One of the duties I have at The Daily Iberian is updating the Web site. It’s a process spilt between many people with the goal of keeping staff content and reader feedback as fresh as possible.

As far as reader comments go, there have a been a few comment strands in my four months that stand out above the rest. Recently, chatter on Black History Month dominates entries.

The sniping back and forth is amazing. It’s equally inspiring as it is nauseous. For one, the freedom of speech expressed in each post is a testament to America and its goal of not muting unpopular speech. However, racist rhetoric sometimes leaves me with such a sour taste in my mouth that I actually lose my appetite.

Advertisement

Certain people get so upset by simple phrases like Black History Month or Black Entertainment Television. A typical post goes like this: “Why is it that every time something doesn’t go in one’s favor, it’s racism? Call Jesse Jackson, and let’s protest. Do you hear any other race complain that there is BET or NAACP, or all black colleges? What would happen if other races had all of these things? Let me guess, someone would be hollering racism.”

Other rants go like this: “The Civil War is over. The north won. Get over it. Remember that Louisiana is the melting pot and not just made up of one race. So do a little research and maybe you’ll learn a thing or two about Louisiana Heritage and about your own as well.”

It always seems to be about extremes. Black History Month isn’t about the Civil War, who won or making one race better than another one.

I’ve seen and heard the line of thought in the first posting my whole life.

Heck, many in my family make similar points all the time. The problem is, it’s not black over white with BET, the NAACP or historical black colleges.

A good friend of mine from Jonesboro attended Grambling State University on a full scholarship, eventually earning his degree from the school, which defines itself on the phrase, “Where everybody is somebody.” That friend stood in my wedding two months ago and is someone I count on for support to this day.

He happens to be white and a Grambling State graduate. Grambling, like every other historically black college, is not about segregation. Originally, they were founded to give minority students a chance at higher education simply not offered at other schools.

I’m a Louisiana Tech University graduate. I love the school greatly, but I do know there was a time when minority students were not welcome. It’s with that knowledge that I also love Grambling State University. GSU sits seven miles and one Interstate-20 exit away from Tech. Grambling gave many minority students a chance at greatness. It will always be my second favorite college.

Those who get upset simply because the word black is in front of something miss the point completely. It’s not about ownership and should never be about ownership. Any celebration inside of Black History Month is ultimately a celebration of American History. Any celebration of an American is something to take pride in.

Too many people, teachers or students get wrapped in political leaders or racist rants instead of focusing on simple contributions by Americans.

Alexander Mils invented the elevator; Richard Spikes invented the automatic gearshift; Lee Burridge invented the Type Writing Machine; George T. Samon invented the clothes dryer; Frederick Jones invented the air conditioner and Alice Parker invented the heating furnace.

These stories and thousands like them are foundations of Black History Month, or more simply American History.

There is nothing wrong with Black History Month. Hopefully, it leads to a day when it’s not confined to a month, but something which lasts throughout the year and without labels. Then, we’d have something to celebrate.

STEPHEN HEMELT is city editor of The Daily Iberian. He can be reached at stephen.hemelt@daily-iberian.com.