2008 Woodie Awards
What's Black History Month?
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Opinion
February is spent planning what to get sweethearts for Valentine's Day or planning a Spring Break expedition.
This month has also been declared Black History Month in order to celebrate the accomplishments of an entire race of people that were discriminated against for hundreds of years.
We realize the demographics of our school do not include a large black population, but is that any excuse to not acknowledge America's heritage and history?
Just because Pacific has a diversity deficiency doesn't mean we should stay stuck in our college bubble.
If we aren't reminded of history aren't we doomed to repeat it?
The only reminder of Black History Month that has come to our attention is a cake walk in Burlingham Hall, which seems downright unappreciative.
Being aware of racial and cultural diversity is the only way we can evolve into more well-rounded liberal arts students.
We should be demanding more outside of the classroom educational experiences. We should have more cultural diversity days, not just a campus-wide event in April called Lu'au.
With the large percentage of students from the Hawaiian Islands, no wonder they want to bring their cultural values to the mainland.
We embrace the hibiscus flowers and kaluha pork and even poi dessert. We are fascinated by the flame throwers and the story telling through hula dancing, but we don't know the evolution of the struggles and dominance over their sacred culture.
We should be embracing all the cultures that are present on the campus not because of the racial or cultural dominance.
We should be celebrating the multi-cultural history of our country.
There's an active Gender Equity club that is always putting on visible displays to promote equality because women have a majority over men at this campus. There's a Hawaiian Club. But every student knows they aren't a minority on our campus.
But where's a club to promote Black History Month?
Why don't we have someone recite Letters from Birmingham or poetry from Langston Hughes? Why not have awareness?
We should be educating not ignoring.
This month has also been declared Black History Month in order to celebrate the accomplishments of an entire race of people that were discriminated against for hundreds of years.
We realize the demographics of our school do not include a large black population, but is that any excuse to not acknowledge America's heritage and history?
Just because Pacific has a diversity deficiency doesn't mean we should stay stuck in our college bubble.
If we aren't reminded of history aren't we doomed to repeat it?
The only reminder of Black History Month that has come to our attention is a cake walk in Burlingham Hall, which seems downright unappreciative.
Being aware of racial and cultural diversity is the only way we can evolve into more well-rounded liberal arts students.
We should be demanding more outside of the classroom educational experiences. We should have more cultural diversity days, not just a campus-wide event in April called Lu'au.
With the large percentage of students from the Hawaiian Islands, no wonder they want to bring their cultural values to the mainland.
We embrace the hibiscus flowers and kaluha pork and even poi dessert. We are fascinated by the flame throwers and the story telling through hula dancing, but we don't know the evolution of the struggles and dominance over their sacred culture.
We should be embracing all the cultures that are present on the campus not because of the racial or cultural dominance.
We should be celebrating the multi-cultural history of our country.
There's an active Gender Equity club that is always putting on visible displays to promote equality because women have a majority over men at this campus. There's a Hawaiian Club. But every student knows they aren't a minority on our campus.
But where's a club to promote Black History Month?
Why don't we have someone recite Letters from Birmingham or poetry from Langston Hughes? Why not have awareness?
We should be educating not ignoring.
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