February first marked the beginning of the month-long observance of Black History Month, another one of those "awareness months" during which we are supposed take special time to educate others and ourselves about the black narrative in the United States.
There are so many awareness days and months that they seem to all run together, but Black History Month does seem to be different and continues to be a force in our culture. Outlets of popular culture from the cable TV channel Comedy Central presenting a series on black comedians to retailer Sears giving away free posters by black American artist Samuel Akainyah are swept up in the event. This is a shame.
Am I saying that black Americans haven't contributed mightily to U.S. history or that the history of blacks in the United States is insignificant? Absolutely not. It is a fact that American culture and history would be unrecognizable without the contributions of the African slaves and their American progeny. But I have a deep problem with the implied agenda of separatism that events such as Black History Month promulgate.
As ludicrous as it is to believe that black Americans haven't made important contributions to American history and culture, it is equally absurd to advocate that somehow there is no connection between American history and Black History. The same goes for Hispanic Americans or members of any other ethnic or racial group that was a party to U.S. history.
Those that subscribe to an ethno-centric worldview would have it both ways; that ethnic groups have made vital contributions to American history and culture, but also the best way to study them is to create quasi-scholarly sub fields separate from the general dialogue on U.S. society.
There are few areas of life in which ethno-centric sentiments are more prevalent than in academia and UNM is no exception. A quick glance at the departmental directory will uncover no less than six listings for academic divisions explicitly centered on a domestic ethnic group - some programs seem to overlap on certain groups.
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What is perhaps worse than the harmful fragmentation these programs exacerbate is that these sorts of departments also tend to be enclaves of extreme orthodoxy on certain issues.
Is there one faculty member in the African American Studies Department that opposes proposed reparations for slavery or a professor in the Chicana/o Studies program that advocates against affirmative action? Is there even a member of any of these six programs that voted for George Bush?
I would be severally surprised if there was because these programs tend to be a lot more about a certain version of history and a certain agenda than being centers of serious discussion taking in other points of view.
A better way to treat race would be to pursue policies that sought to treat race like it should be and fundamentally is - an incidental factor that should have no bearing on the treatment of the individual. A more mature treatment of race would also desist in the labeling of Americans and instead focus on our common narrative without equivocation.
Would taking this approach necessarily mean ignoring racism and glossing over the real evils of slavery and other racially motivated crimes? No, instead it would focus on the historical misdeeds of some Americans, while highlighting the lessons learned - chiefly that classifying people by their race is a failed and immoral practice without a place in our common future.
Despite the advantages of an attitude of real equality, I am pessimistic that it will ever be adopted. There is a superfluity of people that are too vested into the current regime of ethno-centric race relations. Too many academics have made a living over being perpetually angry about the past and writing trendy books about the present. Too many politicians have gained power by playing off of racial fears. And too many people directly benefit from the current system, be they the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of the world behind the racial protection racket - give my "foundation" a donation or I will brand you a racist - or students eased into schools with affirmative action, lavished attention on by minority success programs and unable to see past the current establishment.
Nonetheless, I have what may prove to be a vain hope: that someday we will not feel the need for an African American Studies department; someday we will only consider the individual when determining merit, and someday Black History Month will be politely ignored.
by Michael Carrasco
Daily Lobo Columnist
Comments can be sent to Michael Carrasco at mjc_carrasco@hotmail.com.
