Take some time to explore Black history
It’s Black History Month, and yet again Americans are confronted with an annual observance that has to be modified for the sake of public health during this pandemic.
It’s most unfortunate, as one of the hallmarks of Black History Month is a series of events that bring people of all races and ethnicities together. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Black Americans and commit to continuing efforts to fight against the racism that lingers in this country despite all the advancements we’ve achieved over the past 60 years.
This year Black History Month has added significance, as Americans continue to wrestle with the tragic events of 2020 that reminded us all that our nation still has a lot of work to do in terms of racial healing.
Of course there were many protests stemming from lawenforcement violence against Black individuals. But there were also many quieter conversations taking place over issues that had not been getting nearly enough attention. White Americans willing to listen learned that so many of their Black neighbors — even those who have achieved considerable success — still live in fear and often feel unsure as to their status in our society.
We don’t pretend to have the answers to resolving these deep-seated issues, other than to call for continued productive dialogue in the weeks, months and years to come. Black History Month is certainly a great time for it.
Even as we yearn for racial healing, this month also is a time to remember that we have made progress. Most notably this year, America now has a Black female vice president 12 years after electing its first Black president.
And famed Underground Railroad figure Harriet Tubman finally is on her way to appearing on the $20 bill.
There’s so much more to consider and plenty of opportunities to do so, even in the absence of public gatherings.
For starters, go online and look for virtual programs commemorating Black History Month. Local colleges in particular are being active in that regard.
There are plenty of other online resources for learning more about Black history and getting ideas for marking the month at home. Here are a few worth a look:
• The National Archives offers a treasure-trove of material to explore at https://www. archives.gov/research/alic/ reference/black-history.html.
• The History cable channel has an interesting section on the “Green Book” that helped Black travelers find accommodations that would welcome them during the Jim Crow era, including a link to the book itself. Exploring it is a powerful way to learn about the practical reality of segregation. https:// www.history.com/news/thegreen-book-the-black-travelersguide-to-jim-crow-america
• PBS station WNET has a site with resources enabling visitors to create their own virtual museum on the history of slavery. https://www. thirteen.org/wnet/slavery/ teachers/virtual.html
• The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture offers plenty of material online pertaining to Black History Month and far beyond. https://nmaahc.si.edu/
We urge readers to keep these resources and the topic in general in mind not just during these four weeks but throughout the year. It’s an important topic involving many years of history. Even a lifetime of February observances isn’t enough to address it properly.
Remember too that Black history isn’t just about what happened in the American South. Yes, slavery, the Civil War, the Jim Crow era and the civil rights movement were centered in that region, but the history of Black life in the North demands attention as well. The Black communities in our region have a rich heritage and powerful stories of their own.
We look forward to the day when we can discuss those things together once again. In the meantime, we urge readers to take advantage of the opportunities available today.