The document critiques the limitations of Black History Month, suggesting that focusing on a single month or day reduces the comprehensive understanding of African American history. It highlights issues in representation, using examples from the Oscars to demonstrate how diversity efforts can be condescending rather than authentic. The discussion encourages exploring alternative approaches to celebrating Black history beyond a designated month.

1. BeyondBLACK HISTORY MONTH
Mr. Bolos (posters by FEM Club)

2. WhyONE MONTH? ONE DAY?

3. BLACK HISTORY MONTH (a history)

4. “I liken having a Black History
Month in February and
concentrating study on that to
milk that’s just about to go sour.
You can still drink it, but it just
doesn’t taste right (329).
– Philip Roth,The Human Stain

5. #28daysarenotenough

6. The
Usual
Approach

7. #1

8. Great
MomentsIN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY

14. But,

15. But,

16. #2

17. Great
Men &
Women
IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY

22. Not:

23. Not:

24. #3

25. Add
African
Americans
and Stir

28. Case
Study:

29. The
Oscars

30. “We celebrate the best and the whitest
… sorry, brightest.”

31. 35,000,0002,000,000 to 5,000,000

32. “Trying to demonstrate diversity,
they ended up pulling black actors
into not great bits and
condescending to them there.
Octavia Spencer was commanded
to watch a brief-case all night....

33. “David Oyelowo—who was later
snarkily introduced as someone
who ‘absolutely deserve[s] to be
here’—was told to stand up and
read something in his funny
British accent.”
—Willa Paskin, Slate

34. Discuss:

35. WhyONE MONTH? ONE DAY?
WhatOTHER APPROACHES WOULDYOU SUGGEST?
Discuss: