Black History Month Is About More Than Slavery and Dr. King
How this mother is challenging the way we celebrate Black history
Each year during Black History Month I share this letter that I wrote to my local library as a concerned parent in 2017. The library responded graciously and favorably and we have collaborated on the Black History Month display each year since. I share the letter because the message is always relevant and I hope it can challenge some common conceptions about what Black History Month is, remove constraints around the idea of what Black history is, and encourage others to raise awareness in their communities about Black history. It also provides some concrete examples of ways that we can approach celebrating Black History Month each year for people who haven’t approached it this way historically.
[February 2017]
So, had a small victory here in Massachusetts at our public library in our town. The Black History Month display this year was offensive and, naturally, I was OUTRAGED. I stormed over there (after counsel from my family, some friends, and [my child’s father]), and delivered this letter to the library director. I could not have been happier with her response and the outcome. Given that the unfortunate display (curated by a local history teacher) should never have been up in the first place, I have nothing but respect for her handling of the situation once I expressed my concerns. She apologized, thanked me for my beautiful letter (her words), and has taken it down, replacing it with some things I suggested in my letter. I’m not attaching a picture of the original display here, although you can read about it below, because I feel like it’s already had enough circulation in the two weeks it was up at the library. I will share the new display when A and I visit the library again. I want to reiterate the small plug I made yesterday for being present, speaking up, and fighting for what we believe in for ourselves and our children!!
To whom it may concern:
I am a [redacted] resident and homeowner who grew up here in town. I visited the [redacted] Public Library on Saturday, February 11, 2017, as my family does from time to time. I was really disappointed in the library display for Black History Month. Black History…
