Black History Month

WASHINGTON -- With the close of Black History Month, African-Americans once again joke about being assigned the shortest month of the year to celebrate our history: "It figures that they give us February." As with most jokes, this one is underscored by truth. Many African-Americans question the scope of America's commitment to a fully inclusive democracy. Choosing February to celebrate Black History Month, then, is consistent with a perceived national inclination to reserve the fewest days possible to address the history, culture, strivings and aspirations of people of African descent.

While songs like Aretha Franklin's "Respect" blared through speakers set up in Manchester Elementary School's gymnasium, Alex Rufe and Ashley Merryman could hardly stay seated on the floor. Instead, the third-graders and their classmates clapped and sang along to the music, which was being featured in a laser light show. "It was awesome," said Alex, 8, after the show. The 45-minute program highlighted how the songs of African-American musicians and the work of civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. have influenced musicians today.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EARLY BLACK MOVIES / / Enjoy screenings of three films related to Black History Month. The movies were made in the 1930s and 1940s and are three of many "race films," which featured all-black casts. Race films were shown at "Midnight Rambles," which were all-black segregated movie houses. Get a glimpse of black history by watching Broken Strings, Murder in Harlem and Reet Petite and Gone at the Creative Alliance. ....................... These screenings are at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave. "Broken Strings" will be shown Wednesday, "Murder in Harlem" will be shown Feb. 15 and "Reet Petite and Gone" will be shown Feb. 22. All films start at 8 p.m. Call 410-276-1651 for more information.

I've had mixed emotions about Black History Month for a long time. While I love that it's an annual celebration of black culture and history, I hate the idea that the February observance is the only time some people feel that it's appropriate to recognize the contributions of black Americans. But when I hear talk of doing away with the observance, I realize just how much I value these 28 days of February. In December, Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman called the notion of Black History Month "ridiculous" during an interview on 60 Minutes.

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Sylvia Cyrus-Albritton isn't going to hold it against actor Morgan Freeman for slamming the need for Black History Month. She isn't mad that the Oscar winner said on CBS' 60 Minutes that it's "ridiculous" to relegate one month to black history and that the practice should be abolished. But as director of the group founded by the father of Black History Month, Carter G. Woodson, Cyrus-Albritton says she has an important message for Freeman: "We're not there yet, Morgan." It was a response echoed by many civil rights leaders and historians across the country yesterday after Freeman's statements, broadcast Sunday, sparked a heated debate over whether, as he suggested, the only way to eliminate racism is to just stop talking about it. "Mr. Freeman was giving an opinion that does not jibe with the best information we have," civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson says.

ANOTHER FEBRUARY has come and gone - another Black History Month virtually ended - without any evidence that American citizens, black, white or brown, are more knowledgeable about black history. Indeed, it's not even clear that schools or civic groups make much of an effort during February to present anything other than a superficial accounting of the role of black Americans in the development of this nation. Oh, every now and then, February is used to launch a book or documentary that adds significant dimensions to our understanding.

IT'S BEEN an unusual Black History Month. The black community needs trusted leaders and popular celebrities sounding the alarm over the worsening condition of African-American families living in poverty. Just as I prepared to celebrate Bill Cosby's courage in alerting the black community to numerous signs of internal decay, serious allegations of his bad behavior toward women surfaced. He has denied wrongdoing and charges against him have been dropped. Mr. Cosby may be one of America's best comedians, but he sure knows how to make people mad. Like a restless revival preacher, he has been criss-crossing the nation, delivering an impassioned moral plea for better parenting and adult responsibility, a call that demands more than the usual "Amen, brother."

The priest whose life inspired a made-for-TV movie in 1987 after launching a national program urging church members to adopt minority children will be the keynote speaker at a Columbia church's Black History Month program. The Rev. George Clements, a nationally known activist and a celebrant at St. Martin's Church in Washington, will speak at noon Sunday at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center. Clements is expected to talk about how God inspired him to start and get involved with various programs to help others.