This is the beginning of Black History Month and many students
may consider themselves active Black History participants because
they might reread the “I Have A Dream Speech,” because
they remember George Washington Carver while eating a peanut butter
and jelly sandwich, or because they have “black
friends.”
Then on March 1, students of all colors go back to their lives,
forgetting how valuable black achievements have been to them every
day.
Therefore, it is important to remember that there would be no
white or American prosperity without black history. In fact, there
would be no discussion of U.S. economic power, a dominant American
culture or equitable education without the deaths and lives of
black people throughout the nation.
The United States would not have the economic success it has
today without the profit made from slavery. The crops, which took
blacks’ lives in the South, laid the foundation for American
prosperity. In the 19th century, cotton grown by slaves made up 60
to 80 percent of U.S. exports.
Many of today’s wealthiest corporations can trace their
financial gain directly to slavery. The financial history of JP
Morgan, the second largest bank in the United States, contains
companies that made their fortunes insuring slave ships in the
1850’s. Many prestigious universities like Yale and the
University of Virginia were heavily endowed by slave merchants and
slave owners.
The United States is indebted to those slaves who helped make
this country the wealthiest nation in the world.
Maybe the next dollar should have Sojourner Truth’s face
instead of George Washington’s.
Black inventions have also made prosperous life in this country
possible. Where would you be without the gas burner on your stove
or without your “made in America” cotton sweatshirt,
and the machine that dries your clothes? What would you do without
the spark plugs and motor, which start your car, or the traffic
lights that keep traffic moving? What about the heating furnace to
keep you warm in the winter or the air conditioner to keep you cool
in the summer? Without these products, we would be lost.
Black culture has also historically defined white popular
society. Without African Bambatta, Grandmaster Flash and Public
Enemy heating up microphones, no one would be lining up to see
Eminem today. Because of Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Billie
Holiday, Stevie Wonder and Ella Fitzgerald we have hooks, beats and
rhythms that contribute to the highest selling pop albums. Now
white people buy 75 percent of hip-hop, and the worldwide market
continues to expand.
Black language has also made a valuable contribution. Although
many people associate black language with ebonics, black vernacular
has contributed to the language everyone uses today.
Black students are still connected to the rest of U.S. history.
They are not independent of those who dedicated their lives for the
advancements of future generation. They still climb the arms and
stand on the shoulders of all those who have come before them. They
benefit from the deaths of men and women like Bunche Carter and
John Huggins, members of the Black Panthers who died on the steps
of UCLA’s Campbell Hall so that blacks could receive an
equitable education.
Without the accomplishments of blacks in the past, it could be
our generation that endures racial slurs and faces segregation. We
must pay homage where homage is due. Black History needs to be more
than a tokenized month.
Let this not be another Martin Luther King Month. We should
instead delve into the contributions of black people throughout
this nation. Take a minute out of your busy month to learn a new
aspect of black history. In fact, take an African American history
class and support a diversity class requirement at UCLA.
Don’t let Martin, Rosa and Booker be the only people we
think about this February.