Black History Month: Debunking the 10 biggest myths about black history

[ellisonz]

By David A. Love
8:43 AM on 02/01/2012

February is here, which means that it's Black History Month. Black history is an integral part of U.S. history, with African Americans making important contributions to the lifeblood of this country in all fields of endeavor. But there are many misconceptions and mischaracterizations when it comes to the public's general understanding of black history. They say that the truth will make you free. Well, here at theGrio, we thought we'd kick off February the right way by debunking the 10 biggest myths about black history.

1. The Civil War was not fought over slavery

If you want to know whether the Civil War was fought over slavery, just read the words of Alexander Stephens, vice president of the Confederate States of America in 1861:

The prevailing ideas entertained by...most of the leading statesmen at the time of the formation of the old constitution, were that the enslavement of the African was in violation of the laws of nature; that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally, and politically.... Those ideas, however, were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of the equality of races. This was an error...Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery -- subordination to the superior race -- is his natural and normal condition.

Most historians agree that slavery was one of the primary issues leading to the Civil War. South Carolina seceded from the Union because of the clash between slave states and free states over the expansion of slavery. The Republican Party, then a new political party, made the fight against slavery in U.S. territories a key issue.

More: http://www.thegrio.com/black-history/black-history-month-debunking-the-10-biggest-myths-about-black-history.php

[MicaelS]

1. This says it perfectly...

And groups such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans insist the war was fought over self-governance and states' rights. The war was about states' rights, the right of Southern states to own black people.

[RZM]

2. I don't think number 10 really qualifies as a 'big myth'

I think most people know that African Americans have served in America's wars. If they don't, it's probably because they just don't know a whole lot of the history of America's wars in general and thus they are not aware of many other details about them as well.

But you don't even need to be all that interested in history to know about this. Anybody who followed popular culture in the late 1980s remembers 'Glory.' Anybody with more than a passing acquaintance with Bob Marley's music has heard 'Buffalo Soldier,' etc.

And the whole reason that John J. Pershing was called 'Black Jack' had to do with his command of African-American troops. 'Black Jack' was a cleaned up version of his original nickname. You can probably guess what it started out as.

[ellisonz]

3. Given the lack of historical knowledge of most Americans...

...I don't think that it's out-of-line. Bless Mel Gibson though, there was an African-American soldier in "The Patriot." I think we can also give George Lucas for "Red Tails."

Seriously, if you were to go to Pershing square in L.A. and start asking people who John Pershing was I'm doubtful you'd get many correct answers. Sad but true.

Merica is a LBD (lil bit dumb).

[RZM]

4. Apparently

'Red Tails' contains a lot of bullshit. Lucas will probably take a bath on it too, which will end up proving him wrong (or right, I don' know which), about black movies and Hollywood.

http://www.harvardindependent.com/2012/02/red-tails-crashes-and-burns/

http://fedoradudescommentary.blogspot.com/2012/01/red-tails-great-acting-cg-and-drama.html

http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/movie-review-red-tails/

http://newsone.com/entertainment/johnswilson/red-tails-will-set-black-film-back/

[ellisonz]

5. Not surprising...

...but at least made it exposes the idea to a wider audience. I've kinda just tuned it out because that's what I suspected would be the case. I really like the Tuskegee Airman movie with Cuba Gooding Jr.