Black History

So Black History Month is coming, and I always get excited about the BIG BHM. I'll never forget, the year Janet Jackson ripped her breast out at the Superbowl, my homeboy Creamy sent me a text message saying: "this is going to be the worst Black History Month ever." And you know what? It was. I mean aside from Janet there was an uprising in Haiti which led to Aristide resigning and THEN Barbershop 2 came out. It was a bad month.

Fast forward to the present day, and on somebody's blog yesterday, I read the following comment: "Four African Americans could potentially win Oscars, two Black Coaches in the Superbowl, and Obama is running for President. It's going to be a historic year."

So I'm thinking, have our standards for Black History changed? So, in examining that question, I decided to give you an idea of exactly what IS and what IS NOT Black History.

Hattie McDaniel is the first black to take an Oscar Home, and Sidney Potier is the first to win one in a leading role
BLACK HISTORY

Every time a blakc person gets nominated for an Osacr
NOT BLACK HISTORY

The nation elects the first Black President
BLACK HISTORY

A black man runs for President
NOT BLACK HISTORY

A black man invents the gas mask and the traffic light
BLACK HISTORY

A black man invents beats on a drum machine
NOT BLACK HISTORY

A black man is released from prison after 25 years, when DNA evidence proves his innocence
BLACK HISTORY

A black man gets off for a crime he probably committed
NOT BLACK HISTORY

The first black person to receive a degree from a major institution
BLACK HISTORY

Your cousin gets a degree from FAMU
NOT BLACK HISTORY

The first black person to host a TV show
BLACK HISTORY

The first black person to guest star on Everybody Loves Raymond
NOT BLACK HISTORY

You get the picture. Everything isn't Black History people. Calm down.