I'm dedicating African American History Month to Bob Kellar

Today is February 1, 2010, the start of African American history month. It also marks the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro sit-ins. And I should note that a new museum has opened in Greensboro, NC at the site of this protest, The International Civil Rights Center and Museum (click here for the New York Times review).

I could say that in honor of this month I will be periodically writing posts that highlight African American history and culture. Although truth be told, I think I do that every month--which is, perhaps, part of what these heritage and awareness months (like Women's History and Culture month) are supposed to do: make us aware of the ways in which previously oppressed and marginalized people are actually not just on the periphery of U.S. history and society but an integral part of its cultural fabric.

In particular, I think African American history and culture month affords us an opportunity to really try to understand the nature of racism as an institutional force--to really educate ourselves about race and racism and other aspects like white supremacy/white privilege.

And to that end, I'm personally dedicating all my posts this month to Santa Clarita, CA City Councilman Bob Kellar. Because Bob is not afraid to announce very clearly what his beliefs about race in the U.S. are:

"I'm a proud racist. You're darn right I am!"

Now, Councilman Kellar has claimed that his words have been taken out of context, so let me quote from a SF Chronicle article that provides the full scope of his remarks:

"At the rally [against illegal immigration], Kellar recalled that Theodore Roosevelt once said the United States had room for only one flag and for one language — English. He said he mentioned the former president's comment at a City Council meeting several years ago.

"The only thing I heard back from a couple of people was, 'Bob, you sound like a racist,'" Kellar told the rally. "I said, 'That's good. If that's what you think I am because I happen to believe in America, then I'm a proud racist. You're darn right I am.'"

[tip of the hat to Angry Asian Man for this link]

I'm sorry Mr. Kellar but within the context of your remarks, saying "I'm a proud racist" isn't negated or clarified but actually ENHANCED.

So Mr. Kellar, this month is an opportunity for you to really understand how hurtful and ignorant and bigoted your declaration truly is. You may not see the link between African American heritage month and your statement and your intolerant stance on illegal immigration and your erroneous belief about language and nationality and who qualifies as an "American," but trust me, if you are serious about learning the lessons of what this month has to offer you, then you can climb your way out of the abyss of willed ignorance and into a more compassionate understanding of the intersectionality of race, racism, privilege, oppression, and U.S. history, society, and culture.

Ahhh...wouldn't it be wonderful if Bob Kellar actually did this? In the meantime, we can all stand a little more education on these issues now and then. Because I believe it's never too late and you're never too old, and more importantly, you never KNOW enough about race not to learn more.

In Honor of Black History Month: African American Words

Words have power. Just even saying or announcing that this month, February, is the designated African American history month has the power to transform and transcend this bleak and short little month into one where the nation once again remembers the legacy and history of African American contributions (by coercion and by choice) to the United States.

I've written, before, about my conflicted feelings in recognizing or designating a single month (or week or day or time period) to a particular group. It smacks of tokenism; it is too brief a period (and really, esp. February--we picked the shortest month of the year to honor African Americans officially? C'mon!); it suggests that, somehow, we are off the hook from thinking about the history and experiences of various groups when it's NOT their month.

Yet, on the flip side, it is a chance for education to happen. It is a chance to take a time out and to recognize African Americans and their role in our society and culture.

So. While I'd like to think and hope that I do recognize the many contributions of African Americans during other days of the year, I do feel, as the blogger of MIXED RACE AMERICA and as an educator, that I should take a moment and acknowledge the power of African American culture, especially in an arena that I know best: words.

Here is a brief list of African American wordsmiths and their works whom I love and adore. Some of them will be familiar to you. Others may be less well known. And I'm not just talking about the printed page, as you'll note below a number of musicians are on my list:

*Anything by Toni Morrison but especially The Bluest Eye and Paradise

*Colson Whitehead's Apex Hides the Hurt

*Danzy Senna's Caucasia

*The poetry of Langston Hughes

*Stevie Wonder -- esp. my all-time favorite "Isn't She Lovely"

*Ralph Ellison's masterpiece Invisible Man

*The oratory of Martin Luther King Jr.

*Ella Fitzgerald -- esp. "Something's Gotta Give"

*Zora Neale Hurston and my favorite Their Eyes Were Watching God (all time favorite first line: "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board" -- beautiful!)

*Malcom X and Alex Haley's The Autobiography of Malcolm X

*Michelle Cliff's poetry, particularly her collection If I Could Write This in Fire

*Michael Harper's "Dear John, Dear Coltrane"

*Marvin Gaye -- esp. "Got to Give It Up" (I just gotta groove when I hear this song--I must be quite a sight listening to this on my ipod and strutting through campus)

*The slam poet artist Saul Williams and his piece "Coded Language" (see for yourself):



Finally, I invite all of you to submit your own favorite African American artists in the comment thread and to take a moment in honor of African American history month and read/listen/experience an African American writer/poet/musician today.