Black History Month. It evolved from Negro History Week which was the second week in February. Negro History Week was designated by Carter G. Woodson in 1926 to mark the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln in hopes that the week would eventually be eliminated when black history became fundamental to American History. Instead of the history week being elimated, 50 years later, it expanded into the entire month of February after the subject got so much attention from Alex Haley's mini-series "Roots." Corporations immediately caught onto this with dollar signs in their eyes.

Many black scholars and historians repel the commercialization of the celebration, but agree Black History Month is still needed to reflect on the achievements of Black Americans. It's true that people should never forget the struggles, sacrifices and/or accomplishments made by their ancestors.   However, setting aside a 28 day observance both confines and trivializes whatever significance it might have.  If one is truely interested in reflecting on their ancestors' history, they should be capable of doing this on their own and for whatever length of time they choose without having a specific month set aside and commercialized.

It is seldom if ever recognized by those who celebrate Black History Month that it brings with it a form of segregation. Racial segregation which people struggled with so hard to eliminate, and it's existence still being apparent in places. However, rather than attempting to find common ground and blend in with other races, people either ignore or simply don't care that by promoting the cause of their particular group, their group advances in opposition to other groups. The reinforcement of the groups' differences (in this instance race related), and advancment of one group without the other is, therefore, racial segregation. It's a shame that right after celebrating Martin Luther King Day in January, people spend the entire month of February abolishing what Dr. King preached. Everything which is celebrated in regards to Black History Month is race related. Even the month is labeled in regards to the color of the people's skin rather than any content of their character.

Rather than hyphenating one's nationality to define their heritage, people who choose to call America their home need to first and foremost simply consider themselves to be American. There is no such place as "Africa-America." People need to stand up for the "content of their character" rather than their inheritance or ancestry. If society is ever to reach equality, people of all races need to be taught to view themselves as individuals and to stop categorizing and labeling themselves based on things which they have no choice in nor control of.