Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 5 February 2004 — Page 2

Page 2 • The Muncie Times • February 5, 2004

EDITORIAL Black History Month is for all people It is February once Blacks were always history is not complete Americans, when it will no that we have a common again. That means it is time depicted as subhumans, when it does not include the longer be necessary to destiny. America is not the to pay homage to African people who did not exist totality of its components. celebrate the individual preserve of a particular or American history. It started independence but whose Some black wags have contributions of each special racial group, out modestly enough as achievements could be referred to American history group's component parts. Just as African Negro History Week, measured only in relationship as "his story," meaning that America is a melting pot, Americans have to learn Remember when we used to to the power and influence it was not the story of a product of people who European-American history, be called Negroes or of their Eurocentric America, but the story "his came here from countries it is important that all Coloreds? Now, there's counterparts. Negro History story" of those who wrote around the world. Some groups learn about each another history lesson. Week was the beginning of history books. African came to seek economic other and about the Negro History Week a restorative process meant American History Month is opportunity. Others to contributions that people started because of a to cement the idea that a conscientious effort to escape political oppression, from those groups made to realization that American blacks had a history of their ensure that American Still others fled religious this country. Other history was written from a own. history is neither persecution in their native Americans need to know Eurocentric perspective. Over the years, Negro Afrocentric nor Eurocentric, lands. Others were already that it was African This means those who wrote History Week was American history will living here when the Americans who invented the U. S. history books transformed into Black never be complete until it invasion began. Then there gas mask, the traffic light deliberately excluded the History Month and then into gives due credit to the are those, blacks, who were and how to preserve blood contributions of people of African American History contributions of African brought here involuntarily plasma and also made African descent. It was as if Month, after it became clear Americans, Native as slaves, to provide unpaid spectacular contributions to I black people did not exist that black history could not Americans, Hispanic labor or indentured service. other areas of science and before slavery. be covered in one week or Americans/Latinos, Asian Regardless of whether we medicine. Our students, of Slavery, probably the one month. It is clear to Americans and European got here by slave ship or via all races, need to know that most degrading and anybody with a working Americans, without regard the Mayflower, we now so they can appreciate each dehumanizing experience in brain that, despite all the to race, ethnicity or national share a common identity. It other and understand that human history, became the efforts to exclude it, black origin. That will be the day is that which binds us each group on earth has defining moment when history is intertwined with when American history will together. It means we now made contributions that writing about black people. American history. American truly be the history of all have a common background have made ours a better and a common history. It is world. That's what African POLICY important, therefore, that we American History Month is The Muncie Times accepts and However, the writer’s full libel. learn to accept each other, all about, publishes “Letters to the Editor” particulars must be included in ‘All correspondence should be j iave i earn accent under the following conditions: the letter along with the addressed to: The Editor, The •The letter must indicate the suggested psedonym. Muncie Times, 1304 N. writer’s name, address and •Letters must be brief, Broadway, Muncie, IN 47303. phone number where the writer preferably no more than 300 ‘Unsolicited manuscripts will KJ can be reached during the day. words long and should, if only be returned if the writer ■ Y Addresses and phone numbers possible, be typed and double- includes a self-addressed, •/ will not be published. spaced. Hand-written letters stamped envelope with correct •If the writer wishes the letter will also be accepted. \ package. to be published under a *The editor reserves the right to\ -Thank You- ■ pseudonym, that wish will be edit all letters for brevity. I honored. accuracy, taste, grammar and MUNCIE TIMES STAFF Publisher Bea Moten-Foster I F ... ThTT hk IJldvlv Editor John T. Lambkun Advertising Bea Moten-Foster Layout Patty King 1_J Typesetting .Maurice Taylor JL A kJf •/ VF A. J Contributors: T.S. Kumbula, Shante Scott, Geri Rosales, Rejoice Mogau, Maurice Taylor The Muncie Times is published twice monthly at 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, IN 47303. It covers the communities of Anderson, Marion, New Castle, Richmond, and Muncie. All editorial correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor, The Muncie Times, 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, IN 47303. Telephone (765) 741-0037. Fax (765) 741-0040.