Essentially, McWhorter and Loury assert that Black History Month has outlived its usefulness. McWhorter argues that in 2011 America is aware of black history. According to him, Black History Month is so 1945 or 1975.
Glenn Loury refers to Black History Month as passe, corny and anachronistic. Loury went on to complain about black people "clinging to the security blanket of public recognition." According to Loury, instead of "forcing" people to recognize black history, African Americans should "induce" whites to recognize black history.
Of course, many Americans have a basic understanding of the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Obviously, Black Month History is about much more than Dr. King, Rosa Parks and We Shall Overcome. Yes, many people know about black achievements in sports and entertainment.
However, contrary to McWhorter's assertions, America is not fully aware of Africans' contributions to the human civilization and American society. Many Americans do not know about our accomplishments in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering, philosophy, etc.
Without such historical knowledge, African Americans will not be able to break the "chains of psychological slavery", and whites, even so-called liberals, will continue to consciously or subconsciously believe in the myth of white supremacy.
365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, white history, white culture, white values are thrust upon us. You will never hear those black conservative scholars complaining about that. Yet, they have the audacity to complain about the shortest month in the year being devoted to black history. Without Black History Month, our accomplishments, in fact our very humanity, would be negated.
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