1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Sanny and Samantha, and. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 2: Welcome to stuff I never told you a protection of iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 2: And today, as we record this, it is February third, 4 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six, and this is our first what we 5 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: call full episode of February, although it will be shorter, 6 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 2: and that means we are entering Black History Month. Yes, 7 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 2: despite what our current administration in the US says, Sminty 8 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 2: is going to be here celebrating all the time, not 9 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 2: just during Black History Month, but also showcasing Black History Month. 10 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 2: And in the face of so much regression, of so 11 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: much erasure, of the loss of DEI policies of school curriculums, 12 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: further backtracking on teaching Black history, it got me thinking 13 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 2: about the history of Black History Month. And yeah, and interestingly, 14 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: I mean it makes sense some of you have recently 15 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: written in about it, and I was like, oh, timing, yes, yes, 16 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 2: because we have commented before on this show and that 17 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 2: Black History Month is in February, because February is the 18 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 2: shortest month of the year. But that is actually not 19 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 2: the case. So let us set the record straight. But 20 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 2: before we do, here's a bit of a disclaimer. Sometimes 21 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: we've run into this issue on Smanty wherein we want 22 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: to talk about important things, but there's language in the 23 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 2: history that we are not sure as appropriate for us 24 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 2: to say in this case as non black people. So 25 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 2: that being said, there are some organizational and outlet names 26 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 2: in here that I'm going to refer to by their 27 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: current names because they did change their name as the 28 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 2: times changed, and not what they were called back then. 29 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: And we do go back and forth on this because 30 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: we don't want to erase the history of it, but 31 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 2: it also just doesn't feel right for us to say it. 32 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 2: But I know people do go back and forth about it. 33 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: We had a back and forth about it when we 34 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 2: were doing the audio book. We were like, what, what's 35 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 2: the correct answer here? 36 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: Yes, because we definitely don't want to erase any of 37 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: the connotations or the beginnings. But just like in anything, 38 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: when we see growth and when we understand a better terminology, 39 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: that we have to grow with it, and we have 40 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: to acknowledge it, and we have to acknowledge the problems 41 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 1: of it as it began. But also like trying to 42 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: take the scholastic understanding and going and a farming and 43 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: putting in history as it was, this back and forth, 44 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: but also feeling uncomfortable, especially for and I will speak 45 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: for myself, but I think any understands coming from a 46 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: family or an area where they are negative terms and 47 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: they are used in to degrade others and in a 48 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: racially motivated way. So anything in that I'm traumatized and 49 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: scarred by so feel so opposed for it because I 50 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: have seen it, used to it so hatefully that I 51 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: want nothing to do with it. So it's kind of 52 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: one of those things that you go back to. But 53 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: I am a professional. We have research or we understand 54 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: where this comes from. But at the same time we 55 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: understand the darkness of it all. So this, like what 56 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: feels comfortable to us versus what is respectful, is a 57 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: whole mixed bag. 58 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 2: It is, it is, and I know people have different 59 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: opinions on it, and also I mean a whole separate episode. 60 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: But the idea of what the internet can run with, right, 61 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 2: you say it, And it's not like AI can't generate 62 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 2: my voice saying it, unfortunately. 63 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: Right, But we don't want to give them more, Amma. No, 64 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: not that anybody cares enough about us, but just saying. 65 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: No, not yet, not yet, but yes, just so you know, 66 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 2: I this is going to be a very succinct history 67 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 2: of Black History Months and how it came to be. 68 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: But I do recommend that you look it up and 69 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 2: you can see the history of how the terminology changed 70 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 2: and everything like that. All Right, So here in the US, 71 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 2: Black History Month takes place in February every year and 72 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: is meant to uplift and remember the accomplishments of black 73 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 2: folks throughout history. As listeners probably know, there is discussion 74 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: about how Black History should be all year, which we 75 00:04:55,600 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 2: believe totally true. But it is also case of spotlighting 76 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 2: history that has for so long been erased or dismissed, 77 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 2: and it was kind of a fight to get this 78 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 2: whole thing established. So the history of Black History Month 79 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: goes back to nineteen twenty six. Doctor Carter G. Woodson 80 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 2: is viewed as the father of black history. He was 81 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: the second black American to get a PhD in history 82 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: from Harvard. He was born in eighteen seventy five and 83 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: his parents were previously enslaved. He was able to pursue 84 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 2: opportunities in education like Harvard, and he went on to 85 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 2: teach at Howard University. However, during his studies, he noticed 86 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 2: that black history was seriously underrepresented if it was represented 87 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 2: at all. It was a goal of his to educate 88 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 2: people about the accomplishments, contributions, and history of black people 89 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 2: in America, and he was also concerned with Americans rewriting 90 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 2: the historical narrative from a white perspective an erasing Black history. 91 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 2: So to combat this, one of the ideas he had 92 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 2: was designating a specific time to really highlight black history, 93 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: and in his original idea, he wanted to set aside 94 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: a week in public schools to focus on black history. 95 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 2: He chose the second week of February as African American 96 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 2: History Week, which again is not what it was originally called, 97 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 2: but I'm going to go with African American because that's 98 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 2: what they go with now, and called on some of 99 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 2: the members of the Association for the Study of African 100 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: American Life and History or the ASALH to help him 101 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,239 Speaker 2: make it happen, and this was a foundation he helped 102 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 2: start in nineteen fifteen. His main goals were both a 103 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 2: celebration of black history and that it would be studied 104 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: seriously in an academic sense, because at the time, not 105 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 2: only was there a lack of academic focus, textbooks just 106 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 2: did not included at all. The ASALH was co founded 107 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 2: by George Cleveland Hall, William B. Hartgrove, Jesse E. Morland, 108 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 2: Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps. And the story 109 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: goes that in nineteen fifteen, Woodson was in Chicago, a 110 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 2: home of his alma mater, because he also went to 111 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 2: the University of Chicago, not just Harvard, to celebrate the 112 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: fiftieth anniversary of emancipation in the United States, a celebration 113 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 2: that the state of Illinois was sponsoring, and it lasted 114 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 2: for three weeks. Thousands attended, and the whole thing was 115 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: this huge source of inspiration for him. He and the 116 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 2: organization really pushed for more coverage of black history, publishing 117 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 2: work and spreading the word. The ASALH stepped up, providing materials, 118 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 2: lesson plans, whatever they could because people were really interested 119 00:07:54,160 --> 00:08:00,040 Speaker 2: in it. Woodson pushed bulletins, he established themes with the 120 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: help of those like Mariam Cloud Bethune, who we did 121 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 2: we've talked about before mentioned in our book. Over time, 122 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: the week became more and more normalized and accepted in 123 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 2: the US. During the nineteen twenties, black people in the 124 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: United States were in more cities across the country, and 125 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: the black middle class was growing. They were partaking in 126 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 2: mediums and art created for black people. The Harlem Renaissance 127 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 2: was happening. A demand grew for more materials about black history, 128 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: for more history, and black history clubs started to spring up. 129 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 2: People were like really glamoring for it. However, Woodson had 130 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 2: some complaints about some of this. He was worried that 131 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 2: less than educated individuals are those that were just trying 132 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 2: to get in on the moment, we're doing the movement 133 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 2: a disservice or outright harm. Notably, he was also a 134 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 2: believer that this whole thing would transition into year long 135 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 2: teachings of black history. That's what he wanted. He wanted 136 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 2: to start this and then it would grow. By the sixties, 137 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 2: freedom schools in the South had fully embraced the black 138 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: history curriculum, but still the most popular eighth grade US 139 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: history book textbook only mentioned two black people in the 140 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 2: entire section covering this century after the Civil War. So 141 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 2: some colleges and universities expanded beyond the week and they 142 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 2: started to embrace a whole month Black History Month. This 143 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 2: was during the time of civil rights in the US 144 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 2: and many protests were happening around racial inequality and anti imperialism, 145 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 2: and these protests helped pave the way for Black History Month. 146 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 2: So in places where it was not accepted, teachers would 147 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: hide Woodson's textbooks in schools. Freedom schools, Yes, made sure 148 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 2: Black history was a part of the curriculum. And when 149 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 2: we talk about the power of education and why it 150 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 2: is so concerning what we're seeing in the US with 151 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: book bands and rolling back CRT or critical race theory 152 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 2: or even just black history in schools, this is what 153 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 2: we're talking about. It's very concerning. However, at this point, 154 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 2: Black History Month wasn't yet official on the federal level. 155 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 2: That didn't change until the country's bi centennial in nineteen 156 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: seventy six, when then President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized 157 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 2: Black History Month. In part of his statement about it, 158 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: he said, seized the opportunity to honor the two often 159 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 2: neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor 160 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 2: throughout our history. In February of nineteen eighty six, Congress 161 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 2: passed a public law recognizing the second month of the 162 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 2: year as Black History Month. This not only impacted schools, 163 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: but public parks museums, libraries, etc. The beginning of nineteen 164 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 2: ninety six, US presidents started releasing proclamations of Black History 165 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 2: Month every year. The first one was specifically celebrating the 166 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 2: achievements of black women. I thought was interesting, and this 167 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 2: brings us to the question of the timing. Why is 168 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 2: Black History Month in February. It's because the second week 169 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 2: of February that was originally celebrated coincided with the birthdays 170 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 2: of two people, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, both important 171 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:52,439 Speaker 2: to Black history. Lincoln for his role in the emancipation 172 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 2: of those enslaved in the United States, Douglas for his 173 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 2: significant role in the abolitionist movement. I believe their birthdays 174 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 2: are the twelfth and fourteenth, respectively. President Obama was the 175 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 2: first black president still the only black president to address 176 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 2: it in twenty sixteen, and just like with a lot 177 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 2: of things we talk about, Black History Month has a 178 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 2: theme every year. This year the theme is a Century 179 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 2: of Black History Commemorations. Here's a quote from the Asalh site. 180 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 2: To understand the modern world, especially nations where black peoples 181 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 2: form a significant population, one must grapple with the impact 182 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 2: that the public observances have had on the past and 183 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 2: the present. This year, when we are also commemorating the 184 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 2: two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the United States Independence, 185 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 2: it is important to tell not only an inclusive history, 186 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 2: but an accurate one. We have never had more need 187 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 2: to examine the role of Black History Month than we 188 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 2: do when forces weary of democracies seek to use legislative 189 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 2: means and book bands to excise Black history from America's 190 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 2: schools and public culture. Black History's value is not its 191 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 2: contribution to mainstream historical narratives, but its resonance in the 192 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 2: lives of black people. Yeah, and when talking about why 193 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 2: Black History Month matters, there are a lot of articles 194 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 2: that argue while we should yes teach black history all year, 195 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 2: black History Month is a reminder. It's a call to 196 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 2: remember history that has often been whitewashed or erased. As 197 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 2: we said, this is especially important right now when the 198 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 2: current US administration is going out of its way to acknowledge, 199 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 2: to not acknowledge, Black History Month, and removing plaques about 200 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 2: slavery and national parks. The John F. Kennedy Center for 201 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 2: the Performing Arts has no scheduled Black History Month events, 202 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 2: despite it being the one hundredth anniversary, we see continued 203 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:06,439 Speaker 2: attacks on diversity initiatives and black history and public schools. 204 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 2: New regulations forced federal agencies to remove certain parts of 205 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 2: black history because, according to the administration, they paint the 206 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 2: US as quote inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed. 207 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: It's interesting because I've been seeing a few mentions here 208 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: and there about how textbooks in the past and currently 209 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: are founded based on white supremacist teachings and narratives. They're 210 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: talking about the Reconstruction and the Civil War and the Antebellum, 211 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: like how that all becomes romanticized and becomes a whole 212 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: new conversation. I mean, I still vividly remember my AP 213 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: history teacher. You're talking about how the Civil War was 214 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: about state rights, and we were all like, yeah, sure, yeah. 215 00:14:57,800 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: To be fair, I was the only non white person 216 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: in that class, so nobody was going to push back 217 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: on that, and I had no idea what was happening 218 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: because we barely talked about it. But there has been 219 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: more studies. One specific historian, Donald Yakovin yac O v 220 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: O n E. Yeah, y'all know, specifically researched and looked 221 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: over like years and years and years of textbooks and 222 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: calls out what has happened and what has been happening 223 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: in a way that is so amazing to me that 224 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: we're finally seeing the background of like, okay, okay, no, 225 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: this is why we say we need specific months, because 226 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: you don't teach it and just because you say Civil 227 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: Wars taught doesn't mean it's actually being taught. And then 228 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: like the historical context of the Daughters of the Confederacy 229 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: literally pushing back and speaking to ask textbook writers and 230 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: New York publishers who were in charge of textbooks, being like, yeah, 231 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: we need to make sure that what we should show 232 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: is that the black people, the enslaved people, do not 233 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: have the intelligence to be a lead, so that that 234 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: can be ingrained and that that level of racism can 235 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: be ingrained into kids who are learning. And I'm putting 236 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,840 Speaker 1: that in quotes, and which is why people are scared 237 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: of higher education when you start digging into those types 238 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: of roots. And I think it's such a big conversation 239 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: and I love this again. I'm definitely one of those like, yeah, 240 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: they did pick the shortest month of the year. I 241 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: think it's convenient though true. Sure, sure it was picked 242 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: out originally because of that, but maybe a little bit 243 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: of a conspiracy. Theoris was like, but if we have to, 244 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: let's say it's for this like type of like underbreath 245 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: type of thing. But you know, that's just my take 246 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: on that. Especially knowing that even a month that has 247 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: only like three days, less than a lot of the 248 00:16:55,200 --> 00:17:02,239 Speaker 1: others still can't be celebrated is an absurdity in itself. 249 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: But yeah, this kind of kind of narrative is that 250 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 1: bigger conversation of why it is important that this happens. 251 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: The fact that I didn't learn until in my career 252 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: in my thirties about Juneteenth and why that was so 253 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: important and why it is so important, and it's still 254 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: mocked today by many of the conservatives in general, not 255 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 1: like the what we would call moderate racists. I hate 256 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: to put it in that caveat, but can't see that 257 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,639 Speaker 1: as a serious thing because a part of this ingrained 258 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 1: racism that has been embedded into our schools. 259 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, And one of the things that a lot 260 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 2: of the people when I was reading about this said, 261 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 2: which we're going to get into in a minute, but 262 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 2: the US is not the only country that has Black 263 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 2: History Month. Is that a lot of it happened because 264 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 2: black people and organizations realized this lack of knowledge, But 265 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 2: they also were like, you know, when I was growing up, 266 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 2: I didn't see myself in history and made me think 267 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 2: that it didn't what I did didn't matter, like nothing, 268 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 2: like if you don't see yourself, even though we do 269 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 2: know that black people played fundamental roles in so many ways, 270 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 2: if you don't see it in the history, it's important 271 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 2: to know that history right. 272 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: And then when we see it in history, it's oftentimes 273 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: whitewash that there was a white person who was the 274 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: actual hero in this story. Like when we talk about 275 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: abolition and when we talk about revolution within the Civil 276 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: Rights and Civil War, both of those eras, we still 277 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 1: see a lot of white people and not in black 278 00:18:55,960 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: people being highlighted more than those who have pulled themselves 279 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,679 Speaker 1: through and became the revolutionaries. Like that is that conversation too, 280 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 1: The amount of people that we look like Abraham Lincoln 281 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: being a champion of the end of slavery's like you 282 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,719 Speaker 1: know what I mean, Like, yeah, sure, like he finally, 283 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: but he did it in part not because he cared 284 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: about freedom, but other political motivations in the conversation. And 285 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: that's kind of this level of like who we're giving 286 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: the accolades to, who we're giving credit to. So if 287 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,280 Speaker 1: we have to credit anything as good, then it needs 288 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: to be given to the white man, right, Like that's 289 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: kind of that level that we see, especially when we 290 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: talk about it in historical context in public education. 291 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, And I mean that's the thing that happens 292 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 2: a lot when we're as an intersectional feminist podcast, when 293 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 2: you're talking about feminism and white feminism, is that black 294 00:19:54,760 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 2: women we're doing this work for so long, right, not 295 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 2: getting the credit, the attention, not getting mentioned in textbooks 296 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 2: like they should be now because they were doing they 297 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 2: were laying the groundwork, they were doing all of the work, 298 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 2: and just not mentioned in a class at all. So, 299 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 2: as I said, the US is not the only country 300 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 2: with Black History Month. The UK started celebrating it in 301 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 2: October of nineteen eighty seven. That was the year that 302 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 2: marked the one hundred and fifty years since slavery had 303 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 2: been abolished in the Caribbean. A refugee from Ghana and 304 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 2: the UK named Aquaba A de Sabot was the architect 305 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 2: of the whole thing. Like Woodson, he wanted to see 306 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 2: and celebrate rit more black history. Canada, Germany, and Ireland 307 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 2: celebrate Black History Month. Two. Celebrations in Canada started in 308 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 2: the nineteen eighties, but it was officially recognized across the 309 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 2: country after Canada's first black male senator, Donald Oliver, introduced 310 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 2: a motion to recognize it in the month of February 311 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,679 Speaker 2: in two thousand and eight. Germany started celebrating it in 312 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 2: nineteen ninety thanks to the work of activist organizations. Ireland 313 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 2: started officially celebrating it in twenty fourteen. All of this 314 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 2: would not have been possible without the work and dedication 315 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 2: of the black people and organizations working to preserve and 316 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 2: celebrate this history. And it really is important in a 317 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,360 Speaker 2: lot of ways, like knowing the history so as not 318 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 2: to repeat the same mistakes, but also just knowing the 319 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 2: contributions of black people throughout and seeing that and learning 320 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 2: that as kids as adults. This has been primary an 321 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 2: episode focused on Black History Month in the United States, 322 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 2: but listeners please write in I got really in the 323 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 2: weeds about how, especially Germany's Black History Month happened, but 324 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 2: it was too much for me to, I would have 325 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:20,880 Speaker 2: had to do a lot more research, but I would 326 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:22,439 Speaker 2: love to know more about it, and I would love 327 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 2: to know what it looks like in other countries. I 328 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 2: know you also have themes and also if there's another 329 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 2: if other countries celebrate it, maybe not on a strictly 330 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 2: official level, we would love to hear about that too. 331 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: Right, I mean a lot of this is in First 332 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: of all, it took over one hundred years, over one 333 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,479 Speaker 1: hundred years from the original week in the US to 334 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: be acknowledged to be a month, and he was hoping 335 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 1: for a year, which is the saddest thing I think 336 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,120 Speaker 1: I've ever heard in my life, and I'm sorry, one 337 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:57,679 Speaker 1: of the saddest things. But it is interesting, especially when 338 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: you go into like the European areas, the Sea Black 339 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: History Month being talked about or even acknowledged, when you 340 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: have a lot of places that uses blackface as a 341 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: part of some of their celebrations. So you're like WHOA, 342 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: and a lot of like, I don't know if this 343 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,959 Speaker 1: is this could just be like the few things that 344 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: I've seen, but a lot of people just accepted us 345 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 1: it's historical and you're like yeah, yeah, So like you 346 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: have a big like pause and in this like moment 347 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 1: of conversation, especially when we also talk about and then 348 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: we've talked about this many before, where areas they say 349 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: they have like less incidents of racism or less like concerns. 350 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: It's not because it's less racist, it's just because there's 351 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: not a lot of minorities or those of marginalized communities 352 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: in those areas. And I'm saying talking about specific states 353 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: in this country as well, like when we've talked about 354 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: like records lynchings, I talked about my hometown having one 355 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 1: of the lowest records, which is amazing because they are 356 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,880 Speaker 1: really backwards and racist in a big Trump country. But 357 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: that's because not many black people lived there, and that's why. 358 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 1: So that's why they can boast this level of conversation. 359 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: And if you talk about to people, including my people 360 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: that are still alive today, talk about the fact how 361 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: racist they were and they threatened the black community telling 362 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,400 Speaker 1: them don't come here, you will die here, like that 363 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: was plainly known, and the fact that they can remember 364 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: it because they heard it and knew it themselves, and 365 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 1: they're still very much alive and well and still can't 366 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: understand why the black community is like, no, we're not equal. 367 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 1: You have not treated us equally. There was no equity here, 368 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: and we need this. But it is interesting to see 369 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:39,720 Speaker 1: in these conversations in this context of who is actually 370 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 1: understanding the importance and the need for things like Black 371 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: History Month or Black History being known at all and 372 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:52,919 Speaker 1: undoing a lot of the historical bad. Interestingly, I just 373 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 1: had something pop up on my FYP talking about that 374 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: the moderates really are part of the motives of why 375 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 1: things go as bad because a lot of the times 376 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: we see moderates want to toe the line and keep peace. 377 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 1: But keep peace means giving in and allowing for those 378 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: who are the most extreme to do their most extreme 379 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: and violent things in hopes to keep peace for themselves 380 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: because they're not as in danger as those who are 381 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,679 Speaker 1: the more marginalized communities. And that's what with this conversation 382 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: is like we have not learned because we don't talk 383 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 1: about it. Instead, we give credit to them for not 384 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:34,439 Speaker 1: being like racists are violent themselves, you know what I'm saying, 385 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: but not acknowledging that they didn't do anything either. They 386 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:39,840 Speaker 1: allowed it. And this is kind of that level of 387 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:44,120 Speaker 1: like this can be seen back to the Civil War, 388 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:48,680 Speaker 1: the enslavement, colonization, all that like this, like this doesn't 389 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: feel right, But I don't want to push the boundaries 390 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: too hard because you know, I'm not really being affected, 391 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: but I do think this is wrong type of context. 392 00:25:57,359 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: And when we lose that and when we lose those 393 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: conversations and what the results were when those things happen, 394 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:08,959 Speaker 1: we continue to repeat those atrocities as we see. 395 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, and that's why this is important. The history 396 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 2: is important. The history is important. And as we said, 397 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 2: all we're going to celebrate Black History Months, but also 398 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:27,400 Speaker 2: all year. 399 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 1: We're intersectional. We know we have to talk. 400 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 2: That's what it is, that's what it's about. But yeah, 401 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,880 Speaker 2: I really would love to hear from other listeners from 402 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 2: other countries but also in the US. How is it 403 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 2: looking for you? Happy Black History Month? I know it's 404 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 2: a mess right now, but hopefully you're finding because there's 405 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 2: a lot of events and unity that can happen and 406 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 2: all that stuff. So just let us know, let us 407 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 2: know what's going on, what you're thinking about. Uh, if 408 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 2: you want us to come back and talk about more 409 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 2: of the history of Black History Month and these other countries, 410 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 2: let us know it. Just take a little bit more 411 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,359 Speaker 2: works like this is a lot of German history that 412 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 2: I'm gonna have to familiarize myself with. But yes, listeners, 413 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 2: you can write into us at Hello at stuff onever 414 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 2: told You dot com and yes, thank you to the 415 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 2: listeners who did write in about this. You can find 416 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:38,920 Speaker 2: us on Blue Sky at mom Stuff podcast, or on 417 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 2: Instagram and TikTok at stuff when We Never Told You. 418 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,640 Speaker 2: We're also on YouTube. We have some merchandise at com hero, 419 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 2: and we have a book you can get wherever you 420 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: get your books. Thanks as always too, our super dis 421 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 2: Christina are executive for Sumaya and our contributor Joey. Thank 422 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 2: you and thanks to you for listening Stuff I've Never 423 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 2: Told You inspection of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts 424 00:27:57,600 --> 00:27:59,160 Speaker 2: from my heart Radio, you can check out the heart 425 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 2: Radio app, Apple podcast, or you listen to your favorite 426 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 2: shows