Question Homophobia

Why do the oppressive majority only recognize February as Black History Month? Worse yet, Why is it that we (people of African descent) only permit them to recognize that month as the only month where our contributions are to be highlighted? Don't we then in turn do ourselves a dis-service by perpetuating the racist notions of the oppressors when we don't claim and celebrate the contributions of African descendants each month? Similarly, we create and/or perpetuate injustices when we do not fully celebrate or embrace the contributions which of all African Americans have added to the American mosaic. Has BET ever aired one of its Black History commercials honoring Langston Hughes, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, "Moms" Mabley, Mabel Hampton, Alberta Hunter, Gladys Bentley, Contee Cullen, or James Balwin? The answer is "no" Why? Could it be that the folks at BET have never heard of these individuals? Or is it that these folks were not African American enough for our friends at BET. While I don't have the answer to BET's rationale, I do know that all these persons were as Black as I am and endured much more oppression, racism, bigotry, sexism, and classism then most of us will ever endure in our lifetime. Somehow we African Americans have learned to do the very thing to one another as the oppressors have done to us. I am reminded of a text, I read in one of Keith Boykins books (One more river to Cross) paraphrasing. "One of the consequences of oppression is that it teaches us to dislike ourselves and dislike those who are like us". These words ring true to me as I make every attempt to understand how we (the oppressed) have become oppressors ourselves and how we have turned around to do the same thing to one another. We do this so well that it does not even seem problematic or noticeable. As white people have virtually denied our history, we too have turned around and further denied or deleted our history by not paying homage to the legacies of the African American brothers and sisters who are Gay or Lesbian. When BET elects not to mention these individuals, justice is not served. When you or I do not demand that the contributions of these individuals be included in celebrating African American history we ourselves create an injustice to our history. The history of GLBT brothers and sisters is part of the history of African Americans, because in fact these individuals are of the same skin color and experience the same if not more injustices aimed at them just for being homo or bisexual. This month as Black History Month is being celebrated, let me challenge you to demand that this history include the existence of Black GLBT persons. Challenge homophobia, demand inclusively! As them them: what would Black History be without Sojourner Truth, Harriett Tubman, Georgia Washington Carver, or Bayard Rustin.