By Ben Bruce, SMSgt, USAF. Ret
Why Do We Celebrate Black History Month?
Why do we celebrate Black History Month is a question that you might get from
your younger Airmen and NCO’s. As a thought leader I thought I would give you at least
my perspective on the value of a Black History Month. My perspective comes from the
fact that I was a Black American Airman on Active duty for over 26 years. In addition,
Black History Month was adopted by the Military early in my military career. Many
people do not know that Black History Week started in 1926 by Dr. Woodson, a Black
historian, as a celebration for Black Americans, who at that time were called Negros. It
was a way of educating them about their history, so that Negro’s could feel a sense of
pride over their contribution to the country. In 1976 the week was extended to a month
as we began to realize that Black History was really an American story and needed to
be shared with all America.
Many people do not know many of the following military contributions:
1770 – Crispus Attucks a Negro sailor becomes the first man to die at the Boston
Massacre. This was an incident where 7 men are killed including Attucks. This Killing of
Americans by the British in the streets of Boston will serve to ignite the Revolutionary
War.
5000 Blacks will serve in Gen Washington’s Army against the British during the
Revolutionary War.
The British invade American again in the war of 1812. During the battle of New
Orleans, Gen Jackson reported that the city would have been lost had it not been for the
help of black soldiers.
Blacks serve and fought in the War with Mexico in the 1840’s.
180,000 Blacks served in the civil War (10% of the union Army was black),
40,000 would die in uniform.
From 1866-1900’s, Blacks served on the plains and the southwest as “Buffalo
Soldiers, who would bring law and order to the west.
During World War I, the 92nd and 93rd Infantry Divisions and the Harlem Hell
Fighters (369th Infantry) would serve oversea in France and fight with the French. Over
370,000 Black in uniform during the war.
World War II, the Army has more black war fighters, the 761 Tank Battalion
(Black Panthers) of Gen Patton’s 3rd Army, The Red Ball Express, the supply line on
wheels in Europe. The Navy Golden 13 (only 13 negro Naval Officers allowed to serve),
the 19,000 Mumford Port Marines, and the Army Air Corp Has 14,000 “Tuskegee
Airmen” All served with Honor. Over 1 million blacks served during the war.
Executive Order 9981 by President Harry Truman integrated the Military in July
- Now Black men and women will continue to serve in integrated unit’s, no longer in
separate outfits. They will serve in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Gulf War II and the
Global War on Terror. All will serve with excellence.
So an important question to ask is in the chronology of events just listed, how
many events did you not know about? If some of these events are new, you can see
why history, any history is important. I have not mentioned the contributions in the areas
of Art, Music Literature, Sports, medicine, culture, science, aviation. But believe me
black contributions in those areas are just as rich.
So why have a Black History month? I recently saw a title of an article that was
written in humor to address Black History month, it said “The celebration of white history
year continues after a month long break for black history month.” The point is that black
history is still not written in our current American history books. If we want to learn about
it, it must be as a separate event until the history is integrated into the bigger frame
work of our entire American History. Because truth be told, black history is not black
history, it is American history.
What blacks want is for all people to understand the contributions they have
made to this country. They want people to empathize – stand in their shoes of the past.
This will help others to understand that they as a people were not on the same equal
footing. Then we can appreciate contributions made of all Americans. When you can
look into a people’s past and understand what happen to them on the way to building
American, you can understand their perspective, and understand where they are
coming from. At the end of the day when you can understand the contributions made by
Black Americans in building this country, you can and will appreciate their contributions.
That builds a better America.
We need to do better to incorporate our histories into one tapestry that tell the
True “Story of US”. Then quite honestly will not need a Black history month, women’s
history month Asian Pacific History month , Hispanic American Month, Native American
month, etc, etc. Those months will not be needed any long because we will have truly
arrived at complete American History year round.
I hope that one day; we as a people decide that it is better to celebrate our
lineage – Black, Irish, Polish, Italian, etc, in private. And celebrate our heritage simply
being an “AMERICAN” in public.
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