Last week, I wrote about the importance of educating ourselves about the rich Black history in this nation. I implored us to spend time learning more about Blacks in America who have laid the foundation for the democracy that so many of us enjoy today. I am floored that I find myself defending the importance of Black History Month in the 21st century, but in this new federal regime that is lousy with white nationalists, here we are.
The problem we face in this moment is the inability of the vast majority of Americans to see Black history as intrinsically linked to their own past and their future. It is astounding that most Americans do not know anything about the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of Black people on American soil. If they did, they might understand the real dangers that lie ahead. If they did, they would have believed the alarms from Black women during the 2024 electoral season and the calls to take Project 2025 seriously.
Where do we go from here? How do we educate a nation that does not want to learn about their shared history? What do you do when people would prefer to remain ignorant when presented with facts about the realities that millions of people experience on a daily basis?
It is exhausting to see the rollbacks to civil rights struggles and successes. It is frustrating to see one man excavate the worst impulses of a nation and have the backing of an entire political party of feckless electeds who, by and large, know they are headed in the wrong direction, but are so afraid of losing their elected office that they will say some of the most racist statements and enact legislation they know is counterintuitive and retrograde to American democracy. The sheer cowardice in this moment is truly astounding.
To be clear, Black History Month is not cancelled, no matter what rollback efforts are in place. Black people and their allies will continue to celebrate and uplift the work of our ancestors and people who are currently working to make this country better. We will continue to link our history to a larger diasporic and collective struggle. We will continue to support Black businesses and honor those who are the antithesis of many of the folks currently running the federal government.
We must remember that our ancestors prepared us for this moment. We have the skills and the courage to stand up in this moment. We must not be distracted by the noise, degradation, and performative politics of distraction. We must continue to find like-minded and kindred spirits in this moment, this month, and moving forward. Happy Black History Month!
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
