White History Day
It seems I spend a good amount of time exposing bigoted white people such as Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity. However, throughout history white people have worked with black people to stop slavery Jim Crow and racism. Many of these white people were ostracized, incarcerated or killed for their beliefs. So as Black History Month comes to an end, I feel we honor some of the white people who have played big part in the struggle for African American rights, dignity and progress.
John Brown
From Wikipedia
John Brown was an American abolitionist who advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to end all slavery. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas and made his name in the unsuccessful raid at Harpers Ferry in 1859. He was tried for treason against the state of Virginia, the murder of five proslavery Southerners, and inciting a slave insurrection and was subsequently hanged. Southerners alleged that his rebellion was the tip of the abolitionist iceberg and represented the wishes of the Republican Party. Historians agree that the Harpers Ferry raid in 1859 escalated tensions that a year later led to secession and the American Civil War.
Pete Seeger
Beside being a fervent anti-Nazi activist during World War II and a vocal leader of the labor movement, Pete Seeger was very involved in the Civil Rights movement. He performed at many civil rights rallies and popularized and changed the lyrics of We Shall Overcome which became the anthem of the Civil Rights movement.
Pete Seeger
At request of SNCC I sang in Albany Georgia in 1960, at request of Bob Moses I sang in Greenwood Mississippi in 1964, at request of MLK my wife and I walked for three days from Selma to Montgomery.
I mainly sang, not spoke. Now at age 81, I feel that the Civil Rights Movement showed me and the world that non-violence is the only way the human race can be saved.
From His Song Dear Mr. President in 1942
I’m fightin’ because / I want a better America, and better laws, / And better homes, and jobs, and schools, / And no more Jim Crow, and no more rules like / “You can’t ride on this train ’cause you’re a Negro,” / “You can’t live here ’cause you’re a Jew,”/ “You can’t work here ’cause you’re a union man.”
Seeger would continue making history when he performed Wody Guthrie’s This Land is Your Land at Barack Obama’s Inaugural Concert.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an abolitionist who used her literary talents to expose the evils of slavery. Her book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is credited as helping rally the abolitionist movement in America.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
“It was God’s will that this nation—both North and South—should deeply and terribly suffer for the sin of consenting to and encouraging the great oppressions of the South… the blood of the poor slave, that had cried so many years from the ground in vain, should be answered by the blood of the sons from the best hearthstones through all the free states.”
From Wikipedia
In 1862, Stowe went to see Lincoln to pressure him to free the slaves faster. Her daughter Hattie, who was present at the meeting between Stowe and Lincoln, reports the first thing Lincoln said was, “So you’re the little lady who started this Great War.”
She aided runaway slaves after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law. Following the Civil War she built and established several schools and boarding homes for newly freed slaves. Stowe’s influence reached people of all walks of life, from government officials, to nobility, down to the common man.
Albert Einstein
Besides as being one of the biggest scientific geniuses of all time, Albert Einstein was also an activist against racism. Einstein noticed the parallel between how blacks were treated in the US and how Jews were treated in Nazi Germany.
In 1946, Einstein gave a speech at Lincoln University, an HBCU, and said racism was “a disease of white people,” and said that “I do not intend to be quiet about it.”
Einstein was good friends with both WEB DuBois and Paul Robeson. When an 83 year old DuBois was charged with not registering himself as a foreign agent, Einstein was a character witness for him and helped him get off. DuBois and Robeson were also very good friends. Einstein and Robeson worked together on the American Crusade to End Lynching.
Einstein and Robeson were very good friends and there is a movie in the works about their friendship with Danny Glover Playing Robeson and Ben Kingsley playing Einstein.
There are several notable other white people who played a part in the struggle for black progress. Despite the fact that Abraham Lincoln had some racist views, his attitude towards race was very progressive. John Lennon wrote a lot of amazing songs but also donated to the Black Panther Party and was friends with Bobby Seals. Despite the fact that Malcolm X dissed him, JFK showed a lot of political courage by calling MLK in jail and supporting the Little Rock 9. His brother Bobby did a lot for the civil rights movement as well. Bob Dylan wrote some amazing songs concerning civil rights and performed at the march on Washington.
Who can forget that Barack Obama was raised by his white mother, Ann Dunham and his white grandparents Madelyn “Toots” Payne Dunham whom he described as a quiet hero after her death and Stanley Dunham who fought in World War II.
Great Moments in White History
Watch Bob Dylan Perform at the March on Washington
Watch Pete Seeger Perform This Land is Your Land at Obama’s Inaugural Concert
Watch Robert Kennedy’s Speech After the Death of Dr. King
Famous Gay African-Americans
Comments
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I think it’s (funny) how we only have a day while yall have a month. Anyway, I was looking at a youtube video a (little) while ago and it was about this girl saying she thinks we should get rid of Black History Month all together. I agree with her(mostly). Now, just listen and hear me and her out. If we get rid of all of the race-associated months and everything and just have maybe, Human History Month or whatever, then NO ONE would feel like they were excluded. Then we could celebrate accomplishments of all races and both genders.. And not just single any one out.
Blaxfax,
Great comment. The White History title was a little tongue in cheek. American history does not recognize the white people who participated in the afam struggle so i thought i’d ad a new twist to what we think of as white history
To Casey Gane-McCalla,
WHAT ABOUT “HUMANITARIAN HISTORY DAY” INSTEAD:
You have received a widely mixed response to your curious suggestion. It is good to see that there are a number of readers of “good will” who applaud you, while I can also relate somewhat to the pain expressed by the detractors.
Nevertheless, I have always been a proponent of giving individuals credit where credit is due. It does not diminish us one iota to recognize all aspects of TRUTH. History confirms that there were indeed Caucasian, Indian, as well as perhaps people of good will of other races who went out of their way to support, aid, and even die for our cause. Three cases in point were Viola Liuzzo, and the two Jewish young men who died with a Black youth in Mississippi. There are countless others who aided our people during the Underground Railroad days, as well as Abolitionists.
I was in attendance at the rally when Dr. King gave his “I Have A Dream” speech, and I witnessed that the vast crowd was as equally prevalent with Caucasians and others. I too think that giving proper acknowledgements to those who have come to our defense over the years is an acceptable concept. Yet, I would never agree that they should supercede us and our objectives in any way. That is our responsibility for sure and certain throughout our own history and for the preservation of our own future.
Where I differ with you is in the use of the term “White History.” It is misleading since Whites generally have always controlled the nation’s history to their own benefit without regard for ours. For this they cannot be trusted. However, if some other term can be found to acknowledge those who have displayed humanitarian principles, that is what should be promoted. So why not a “Humanitarian History Day” instead, and that would obviously include them.
I think this is a great idea. I do realize that it took a lot of thought to even come to this point, and I for one appreciate knowing that some people do actually realize that if it wasn’t for the few Whites that assisted us throughout the years, we would not have come as far ahead as we are. I see this thought as a step in the right direction. I have also shared this idea with Black and White seniors off line, and they received this celebration quite well, as they are happy that people are giving them recognition as we all realize that it took all of us to vote to have President Obama president, and this is the result of collective efforts. I even thought it was good to share with others on another forum that is predominately White and the majority of them did not recieve this idea at all. They feel you are not sincere with this celebration, even though I tried very hard to explain to them that I think your celebration idea was right on time. Lots of White people have a lot to learn about us, only I am seeing that they do not want to learn anything about us. Not all of them, but most of them want to keep thinking the way that is comfortable for their need to feel superior, and can’t understand why we even needed a Black History Month even though I tried to explain that. I would say this forum is possibly only 13% of Republicans and racists that find fault with all the kind gestures our people make to bring about brotherly love. Some of them even wondered why others were not mentioned, but I answered that in saying if you have someone that you feel needs to be added to the list, by all means contact Black Planet and include those people to the lists of Whites who has contributed and some of them say this forum is a very racist forum and others say life is too short to come here and voice their opinion.
Oh lots of them didn’t like my thread about Black History Month either but it now has over 600 posts and some took it quite well, while others found a need to say Black History Month is racist. I’m like there is nothing that can be done for some people to change their minds. Some people at this point really hate the fact that we have a Black President and they put down each and everything he says and does. I guess some of you are wondering why I even go there, and I have to say that if I came here all I would hear is the exact same ways I feel, so to be more rounded I found it necessary to find out how the other side thinks.
These are right wing, conservative Republicans that for the most part, think as far right as one can get, and I have had to bring the past up to let them know I am fully aware of how I know it is because of their ways, they have promoted the failure of mankind. They feel guilty about the past, and just recently one has told me that is all I do is bring up the past and not even considering how far we have progressed. Actually I am aware that we have come a very long way, however, we still have a long way to go.
My posting time on there has included all sorts of historical facts, about how mankind has always wanted to control others, and exactly what was going on before the Atlantic Slave Trade occured, and for all those who do not know, we were glad to share our excellent ways to cultivate land and share our modern techniques with other nations and the Arabs are the ones who took negative advantages and started slavery.
Some even brought up the fact that our own people sold us into slavery, and since that is a fact in history, I even have proof why other nations wanted to take over in Africa so the only way they could do that that was to have the leaders taken into the Atlantic Slave Trade. I am sure they did not expect for someone to come there and share what I know with them, and it wasn’t received well by some, however there are a few that do enjoy reading my posts of fact, while others are crude and say very asinine things.
I just wanted to share with all of you that I am more in tuned with the way many of them think.
If you wanna check it out come to http://www.delphiforums.com The forum is called the Big Picture and look for White History being celebrated, or Happy Black History Month. In case you are wondering what my posting name is it is JazziMonet. I have been accused a racist over there but I don’t care what they say, I find it necessary to say all I never had a chance to say during the Civil Rights Movement, because I was too young to march along with everyone else.
We celebrate white history month(s) already. We celebrate it every month of the year. How many schools across this nation teach the plain truth about black history? Not too many. We hear about the Revolutionary War but we never hear about, or see pictures of the many black men that fought in that war. We never hear about the black gypsies that were also tortured in the holocaust. You’ll probably won’t ever see the real location of the Garden of Eden in our history books(Africa).
Come on now. Celebrate a day of white history. I agree with giving people their props, but I don’t agree with whites having everything we have.
how about prints matthews, another john brown. as far as the slickennedys’ get real. the man who set up the “send them to an all white school so i can have the national guard in to protect them”, man. he only did that to get the black vote not because he was any good. if he were any good why would they be cursed as they are, just stating a fact. there are other errors but i’ll leave it at that one, for now….
I find it impressive that a white person would fight, kill other whites, and give up his life for his beliefs and rights of others. I respect you for acknowledging the other side of the spectrum.
You kidding me right! White history day….don’t make me laugh….No black person are going to celebrate White History Day.Get this clown off this blog and stop mockering Martin Luther King Dreams you moroon.
I see some people comment before reading the entire article. Anyway I learned something today from reading this post and that’s always a good thing.
Oh… and get another picture of John Brown please?!! The one from the Kansas capital only reinforces either that he was crazy or was driven by God. Either way…
Ernie Hudson, if anyone should play Paul Robeson. However, it would have a more immediate impact were it done by Mr. Glover.
Second: If you want to credit a Kennedy with helping with civil rights don’t give much credit to John F., the praise and thanks should go to Bobby.
Who is there to be proud of? Alfred the Great, Winston Churchill. That’s about it.
there is no WHITE history month because to do so would be to prejudice ones self stating that one race needs to be held in a special placement.History should be telling of the facts with out a need to say the white man did this or the black man did that when it is stated that the person achieved this,when we as a whole people achieve so much more.or as a divided people we barely achieve the anything one only needs to look to the middle east to see how dividing the people hurts all the people.do we want to create separation by race or do we want to move on and grow.power to the people not power to the white or black people.how about history month where we as a whole people learn the lessons of life and death.or we could make January white history month
there shouldnt be a white history day. it is a white mans world, so for them to have a day is just ridiculous! why is it always white and black? what about the other frikin races in the world! gotdamn!
I don’t think there should be a White History Day. Those whites who were active abolitionist and with various events, causes, laws, and movement should be part of our Black History. They don’t need a separate day because the helped us to achieve our day.
It’s not that we can’t be validated without whites being a part of us. BUT the truth of the matter speaks for itself. Without these people working along with US, a lot of the progress we have made would not have been possible, because we weren’t allowed to have access to thousands of dollars to build our historic college and universities without financial backing from the Rockefeller’s, the Woodruff’s and accounted other.
Those whites who contributed to OUR future were people who didn’t let the color of our skin bother them and knew we are all just human beings and not slaves or animals as other thought we were. Credit needs to be given where deserved – with our history.
Black is meaningful….
Black is purified and when u come to black its discover that its the first creation of God. when its about to rain it black first, when a child born the hair, the eyes that seen is black. in the night its black and thats why night is so powerful.
always it sound to say black beauty……white too is peace…
that all the great day and i wish to be part of the celebrant..
I had lived half my life in Germany. I work, eat talk and play with whites. During one conversation Otto, a white of Prussian origine said that that the peace in the world will come about only through the Offsprings of mixed Human Colors. We have the example today, which Blacks claim “ownership”, forgetting that the mother is “white”. Having denied that in the past,it is now hard for the whites to claim their fair stake in the person of Brother Barack, even though “they” took over the great duty of rearing a child to be a man, to a President. We Blacks must also acknowledge what good whites had created in the world, till today. It is fair to accept the challenge to continue to live together and grow wisely above revenge.
So did our “good” ancestors teach us. There is nothing we can do NOW without the whiteman. May we try to stop the acussing fingers to our fellows, so we can forge ahead
for a better future, as we Blacks had done to support the the growth of the world as it is today.
And if the “mighty Casey” is smart, he will read my entry, laugh, and stay out of my crosshairs. Topic and interest jumpers such as he truly grind my gears and I would take great delight in smashing him in a debate.
Please tell me why it is that we can’t have anything without whites being made a part of it? Don’t they have enough holidays dedicated to their own? Let them blow their own horn as they have done for hundreds of years; our past is just coming to the light after being held in darkness for our whole lives BY THEM. You are making it seem that we can not be validated without whites being a part of us.
This is comical. Here you have a half-white “blogger” with minute literary skills, talent-less hack of a rapper, labelling white people as bigots (Sean Hannity, I will give him that) and he is a proponent for “White History Day”….dare I say “patronizing”. Yes, white people who have walked arm in arm with people of color should be recognized for their deeds….but what about other people of power and prominance that are neither WHITE or BLACK that stood up for the bettering of all people? Please get this clown off the blogs as the representative for anything. I see him and think of one of the worst rap songs ever…..”White girls…don’t tell Minister Farrakhan”…totally ripped off a classic to record that DRIVEL and now he is what, a blogging civil rights activist?!?!?!?! You folks must be desperate for talent….you tapped the bottom of the barrel to get the froth on this one!
I so appreciate this article, not for the fact that it shows not all whites agree with the bs that so many put out there, but just for the facts. We are taught some of this in school but I had no idea that Einstein was so involved in what was and is right! I have passed this info on to my friends and I appreciate BP passing it on to me. Much love to you BP!!