Time to honor legacy, not agenda
Black History Month, once a time to honor the noteworthy accomplishments of African Americans, has increasingly become a political pawn in today’s society. Initially intended as a period of reflection and praise, activists hijack it from both sides to advance their own agendas.
While acknowledging past injustices is important, the present political parley distracts from the month’s true purpose: celebrating the trailblazers who built this nation. The purpose of Black History Month is to honor history, educate today’s society and inspire tomorrow’s leaders, not to fuel divisive political debates.
In its current form, Black History Month is a platform to promote the oppression narrative and political victimization. It entirely focuses on the struggles that African Americans face today. This focus is sometimes to the detriment of their past achievements.
The arduous contributions of pioneers like Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver and Madam C.J. Walker, heroes whose contributions shaped not just African American communities but the entire nation, are slowly fading into the background.
While it is necessary to recognize the atrocities of slavery and segregation, it is equally important to celebrate the resilience, creativity and victories that characterize Black history.
Under the Biden administration, Black History Month became greatly politicized into a proposed political agenda, where themes such as systemic racism, voter suppression and criminal justice reform took center stage.
While it’s important to acknowledge grievances, Black History Month is most powerful when it highlights historical breakthroughs rather than focusing solely on narratives of victimhood.
The overly politicized alignment of this month threatens to further the idea that African Americans are simply victims of oppression, and ignores the powerful stories of perseverance that Black history so richly offers.
Conservatives such as Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh and Candace Owens have blasted critics about the compatibility of politics with Black History Month. The argument is made that Black achievements should not be reduced to an opportunity for a left-wing agenda, but that they should be celebrated in their own right.
Ben Shapiro pointed out how stressing systemic oppression perpetuates African Americans’ victimhood and thereby discourages their potential. The spotlight should instead focus on things like Black entrepreneurship, leadership and scholarship as proof of what is possible in America.
Matt Walsh feels that Black history should be taught as an intrinsic part of American history, embedded within a larger context rather than isolated within the constraints of a corridor with all the earmarking of heavy politics.
Candace Owens argues there ought to be an end to the manipulation of Black identity for political gain, further advocating for a new culture that celebrates success rather than oppression.
In 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis rejected a proposed AP African American Studies course, arguing it included political ideology in teaching Black history. Conservatives who supported his decision saw it as a move toward focusing Black History Month on achievements rather than divisive narratives.
Black History Month should highlight the notable contributions of African Americans in fields such as science, business, literature and politics.
Examples abound, such as Frederick Douglass, who overcame a life in slavery to become perhaps the greatest abolitionist of all time, or Katherine Johnson, whose calculations of trajectories helped NASA land a man on the moon.
Such narratives of struggle and achievement ought to fill the conversations in this month in order to inspire Americans, regardless of their race or political affiliation.
In this light, Black History Month can move away from division and instead instill pride, hope and understanding. Celebrating accomplishments should be a cause for celebration for all Americans. African American history is American history, and the celebration should ignite the belief that anything is possible by any man or woman.
The politicization of Black History Month has become a distraction, stripping away its original purpose of celebrating the remarkable contributions of African Americans to our nation. While it is important to recognize the historical challenges faced by Black Americans, an overemphasis on political agendas only diminishes the powerful, inspirational stories that should define the month.
Whether from the left or the right, the focus must shift back to the triumphs and achievements that demonstrate the true spirit of Black history. By doing so, Black History Month can be a unifying force—reminding us all that success is achievable for anyone, regardless of background.
Andrew Baca is a freshman business major.