"Black History Month" 

Roger Whittler

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Black History month is when we as a nation celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans throughout our nation’s history. It is difficult to isolate what may be in the minds of most people when approaching this celebration.  Are most people thinking about the Black inventors, politicians, civil rights leaders, or the average Black citizen, who defied the odds? Organizations like colleges, universities and some federal, state and local governments plan each year to establish a theme for the celebration. For instance, Central Michigan University is focusing in 2024, on Black American’s contributions to the Arts. Other themes that guide the celebration include acknowledging Black Resistance, or remembering cultural and spiritual innovators who changed the way we live and behave. When I asked people what they understand about the purpose of Black History Month I received a variety of responses. One person said it’s a time to reflect on equality and the progress that needs to be made. Another person said he believes it is strictly to remember historic figures in the Black community, that does not only include Black Americans but also leaders like Abraham Lincoln and others who displayed courage against oppression directed at Black Americans. 

I am not in a position to grade any of these responses to my question; to me all of the responses were correct. I don’t think it is possible for anyone to specify what Black History Month should mean to anyone else. As a mental health clinician, I always ask people to find their own meaning in the past present and future, don’t accept someone else’s meaning. 

I often share my meaning as an example for my clients to start with. This week I visited the Marriot Willow Ridge Resort in Branson, Missouri. One of the highlights of my stay was watching the Chiefs and 49ers compete in the Super Bowl. It was a great venue to be with friends and watch the game on the big screen in the resort clubhouse. The big screen made it easy to see the lines on the field, the goal posts, the line of scrimmage and all the play by play action. Each team had 11 players on the field, and the ball was properly inflated. Everything was supervised by referees. The game was played fairly, and the chiefs won. Keep in mind the recent changes to the overtime rules leveled out the overtime portion of the game. I heard no complaints regarding the fairness of the game and I am gratified the NFL is continually looking for ways to make the game as fair as possible.

I celebrate Black History month because it is a time to take inventory of a people who started with less than nothing in this country, and have infused this land with empathy, understanding and humanity that benefited every other human being on the planet. I think about:

• Freedom
• Fair employment
• Fair housing
• Fair health insurance 
• Fair education
• Fair criminal justice
• Fair gender treatment
• Fair accommodations
• Fair representation
• Fair pay
• Fair water and food

In this capsule we call the United States, Black Americans have taught the universe what the word FAIR means. Black Americans took unfairness, described it for the world, and educated the world on what fairness should look like. What a precious gift. It is important to note, Black Americans did this (and are doing this) without a book or a recipe to follow, rather by finding meaning within ourselves.

I often use the words “self-transcendent” or “self-actualization” with my clients. These words are a great fit for Black History Month. These words refer to becoming a better version of ourselves – leaving the less perfected version behind and becoming a more-healthy, invigorated, insightful and in some ways a more mature version of ourselves. I say all of this only to go back where I started. Spending time alone thinking about what Black History Month means to us individually, not listening to the meaning others make of it – is self-transcendent and self-actualizing. The people we celebrate this month didn’t learn anything from social media or television commercials, they got their courage from the internal conversations they had with themselves - on the inside – struggling to find the meaning they placed on what was happening at the time. As the struggle continues in teaching the world what fairness is, I encourage everyone to spend time during Black History Month, trying to understand what is happening around us, and what it means to you. I think Black History Month is the perfect time to take inventory of what fairness really is and how important it is to the survival of human beings around the world. We should all make resolutions during Black History Month to seek fairness, forego our personal desires in some cases, while being assertive in other cases, in the pursuit of fairness.