Collegio Online

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Front Page

Media Credit: File Photo

Brittany Gholson speaks of frustration when it comes to being a minority at Pittsburg State University. She says that frustration is often compounded when she and fellow members of the Black Student Association attempt to make a change.

"When you try to get things to happen, being in the minority makes it even harder," said Gholson, junior in elementary education. "You have to have enough students to make something happen, and we often don't."

That's one of the reasons, she says, that she felt that this year's Black History Month was so disappointing. Gholson says the event felt "rushed" and "unplanned."
"Nobody outside of BSA seemed to really care about it or had thought about it in, say, January. We were already a week or so into February before (the university) started talking to us about event planning. We're being told that we should take up the first two weeks of March to make up for the two weeks we'd lost. And we appreciate that opportunity, but, you know, the time has passed."


What's the big idea?


Students of all races say that Black History Month is a consistently "disappointing" undertaking, not just at PSU, but around the country. Some ask why such a month even exists, while others say they don't understand why Black History Month doesn't receive more recognition.
"You'd think it would be a bigger deal," said Kathryn Kiwan, senior in English.
"Especially here. I'd lived in Fort Scott for 30 years before I learned anything about Gordon Parks. Really, I'd never really learned much of anything about Black History Month until this year."

Kiwan says she doesn't understand why, with so many cultures
embedded into the American landscape, there would be a Black History Month in the first place. There's no widespread celebration of an Irish American or Asian American history months.

"All these groups are a part of American history," she said. "They're all people who've had it hard. Why single one out from the others?"

Jon Kaleugher, senior in psychology, shares Kiwan's sentiments.

"Black history is American history," he said. "It shouldn't be divided up and separated. It should be ingrained in the history we're already teaching, not relegated to the shortest month of the year."

Jeremy Johnson, senior in English and president of PSU's Student Government Association, agrees that including more black history in the teaching of American history is preferable. However, he says the celebration of Black History Month is valuable because of the role African Americans have played in the formation and success of the United States.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools