UIUC Ques

[Senusret I]

Program focuses on importance of Black History Month
http://www.dailyillini.com/news/story.php?story=578

By Courtney Linehan / Staff writer
Published Friday, February 13, 2004

A small group of students gathered in the Oglesby lounge at the Florida Avenue Residence Halls Thursday at 7p.m. for a program discussing the purpose and successes of Black History Month.

Organized by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the program looked at issues concerning black history awareness and the need for a month dedicated to learning about this aspect of America's past.

"The program was about why blacks celebrate Black History Month and why the month was not just for blacks but for all Americans," said Christopher Vaughn, sophomore in LAS and member of Omega Psi Phi.

Topics covered at the meeting included whether one month was enough to educate people on black history, the trend toward African Americans being unaware of their cultural past and the role of historically black colleges in an increasingly diverse society.

"Black history isn't just black history — it's American history," said Horace Flournoy, senior in engineering. "It should be on the same pages with the same white and black photos as American History."

Brandon Vaughn, junior in LAS and president of Omega Psi Phi, said the small turnout for the event exemplified the problem being discussed.

"People don't come to Black History Month programs," he said. "Even at programs people do come to, you see the same 15 students."

Part of the problem may be associated with the lower level of racism current generations experience compared to that of the past, said graduate student Scott Rochelle.

"Our generation, we haven't really gone through anything," Rochelle said. "We don't understand what it is to need to fight for our rights."

Black History Month serves an important role in educating non-blacks about an often under-represented area of American history, Flournoy said.

"Having a centralized month is good for people that aren't African-American," he said. "African Americans have a heightened responsibility to learn and be informed 365 (days a year)."

While some people at the meeting sugested that Black History Month was not sufficient time to devote to this part of history, Sulaiman Shabazz, sophomore in LAS, said it is important that future Americans be aware of their forefathers' struggles.

"I think it should always be in place because there's always going to be a new generation out there," Shabazz said.