Black History Month #REWIND

Back in February of 2011, I was asked by @MommyFactor to write about what Black History Month means in our household.  With the site under construction, and life happening, I never got around to it.  The good thing is that I never stopped thinking about it, and each time that it entered my head, I had a different answer.  I originally posted this in March of 2011.  I am pretty pleased that now that the site is officially entering year two of consistent posting, that we have accomplished the goal of highlighting Caribbean and African American role models. If you have a Caribbean role model that you would like to have featured on our site, click on Contact Us, and choose feature request.

Here is the original post and some links that may interest you this month... enjoy, and happy Black History Month!

Caribbean Tuskegee Airmen: http://socamom.com/soca/en/component/content/article/58-us-destinations/241-caribbean-actors-star-in-red-tails-movie-caribbean-americans-served-as-tuskeegee-airmen.html

Dr. Muriel Marjorie Petioni: http://socamom.com/soca/en/component/content/article/99-caribbean-role-models-for-our-children/170-caribbean-role-models-for-our-children-muriel-marjorie-petioni.html

More stories on Caribbean role models for our children are coming.  Join us on Facebook and Twitter to find out what's new!

My husband is African American, and has family that has experienced the sting of racism in the south and the tolerance and opportunities available in the north.  My mother and father are both from the Caribbean, so when I was growing up, Black History – African American history – wasn’t discussed. I have noticed that my kids are just starting to pay attention to ethnicity and stereotypes, so when I get opportunities, I try to bring attention to people who look like them who have done amazing things.  I also bring attention to figures, historical and present day, who are doing what they love and changing lives.  Most recently on a road trip, we talked about Jacques Cousteau, and how he did what he was passionate about it and really changed the world.  They never asked if he was black or white.  Right now they go to a school that is predominantly black, so they definitely get their share of information during Black History Month – enough that they don’t ask us questions.  I don’t bring it up, because it wasn’t a huge deal in my house growing up.

We listen to Kids Place Live on XM on the way to school in the mornings, and one morning, a character who happened to be a skunk was talking to the host about how black history month was very important to him because he was black.  The host told him that he wasn’t ALL black, and had a white stripe going down his back.  The skunk was distraught and confused about what Black History Month was going to mean to him now that he found out that he wasn’t all black.  The host explained to him that the month was to celebrate the accomplishments of people who came to this country with nothing, and were able to do amazing things that changed lives – not just for people who were black to celebrate and learn,  but for everybody to recognize the contributions of people of African descent in America.

I don’t think I could have said it better myself.  Next year, I will try to pay more attention during Black History Month, and all year to events that celebrate the accomplishments of people that can serve as role models and inspiration to my children of color.  They are not ALL black (in this country, and the Caribbian, who is?), but it is part of who they will identify with for the rest of their lives.  For us, Black History Month going forward will be yet another opportunity to encourage our kids, and to let them know that with faith, love, drive, and education, they can do anything – no matter what their skin color.

[ORIGINAL POST http://socamom.com/soca/en/de-gyal-dem/63-black-history-month.html - March 17, 2011]

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Eva is the administrator and blogger for SocaMom.com. Follow her on Twitter at @socamomdc.