Celebrate black history throughout the year
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 2/9/09 Section: Opinion
February is Black History Month, and the celebration encompasses several events taking place locally, statewide and throughout the nation.
While the significant progress America has made over the past 150 years is tremendous, an entire month dedicated to the importance of one ethnicity might still be holding the country back, even though the celebrations have the opposite goal.
The election of President Barack Obama signified the progression toward equality for which the nation has been striving throughout the past century, but it also cemented America's status as a place where anything is possible, regardless of a citizen's ethnicity.
And Black History Month - along with other commemorative celebrations, like Hispanic Heritage Month - is the cornerstone of cultural celebrations for many throughout the nation.
However, the equality of American citizens has been taken to a new level with the election of Obama, and each day in every month throughout the entire year should be a celebration of America's cultural diversity and "melting pot" status.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating differing cultural backgrounds - in fact, it's incredibly important - but Americans should be certain that highlighting only certain ethnicities throughout the year doesn't hold them back from overcoming inequality.
In a country where all men are created equal and have the opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, ethnicity celebration months, though important, shouldn't mask the diversity of a country that has made such progress as America has.
While the significant progress America has made over the past 150 years is tremendous, an entire month dedicated to the importance of one ethnicity might still be holding the country back, even though the celebrations have the opposite goal.
The election of President Barack Obama signified the progression toward equality for which the nation has been striving throughout the past century, but it also cemented America's status as a place where anything is possible, regardless of a citizen's ethnicity.
And Black History Month - along with other commemorative celebrations, like Hispanic Heritage Month - is the cornerstone of cultural celebrations for many throughout the nation.
However, the equality of American citizens has been taken to a new level with the election of Obama, and each day in every month throughout the entire year should be a celebration of America's cultural diversity and "melting pot" status.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating differing cultural backgrounds - in fact, it's incredibly important - but Americans should be certain that highlighting only certain ethnicities throughout the year doesn't hold them back from overcoming inequality.
In a country where all men are created equal and have the opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, ethnicity celebration months, though important, shouldn't mask the diversity of a country that has made such progress as America has.
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