In response to Michael Fulton’s claim that White History Month does not exist in his Feb. 6 Firing Line, I’d like to offer that it does. In fact, it’s celebrated over the course of several months, by my count: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.
As long as history is written and taught with a consistent white norm, these White History Months will flourish. The reason specific months are set aside to call greater attention to the contributions of oppressed communities – including Black History Month – is because the allegedly inclusive, value-neutral history that is taught in this country is typically derived from a white, Euro-centric perspective.
Once the educational system expands to give a representative view of history that includes the contributions of the full variety of cultures that have shaped our society, there probably won’t be a need for group-specific history months. Until that time, these months are necessary to call specific attention to what is frequently left out of the textbooks.
That White History Months are not named does not mean they do not exist.
r@m
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