Black History Month by Robert Socha

Black Lives Matter. Black Panthers. Black Entertainment Television. Black Power. Black Church (the most perplexing). The Congressional Black Caucus. Black National Anthem (I am confused how or why this exists). Black History Month.

I joined a book club and suggested, albeit tongue-in-cheek, a book(1) for black history month that provides a “unique view of the religious and moral heritage of black Americans.” One of my friends immediately rebuked me with the following admonition:

“I’m not sure if you’re being serious or not, Rob? ‘Black History Month’ is an affront to all things American, as is every other ‘month’ our corrupt government tells us we must ‘observe.’ And National ‘days’ too. As long as we keep carving out special designations for small groups of ‘disaffected minorities,’ we’ll never learn to come together and live peacefully together as one nation under God.”

I agree. Racial demagoguery must cease.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” (2) In his debatewith Douglas, President Lincoln echoed this Scripture as they contented for the U.S. Senate in 1858. Many believe this speech delivered his defeat in the Senate race, but his continued defense of it surrendered the White House in 1860.

Why do we as a Nation continue to struggle along the ethnic lines which uniquely identify us? Why does “e pluribus unum” evade and escape the requisite toil which, once rendered, reveals itself in genuine love and affection for one another?

I wrote(3) about the tremendous advances in unity we had gained through the non-violent protests organized by the late Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Certainly, there were, and are, ignorant blowhards who continue to spew venom and animosity toward others because their physicality differs. Still, those sentiments betray the fabric of the United State’s tapestry.

The good graces of Christian charity eclipsed the vehement abhorrence of the institution of slavery! Yet here we are “celebrating” our differences on ethnic lines. Why do we continue to proclaim a month catering to certain ethnicities or physical proclivities?

I try to understand the underlying frustration(4) that U.S. history mostly ignored men with African ancestry for almost two centuries and the necessary inclusion to same; that omission no longer exists. President Ford’s first proclamation of national recognition of Black History Month in 1976 may have been a catalyst to embrace men whose historical achievements necessitate inclusion in the national discourse. Still, the continuation of the observance necessarily extends division upon ethnic lines. This division is problematic because it seems we as a nation cannot get past the past and unify as one nation under God, indivisible.

The long history of subjugation executed mainly through leftist doctrine continues its slimy spiral toward perpetual division. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He admonishes(5) that if we remember our brothers have something against us, we should reconcile with them quickly. Reconciliation along ethnic lines requires forgiveness from every side and embracing the celebration of our shared humanity.

“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity,” Psalm 133:1. You are my brother, and I am grateful for this mutual life.

 

1. 1. https://shop.wallbuilders.com/setting-the-record-straight-american-history-in-black-white-book
   2. http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/house.htm
   3. https://mychal-massie.com/the-question-isnt-what-kind-of-nation-its-what-kind-of-people-by-robert-socha/
   4. https://time.com/4197928/history-black-history-month/5.
   5. https://www.biblehub.com/matthew/5-24.htm