shakran

I know that. But why do we have to have a specific month to do it in. Don't you see the automatic segregation of black history vs. all other history if you do that?

"Oh, it's february. Time to learn about the black people's history. We can go back to regular history in March." Whether that's the intent or not, that's how people are gonna view it. Why not instead teach the same stuff as you do in BHM, but teach it throughout the year as American history? I mean, MLK is going to have the same impact whether you learn about him in February or April.

The point is, if you want to be treated and thought of as equivalent to everyone else, you have to stop making such huge efforts to say that you're radically different.

I really don't care what color you are, but the trouble is that many people do care. In fact, many people care because it's been made such a big issue. Everywhere you look, there are campaigns to point out that black people are different. Television shows, black history month, affirmative action, black-only awards. . They all add up to trying to separate the races. This country used to be called a melting pot, and if it truly were, we wouldn't have the racial fighting we have today. Instead we all insist on keeping our races separate. Rather than seeing that we're all human and we all have the same basic needs and wants (food, shelter, protection, sex. . whatever the order of needs is, I can't remember now) we insist on saying that white people are different from black people are different from asians are different from american indians are different from mexicans. Why not emphasize the CULTURE, and not the race? Of course, to do that we have to throw african-american out the window because, as has been pointed out, it's not accurate. African-american is not a culture, it's a label slapped on people from numerous cultures and as such, it's an inaccurate attempt to stereotype.

Whoopi Goldberg came straight out and said, several times, "I am NOT an african-american. I am an AMERICAN."

I have germanic, polish, cherokee, english, and french ancestry, yet I don't insist on being called a "germanopolcherokengfrench-american"

Let's be blunt. Africa is the country, that (assuming you really are a decendant of american slaves) sold your ancestors into slavery in the first place (so in other words it's wasn't the awesomely wonderful culture it is made out to be, Africa was an active participant in the slave trade). This insistance on being called an african american is ridiculous. You don't have dual citizenship. The majority of "african-americans" have never even been to Africa. Many do not even have African ancestors.

This is the United States of America. This is your country, and Africa is not. If you are so angry with the USA that you insist on being semantically separated from it by referring to yourself as half an American, then I suggest that you go to Africa and try out life there. Otherwise, be true to what you are - an American - and start working toward inclusion and colorblindness - a society where race truly doesn't matter at all and where the individual is judged on the individual rather than his racial group.