People should care less about what Black History Month means to me, and care more about what BHM means to people directly affected by the color of the skin they were born into.
I struggle to find words to write today because there are no words that could possibly come from me that would even scratch the surface of the years of segregation, low-income housing and education, misinformation, wrongful deaths and the outright dismissal of humanity that Black Americans have experienced in this country.
With that being said, I would like to announce that the rest of February’s articles (excluding #TrendingTuesday) will be dedicated to topics and conversations that Black Americans want and need to have with the rest of us.
Rather than linking articles to each wrongful death, conviction, mistreatment, etc. and telling you “we need to do better,” I will, instead, extend this platform over to others who can actually answer the question, “What does Black History Month mean to you?”
To me, their answers are my answers.
Please, stay tuned for in-depth interviews and conversations about Black History Month, being Black in America and anything else that happens to find its way onto these pages. These conversations will be uncomfortable in ways, for me, to have and, therefore, will likely be uncomfortable, at times, for certain readers to read.
All I ask of you? Keep going.
In light of highlighting perspective and informing ourselves, I want to call attention to something I am sure everyone has heard referenced, but may not understand fully its impact.
Brown v. Board of Education (click link for in-depth info)
Undoubtedly, most people have heard a reference or two in their lifetime to this particular Supreme Court case. But why is it so important? Here’s a brief recap:
In 1952, the Supreme Court agreed to hear five cases, collectively, from across the country dealing particularly with segregation being allowed in public schools.
The grouping of cases came from Kansas, South Carolina, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Delaware. Hearing from the District of Columbia and Delaware were profound because it indicated that segregation was a national issue, not just a southern issue, as is found in the National Archives documents regarding the case.
The case was initially heard in 1952, tried again two years later, and, finally, decided upon in 1954.
Let’s pause.
It takes simple math to realize that this court hearing only happened 68 years ago. Only 68 years ago were we, as a nation, beginning to collectively hear and listen and consider Black voices and opinions regarding education, and so much more. 68 years ago.
So, the Supreme Court begins hearing these cases from across the nation regarding segregation in the American education system. They were collectively lumped together under the “Brown v. Board” title because of a man named Oliver L. Brown who was a lead plaintiff fighting for his 8-year-old daughter who was denied admission into a white elementary school.
The case was revolutionary for Black Americans because until 1954, they were regularly denied admissions to white, public schools on account of the “separate but equal” doctrine.
This “doctrine,” or, fancy way of saying “accepted way of life,” made it legal for segregation of white and black to happen so long as the public facilities were considered “equal” conditions and services.
In other words, segregation was permitted and legal and they justified it by saying, “well, as long as we give Black American’s a building for a public school, the same way we do for White Americans, then it’s fine.”
Brown v. Board of Education overruled this long-withstanding doctrine by nine judges, unanimously, stating that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” and, as a result, any further segregation at the state and local level would be considered a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, according to the Legal Information Institute.
So, overall, the reason Brown v. Board of Education is so important is because it was the first time in our education system that all children were treated equally, or at least, that was what was intended. Obviously, we would not still be discussing these matters if things unfolded perfectly and equally.
Brown v. Board of Education was a pivotal part of the Civil Rights Movement and, quite honestly, we are still experiencing the trickling effects of it all. Keep that in mind as you read stories from Black Americans during the rest of the month. Subscribe HERE so you don’t miss a post!
