Please, respect each other here...listen...even if you dont agree. No name calling. I have a confession...The topic here (black history month/BET) is not what my message was about..>I just knew it would get a lot more attention if I used it as an example. My message is to BECOME ONE. AMERICANS, celebrate things as such, not label them this or that...Black History month should NOT go away...but it should have it's name changed to AMERICAN HISTORY..and be made into a few months...to teach us EVERYTHING about our history...not just focus on one race. Yep, I have a hippie view of the world, and I dont care!! I am not saying to stop celebrating and remebering our history, good or bad. I AGREE that we need to teach MORE on american history concerning what we teach during "black History month". I am not writing this to take away anything from anyone...we need MORE OF IT, but WITHOUT the race title!!!!

Oh yeah, VOTE OBAMA!!!!!

She goes on to slam Mexicans in the comments. So, yeah, she's kind of demented... but it's a popular opinion she holds.

The question is: do Black History Month, Black entertainment media and whatnot serve a purpose anymore? Do they have a negative effect?

p.s. read the first 5 pages of the blog comments if you have time. I almost had a CVA on several occasions.

[ChodaBoy]

I dont believe they have ever served a purpose. Apparently, BET and alike were created so that black people would have something to watch that they could relate to. I have watched various 'black orientated' channels, and the programming is absolutely no different.

[BridgeToSolace]

To think that all black people have the same tastes in humor and music is just as bad as to think they're all criminal, lazy bastards.

Well, not just as bad. Same thought process though.

It's not healthy, but I don't think it's a big deal. There are women's channels, gay channels (like Bravo), and guy channels (like spike).

If they continue to make money, then I guess they still serve a purpose.

Having a black history month is stupid. Her idea that we should have a Native American month is kinda dumb, too. I'd have to be just a week or something.

[MattyBlade]

wait wait wait. is this that chick that married the brady?

[BridgeToSolace]

I think so. I have no idea why anyone would ever read anything she's ever written ever.

[Eliminator]

WE ALL CAME FROM ONE BLACK WOMAN FROM AFRICA

lol

[Danger Bird]

I stopped when she said that jews built the pyramids. idiot.

I'm in favor Black History Month as long as typical history continues to be taught from a completely Euro-centric point of view.

[MAthiAS]

Nationalism is hardly a good thing to replace racism with...

[Danger Bird]

Also, somebody needs to tell her that there are no picket signs around this channel's headquarters:
http://azntv.com/

[BridgeToSolace]

That's because no one has ever heard of it.

[Danger Bird]

Dude I watch AZNTV all the time.

[Dave de Sylvia]

To think that all black people have the same tastes in humor and music is just as bad as to think they're all criminal, lazy bastards.
No worse than thinking all programming on a tv channel is the same. BET was formed to fill a demand for programming featuring black people with black peoples' general interests in mind. It might be terrible now (I dunno, I'd never seen it until recently), but originally it gave black performers an outlet that could otherwise have been closed to them.

I stopped when she said that jews built the pyramids. idiot.
haha yeah

And she quoted the "ONE WOMAN IN AFRICA" fact in one of her other blogs too. She's fallen in the deep end, big time.

[dei]

She should be bitching about the Filipino Channel, too.

[Charlie Daniels]

"Do we hear the Jews crying that they were made slaves for thousands of years? Do we hear them whine that they should OWN the pyramids in Egypt because THEY broke their backs making them? Do we hear them bitch and moan about Hitler, etc? (my hubby is a Jew)Nope, we dont"

I dunno bout her, but I often here the jews whinging about that stuff... specially the whole hitler thing...

[BridgeToSolace]

I've never heard a Jewish person whine about the holocaust, or asking for reparations from germans.

Although I have this weird conservative jewish friend who refuses to ever own a german car because of it.

[Smokey D]

Germany pays Israel millions in reparations every year.

[dei]

Did the Jews build the pyramids, or did the pyramids build the Jews?

Dude, I just blew my own mind.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Did the Jews build the pyramids, or did the pyramids build the Jews?

Dude, I just blew my own mind.
I built the Jews. I introduced a bonus whining feature in version 2.7 beta.

[Danish]

In the words of Chris Rock, "That **** is ig-nant!"

[Mr. Ron]

Germany pays Israel millions in reparations every year.

um what. Thats stupid.

[BridgeToSolace]

Germany pays Israel millions in reparations every year.

Snap, I didn't know that.

That's kinda dumb, considering that Israel is less than half the total population of Jews in the world.

[Charlie Daniels]

Not to mention that the german government today is a completely different entity to the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler...

[Akira]

Yeah, the blog was pretty garbage, but the sentiment is nice. I do believe that Black History Month (not so much BET because it is just kind of dumb) at worst perpetuates racial differences and at best doesn't do anything.

[Smokey D]

The point about histories being inherently Eurocentric is one that needs to be made.

[Danish]

Of course a bunch of white kids don't understand Black History Month.

You guys need to learn to own your own privilege in society. Privilege: A Reader, edited by Michael Kimmel and Abby Ferber. I realize we don't learn anything really worthwhile in school, so reading is great.

[Akira]

So enlighten us, mighty one.

[Smokey D]

History is not just relaying events. It's the mediated interpretation of current scholarship on the causal links and reasons in past events. Therefore, history is subjective and largely dominated by the dominant social force (in this case, white folk). Therefore there is a case for the presentation of a different interpretation of history.

Black history month isn't just about important events of which black people were a part. It's about viewing history from an entirely different paradigm.

[Danish]

There should be a Workers' History Month.

[Smokey D]

Man, Marxists already control the history profession as it is.

[Danish]

Man, Marxists already control the history profession as it is.

lol I wish! Certainly isn't true at Brock University.

[Danger Bird]

No worse than thinking all programming on a tv channel is the same. BET was formed to fill a demand for programming featuring black people with black peoples' general interests in mind. It might be terrible now (I dunno, I'd never seen it until recently), but originally it gave black performers an outlet that could otherwise have been closed to them.
I agree, every channel has a target audience, and race is undoubtedly a factor in all of them. White Entertainment Television is basically CBS, NBC, etc.

The point about histories being inherently Eurocentric is one that needs to be made.

Yeah I'm glad I already made it. :p

[Smokey D]

Marxists ruined the French Revolution.

And the English ones.

It's taken us decades to get out of the preconceived models Marxist historians put forward without the right evidence to back them up.

[Danish]

Perhaps, but we're great lovers ;)

[Smokey D]

Yeah I'm glad I already made it.

I was backing you up brother, since Akira had ignored or missed your point.

[Danger Bird]

hi5 dude

[TheDarkHorse]

The question is: do Black History Month, Black entertainment media and whatnot serve a purpose anymore?

yes. Entertainment for people of the culture by the people of the culture. However what is now considered "black culture" can now be related to whites, mexicans, and whoever else grew up around black neighborhoods.

[Reaganista]

i think black history month fails to remove the eurocentric bias
at least in america
because american black history begins when whites started selling africans

[Dave de Sylvia]

That's because it's American Black History.

[Reaganista]

yeah how does that remove eurocentric bias
fyi black history month is an entirely american invention, even if it has somehow spread to european countries

[Dave de Sylvia]

It doesn't remove it, it reduces it.

[Smokey D]

I thought black history month was about black Americans, not Africans.

And it doesn't matter when it starts. It matters how it looks at things.

[Reaganista]

It doesn't remove it, it reduces it.
__________________
how
I thought black history month was about black Americans
and this is inherently eurocentric
And it doesn't matter when it starts
of course it does

[M3LL0NC0LL13]

It does seem like BET/BHM sort of imply that certain races are different/have different tastes, but you can't deny that everyone's different.

I love the occasional person who says, "How come we can't have white history month?" They don't realize that EVERY month is white history month.

[Smokey D]

and this is inherently eurocentric

Only if you're being asinine about what Eurocentrism and historiography are.


of course it does

Black American history began the moment the first black slave set foot on a slave boat. It didn't begin in the Serengeti 40 000 years ago.

[Hedgedive]

BET is fine. it's just entertainment for a target audience.

Black History Month, however, is meh.

[Danish]

It does seem like BET/BHM sort of imply that certain races are different/have different tastes, but you can't deny that everyone's different.

I love the occasional person who says, "How come we can't have white history month?" They don't realize that EVERY month is white history month.

lol Races have different tastes? You're out of your mind.

All modern popular music comes from black music. The history of rock is a history of shameless theft.

[DBoons Ghost]

Black people invented rock and roll and white folks made the money as well as kept black folks out of popular music as long as they could. Even Motown struggled to find it's way.

It's fitting that black people now dominate popular music.

Anywho, I despise Black History month. So cheese. And not because I'm jealous we don't have a sicilian history month or some stupid crap, but because we're all Americans.

BET is great and all, but there needs to be a black entertainment channel. I don't like black specific comedy. I like comedy though. You dig? Anything targetted for a specific audience is the total fail to me.

Black folks still make up a small overall percentage of the population of this country. There are black actors peppered (omg pun) throughout sitcoms on all channels. It's never going to be enough it seems.

What you relate to not what you think is fair. Even most of you sound like douchebags argueing this.

[Danish]

Dude, you're Sicilian?

[DBoons Ghost]

Dude, you're Sicilian?

Yes. 100%. Does that make me a bad person? :p

[Mr. Ron]

Black people invented rock and roll and white folks made the money as well as kept black folks out of popular music as long as they could. Even Motown struggled to find it's way.

It's fitting that black people now dominate popular music.

Anywho, I despise Black History month. So cheese. And not because I'm jealous we don't have a sicilian history month or some stupid crap, but because we're all Americans.

BET is great and all, but there needs to be a black entertainment channel. I don't like black specific comedy. I like comedy though. You dig? Anything targetted for a specific audience is the total fail to me.

Black folks still make up a small overall percentage of the population of this country. There are black actors peppered (omg pun) throughout sitcoms on all channels. It's never going to be enough it seems.

What you relate to not what you think is fair. Even most of you sound like douchebags argueing this.
No one invented rock, the genre is simply a culmination of different genres over time. Rock is a blend of gospel, folk, country and various others. But, it can be said that without African and European unfluencing each other, rock wouldn't be what it is today.

[DBoons Ghost]

No one invented rock, the genre is simply a culmination of different genres over time. Rock is a blend of gospel, folk, country and various others. But, it can be said that without African and European unfluencing each other, rock wouldn't be what it is today.

That's a more specific statement but in the end it's the same result. No one invented rock, but Elvis Presley for example wouldn't have existed without black music.

[Mr. Ron]

That's a more specific statement but in the end it's the same result. No one invented rock, but Elvis Presley for example wouldn't have existed without black music.

I agree.

[Smokey D]

Or bluegrass, or a whole lotta white music.

And I think you've missed the point if you think 'we're all americans' is reason enough to not have black history month.

[Charlie Daniels]

That's a more specific statement but in the end it's the same result. No one invented rock, but Elvis Presley for example wouldn't have existed without black music.

Just because they contributed to rock and roll doesn't in anyway mean they invented it though. I mean the vast majority of the early rock 'n' roll singers are white :-S

[DBoons Ghost]

Or bluegrass, or a whole lotta white music.

And I think you've missed the point if you think 'we're all americans' is reason enough to not have black history month.

There is a ton more to it, but it's all opininated from my end.

[Danish]

Yes. 100%. Does that make me a bad person? :p

No, I love Italian culture. My partner is half Italian (maternal side). Always on the lookout for the malochia!

[DBoons Ghost]

Just because they contributed to rock and roll doesn't in anyway mean they invented it though. I mean the vast majority of the early rock 'n' roll singers are white :-S

That's a naive statement if you don't mind me saying.

[DBoons Ghost]

No, I love Italian culture. My partner is half Italian (maternal side). Always on the lookout for the malochia!

I wouldn't have thought you the superstitious type.

:thumb:

[Charlie Daniels]

That's a naive statement if you don't mind me saying.

Well, they were :-S

[Smokey D]

There is a ton more to it, but it's all opininated from my end.

All history is opinionated. That's why it's important to give voice to different interpretations.

[DBoons Ghost]

Well, they were :-S

Because white musicians in the 20s 30s and 40s never stole anything from a black musician without giving him credit for it right?

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

This really begs the question: why the hell were you reading Adrienne Curry's blog?

[DBoons Ghost]

I didn't read the blog but this issue/discussion comes up twice to three times a year.

[Danish]

And I think you've missed the point if you think 'we're all americans' is reason enough to not have black history month.

That's how black culture has been whitewashed for years.

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

I didn't read the blog but this issue/discussion comes up twice to three times a year.

I meant TS

[Charlie Daniels]

Because white musicians in the 20s 30s and 40s never stole anything from a black musician without giving him credit for it right?

I don't see what you are getting at. Rock 'n' Roll musicians werre primarily white musicians who borrowed (or as you put it, stole) components of many genres.

Just because some the the genres they borrowed from were created by blacks doesnb't mean that blacks should be the ones who get to take credit for rock and roll :-S

[DBoons Ghost]

I don't see what you are getting at. Rock 'n' Roll musicians werre primarily white musicians who borrowed (or as you put it, stole) components of many genres.

Just because some the the genres they borrowed from were created by blacks doesnb't mean that blacks should be the ones who get to take credit for rock and roll :-S

You're right about that.

The point I am trying to make is if all were treated fairly at the time of the birth of rock and roll, then Elvis Presley would have paid proper royalties to the folks he stole his songs from, as would Zeppelin and everyone else who stole from the old black blues players.

Black folks in those days were oppressed to the point they didn't care about publishing rights, copyright protecting and all that, as they just wanted to be heard.

[Reaganista]

Only if you're being asinine about what Eurocentrism and historiography are.
a white man sees a black man and then black history begins

Black American history began the moment the first black slave set foot on a slave boat. It didn't begin in the Serengeti 40 000 years ago.
ya it did

[RIP Ian Curtis]

Black entertainment channel is fine, it really fits into the "don't like it, don't watch it" category.

Now as for a "black history month", anyone who isn't severely deluded sees through it. Hell, they even try and cram that shi't down our throats in Australia. Eurocentric history is the only valid history in a Eurocentric culture. Not to mention that if you didn't record it (and I mean write it down, have at least a veneer of authenticity, spread it around your culture etc) it ain't history, it's tribal legend.

[Dave de Sylvia]

This really begs the question: why the hell were you reading Adrienne Curry's blog?
She's an inspirational psychopath.

The point I am trying to make is if all were treated fairly at the time of the birth of rock and roll, then Elvis Presley would have paid proper royalties to the folks he stole his songs from, as would Zeppelin and everyone else who stole from the old black blues players.
Most of Elvis's songs were written by white people. Jimmy Page actually took other peoples' songs and pretended he wrote them.

[Smokey D]

a white man sees a black man and then black history begins

That is when black American history began because before that there weren't any black Americans.

Just like white American history began when Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas.

But it doesn't mean the insights of the historiography can't be applied to Africa.

ya it did

No. That would be history in general, not the history of a particular group.

[Danger Bird]

All modern popular music comes from black music. The history of rock is a history of shameless theft.

Many innovations came from white people, and even though they didn't create rock and roll, they had a big hand in shaping it. You can't deny that.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Blacks stole the blues from white Europeans.

[Danger Bird]

If white people didn't enslave black people they never would have made the blues.

[Dave de Sylvia]

If black people weren't such parasites, leeching off pure-bred European innovations like harmony and guitars then they'd never have made the blues. I can't believe people don't realise how much sense I'm making.

[spitfirejunky]

Blacks stole the diatonic scale.

[Illmatic]

I think it's funny that white people regard Morgan Freeman as the president of African-Americans.

I refuse to say any more about the subject.

[Eliminator]

i hate black people

[Mr. Ron]

I Want The Wet Channel Now

[Dave de Sylvia]

I think it's funny that white people regard Morgan Freeman as the president of African-Americans.

I refuse to say any more about the subject.
So what is he like Vice President?

[Danger Bird]

I think it's funny that white people regard Morgan Freeman as the president of African-Americans.

I refuse to say any more about the subject.

I think it's funny the way black people make such broad generalizations about how racist all white people are.

[Illmatic]

I think it's funny the way black people make such broad generalizations about how racist all white people are.

not racist. just a little ignorant.

[Dave de Sylvia]

I doubt Morgan Freeman would agree with you there.

[Danger Bird]

not racist. just a little ignorant.

Right, all white people are ignorant.

[Eliminator]

morgan freeman represents my people just fine

[BridgeToSolace]

I think it's funny that white people regard Morgan Freeman as the president of African-Americans.

I refuse to say any more about the subject.

Clearly Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are higher on the list.

"Jesse Jackson is not the president of black people!"

"He told my dad he was!"

[Mr. Ron]

May I be the king of afro Americans??

[Lupus]

not racist. just a little ignorant.

All you do is come in here and bitch. No one ****ing cares.

[Reaganista]

That is when black American history began because before that there weren't any black Americans.

Just like white American history began when Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas.

But it doesn't mean the insights of the historiography can't be applied to Africa.

you couldn't possibly think that and think that 'black history' is designed to remove eurocentrism at the same time

No. That would be history in general, not the history of a particular group.
the history of the group 'black people' far predates their 'discovery' by white people
let alone the transatlantic slave trade

[Smokey D]

you couldn't possibly think that and think that 'black history' is designed to remove eurocentrism at the same time

Sure you can.


the history of the group 'black people' far predates their 'discovery' by white people
let alone the transatlantic slave trade

The history of Africans, you mean.

But 'black' is more accurately used to describe the culture formed out of African slaves in the Americas (most of all in the USA). I'm making a distinction that you're not.

History does not become racialised until you have two different groups who identify at least in part along racial grounds.

[DBoons Ghost]

Among all the black folks I know, very few are actually of African descent, and some that are are actually from Africa and came here recently or as children.

They all seem to share the same contempt for black Americans who are criminally inclined to rob, rape and murder in their collective communities.

They also despise being referred to as African American by ignorant people. Same as calling all Asians "oriental"..

[Smokey D]

Among all the black folks I know, very few are actually of African descent, and some that are are actually from Africa and came here recently or as children.

That's what I mean.


They also despise being referred to as African American by ignorant people. Same as calling all Asians "oriental"..

Anyone who says oriental today should be shot.

[Danish]

Clearly Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are higher on the list.

"Jesse Jackson is not the president of black people!"

"He told my dad he was!"

Malcolm X.

[Reaganista]

Sure you can.
no you cant they're totally contradictory
The history of Africans, you mean.
no i mean the history of black people
History does not become racialised until you have two different groups who identify at least in part along racial grounds.
um that far predates their 'discovery' by white people
let alone the transatlantic slave trade

[RockAndRoll]

I think it's funny the way black people make such broad generalizations about how racist all white people are.

:lol: read that sentence again.

[Smokey D]

no you cant they're totally contradictory

How?


no i mean the history of black people

Well, black history month is clearly about black Americans so you're just being a pedant.

But even if we were to include African history in it, I don't see why it's being Eurocentric. It just means we'd push the start date back.


um that far predates their 'discovery' by white people
let alone the transatlantic slave trade

No European ever thought of Africans in the Middle Ages, unless they were talking about Arabs or maybe Egypt.

Black Africa did not feature in the European consciousness.

[BridgeToSolace]

Does my white friend who's African American get affirmative action "coverage"?

Or is it only for black people. That's lame!

[Smokey D]

People from Africa would be subject to essentially the same prejudices as black people born in America, so I think you could cover him.

But that assumes affirmative action is the right thing to do.

[Danish]

Equity policies should apply to other groups too, such as women, Aboriginals, and people with disabilities.

[Reaganista]

How?
because it defines black history entirely in term of it's relevance to european history
Well, black history month is clearly about black Americans so you're just being a pedant.

the history of black americans is inexcritably connected to their history in africa

But even if we were to include African history in it, I don't see why it's being Eurocentric. It just means we'd push the start date back.

..
the exclusion of african history is what makes it eurocentric
No European ever thought of Africans in the Middle Ages, unless they were talking about Arabs or maybe Egypt.

Black Africa did not feature in the European consciousness.
i actually spent a couple minutes thinking about this
which is unusual for me
and i still can't figure out how you could think this is of any relevance to what i said

[Dave de Sylvia]

no black american history is defined in terms of its relevance to black americans

that's like accusing european history of being eurocentric

[WhoDidTheElf]

I think there should be a hot lesbian history month, that'd be far more entertaining.

[lfantwister]

some lesbian should kick you in the face for that

[Reaganista]

no black american history is defined in terms of its relevance to black americans

that's like accusing european history of being eurocentric
um of course european history is eurocentric

[Smokey D]

Yeah, but you can't use that as a criticism.

Unless you're using Eurocentrism as a completely neutral term, then your point sucks.

[Reaganista]

european history is supposed to be about european it's ok for it to be eurocentric
black history is supposed to be about blacks it's not supposed to be eurocentric

[Smokey D]

Well, according to the definition I've laid out, it's about to be black Americans so Europeans feature.

If we're talking about general African history, then Europeans are far less important, but they do make their appearance at various times, and it's usually pretty significant in its effects.

[Reaganista]

Well, according to the definition I've laid out, it's about to be black Americans so Europeans feature
europeans are the principal actors in 'black history' as defined by black history month
If we're talking about general African history
im talking about black history

[Smokey D]

europeans are the principal actors in 'black history' as defined by black history month

Chief actors? I dunno. Important players, certainly.


im talking about black history

Which is what?

[Reaganista]

Chief actors? I dunno. Important players, certainly.

frederick douglass is like the first actual black person who shows up in the whole black history month narrative
Which is what?
the history
of blacks

[Smokey D]

frederick douglass is like the first actual black person who shows up in the whole black history month narrative

Maybe they need to reform the BHM structure then.


the history
of blacks

Who qualify as blacks?

It's a Eurocentric construction to say all sub-Saharan Africans -- from the Sudan to Zulu -- are part of some pseudo-homogeneous black culture. And it's even more inaccurate to say Khoisan and Pygmy groups are part of the Bantu group, but most definitions would call them black.

[Reaganista]

Maybe they need to reform the BHM structure then.

ya that's my entire point


Who qualify as blacks?

probably bantus i guess but it's been 4 years since i read that chapter in diamond

It's a Eurocentric construction to say all sub-Saharan Africans -- from the Sudan to Zulu -- are part of some pseudo-homogeneous black culture. And it's even more inaccurate to say Khoisan and Pygmy groups are part of the Bantu group, but most definitions would call them black.
ya i know all this

[Smokey D]

probably bantus i guess but it's been 4 years since i read that chapter in diamond

So really black history is Bantu history?

Which is about as problematic as viewing all European history as semi-homogenous just because it happened to take place on the same continent. I think your Bantu-centric history is at least as much a construction as Black American history.

[WhoDidTheElf]

some lesbian should kick you in the face for that

I guess a sense of humor comes hard for you or something?

[Reaganista]

So really black history is Bantu history?

if bantus are blacks

Which is about as problematic as viewing all European history as semi-homogenous just because it happened to take place on the same continent.
wat
I think your Bantu-centric history is at least as much a construction as Black American history.
not if modern blacks were at one point bantus

[Smokey D]

if bantus are blacks

Are they? Are they teh only blacks?

wat

It means continental origin shouldn't be the thing you measure histories off when they are as different as they were in Africa.


not if modern blacks were at one point bantus

Yeah, except it ignores thousands of variations in Africa and in the Americas.

[Reaganista]

Are they? Are they teh only blacks?

idk
why's it matter

It means continental origin shouldn't be the thing you measure histories off when they are as different as they were in Africa.

im talking about race continental origin is coincidental


Yeah, except it ignores thousands of variations in Africa and in the Americas.
no it doesnt

[Smokey D]

why's it matter


Because Bantucentrism is no better than Eurocentrism.

im talking about race continental origin is coincidental


Whatever. Race is as stupid a reason as continent.

no it doesnt

By subsuming the diversity of a place as big as Africa into a singular 'bantu' history, it does.

[recklessrick]

Chuck Berry,Jimi Hendrix,B.B.King,as a musician that's my black history.My music is african in origin the food I prefer is Italian and mid-eastern, my language is part French and English.My girl is asian and my friends are from everywhere in the world black history you can take it or leave it depends on you.

[Dave de Sylvia]

rock on dude

[Danish]

What are you guys even arguing about? Whether "Black History Month" proper is Eurocentric or not?

Have you ever heard the term "diaspora" before? Black people in the US, whether descended from slaves or from later immigrants from Africa, are part of the African diaspora. So Black History Month in the US focuses on the history of the African diaspora. It doesn't matter whether Europeans figure into that history or not (they clearly do, since it was Europeans that forced them here against their will), what matters is the perspective through that history is presented. It's a unique history that is both totally separate and totally linked with both African history and European history.

That narrative in-and-of itself is part of the whole thing.

[Chrizzle fo' Shizzle]

But it's not really a separate history. It's just random facts about famous black people interspersed during commercial breaks on TV

[Danish]

No, it really is a separate history, just as working-class history is a separate history.

History isn't just the study of random events happening in the past. History is about perspective and understanding the function of society.

[Reaganista]

Because Bantucentrism is no better than Eurocentrism.
if all blacks are bantus then it would be the only appropriate centrism
but like i said i dont really know or care if that's true

Whatever. Race is as stupid a reason as continent.

i can agree with that in that neither of them are stupid

By subsuming the diversity of a place as big as Africa into a singular 'bantu' history, it does.
it makes no statement whatsoever on africa as a whole or the diversity therein

[guitrguy]

Race is fairly stupid. In no way does dictate any sort of predisposition. Because of that have a hard time seeing a legitimate reason as to why people hold on to so badly. I can see the culture aspect, but races do blend into other cultures. classifing people as black, white, Asian, and etc. only keeps the division there.

[DBoons Ghost]

Race is fairly stupid. In no way does dictate any sort of predisposition. Because of that have a hard time seeing a legitimate reason as to why people hold on to so badly. I can see the culture aspect, but races do blend into other cultures. classifing people as black, white, Asian, and etc. only keeps the division there.

That's a great point but people want to retain their culture and heritage and the only way to idenfy with those things is through race.

America, as the great experiment it is, forced human beings to really face that harsh reality. It's going to take generations of cross breeding to "repair" but even then, what will American culture really be like? Do we have one now? If so, what is it? What could it be in the future once we get over the hangups race present us?

[guitrguy]

That's a great point but people want to retain their culture and heritage and the only way to idenfy with those things is through race.

America, as the great experiment it is, forced human beings to really face that harsh reality. It's going to take generations of cross breeding to "repair" but even then, what will American culture really be like? Do we have one now? If so, what is it? What could it be in the future once we get over the hangups race present us?
When it identifies culture it no longer identifies races. A lot of the time when some one mentions race they rarely ever mean it terms of culture, but almost purely on skin pigmentation. A person can be an African-American with out being black.

[DBoons Ghost]

When it identifies culture it no longer identifies races. A lot of the time when some one mentions race they rarely ever mean it terms of culture, but almost purely on skin pigmentation. A person can be an African-American with out being black.

The last line confused me. Culture stems solely from heritage and race in most cases. Unless I'm wrong, and I'm sure I'm off a little there.

Do you mean most people can be black without being African American?

We already covered that eariler in the thread. The majority of black people who don't mind being called black aren't African American. Africans isn't the only place where people of a darker skin complexion come from. If we had to dissect every single one into CountryofOrigin American, we'd be lost in sematics forever.

[guitrguy]

The last line confused me. Culture stems solely from heritage and race in most cases. Unless I'm wrong, and I'm sure I'm off a little there. Just because people of a certain culture are mostly one skin color does not mean that the skin color had any effect on the actual culture. The skin color is just an adaptation to whatever geographic location they are from. When humans are grouped together and live together a culture comes from that. Due the world being globalized, cultures are now changing in way that they are composed people of differing colors.

Do you mean most people can be black without being African American?
I actually mean the reverse. A white person hailing from Africa would be an African American, would probably have been a better example.

We already covered that eariler in the thread. The majority of black people who don't mind being called black aren't African American. Africans isn't the only place where people of a darker skin complexion come from. If we had to dissect every single one into CountryofOrigin American, we'd be lost in sematics forever.I didn't mean that at all. I was just using an example.

[DBoons Ghost]

I actually mean the reverse. A white person hailing from Africa would be an African American, would probably have been a better example.

You know, I never thought of it like that. I've never met a white person from Africa that considered themselves African, since that would unlikely be their country of origin. Maybe birth but not origin, and again it's semantics. Good point either way.

[Reaganista]

Race is fairly stupid. In no way does dictate any sort of predisposition
http://members.aol.com/plittle/StrawmanPoster.jpg

[guitrguy]

http://members.aol.com/plittle/StrawmanPoster.jpg

Asserting that I did not address your "argument", which was just a statement to begin with, does nothing to disprove my argument; let alone even form a valid argument

[Reaganista]

does nothing to disprove my argument
your argument doesn't matter at all it has nothing to do with mine
ffs

[guitrguy]

your argument doesn't matter at all it has nothing to do with mine
ffs

Care to elaborate, or are you just going to continue with assertions?

[Reaganista]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawman