I founded iLumn8.Life out of my passion for learning. Over the years it has been clear to me, that passion and commitment, comes with some challenging choices and I often find myself wading into topics and asking questions that don't make everyone comfortable, mostly especially myself. However I have found the most profound and impactful learning I have done is in exactly those times I am willing to ask the uncomfortable questions and listen to the answers with a open mind and heart.

So with that in mind I ask my friend and long time Goddess Living community member Donalda if she would tell us why Black History Month matters from the perspective of a black woman in America. This was risky only because I know the question is really mine as the learner (and a white woman) to ask of myself. I will share a article with my answer next week. This week and, on this last day of Black History month, I wanted to share Donalda's VERY generous answer to my question of her.

~ Anne Peterson, Founder iLumn8.Life

The Requisite Black History Month Article: 

Why Observing BHM Should Matter to Non-Black Americans

by Rev. Donalda A. McCarthy, Author of the WFH Anti-Racist Action Guide (available on Amazon)

Cue the predictable “but what about Morgan Freeman?” argument, so often overused by privileged, straight, Protestant, able-bodied White males to justify their stance. And yet, when pressed to cite one, just one, other Black celebrity who shares Freeman’s view, they often fall silent. Still, some dig in, insisting that “we are just one human race.” In response, I ask if Hispanic Heritage Month has a singular spokesperson opposing its observance. More often than not, they don’t even know the specialty month exists. Driving the point home, I then ask them to name the month that honors Native American heritage. 

The conversation usually ends there—at least with me. I doubt I’ve changed their minds because, in my work with anti-racism healing circles, it’s become evident that real change happens within one’s racial or cultural tribe. This is well-documented in elections and explored in books like Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? The Netflix series Orange is the New Black also unflinchingly portrays racial tribalism. The truth is, the United States codified race into its culture by adapting Old English laws to fit Jamestown Colony’s land ownership rules, thereby establishing a caste system. We continue to live with this legacy, reinforced by race-based laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act and post-GI Bill home-ownership loans neighborhood redlining.

Instead of sharing my own perspective, I posed a challenge to my friend: let me ask White people why they think Black History Month should be observed. I have access to a broad alumni network dominated by White North Americans and sympathetic Western Europeans, and I will include some of their voices at the conclusion of this piece.

The overwhelming theme from these respondents was that they didn’t receive enough Black history education in their K-12 schooling. And they’re right. Here’s why…

As a U.S. History teacher covering European Exploration through Reconstruction, I have witnessed firsthand the limitations of history education in public schools. I’ve gone through two textbook adoptions in Florida, where districts have teachers peruse then vote to select the next textbook for the next five years from three publisher-approved versions. The version of history taught varies by state—Florida and Texas, for example, have mandates to refer to enslaved people as “servants.” I’d be curious to see how Utah, North Dakota, and Arizona present history.

In my current textbook, only three Black people appear in image form within the first 312 pages. The first image is of fragmented, faceless Africans, naked and huddled on a ship’s deck. There is one sentence—just one—about Africans being kidnapped from various parts of the massive continent. Another single sentence mentions two African societies, the Mali Empire and the Kingdom of Kongo, merely to explain non-chattel slavery systems. Phyllis Wheatley and Crispus Attucks receive brief mentions, but for the next 188 pages, there are no Black faces or names until Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass appear—on the same two pages. Black Americans are mostly referenced in charts and graphs, not humanized in the narrative.

Further, many people without children, or with children under 25, don’t realize how much social studies education has been lessened in favor of keyboarding and technology classes. In elementary schools, Social Studies is often “taught” through reading comprehension exercises. For example, a worksheet about adverbs may use a mini-biography of Martin Luther King Jr., but the focus remains on grammar, not how to study history.

By the time students graduate high school, they will have completed two years of World History (all of it), two years of U.S. History, two years of Civics, and a semester or year each of Economics and American Government. Since social studies is a Humanities subject, these classes are often interrupted for school-wide events like Picture Day or course selection. Within the 180 hours allotted to cover 263 years of U.S. History, the lives and contributions of Black Americans are often left on the cutting room floor. And as we can no longer assign reading ahead or homework, we don’t even cover the entire textbook anymore.

Adding to this gap, the textbook takes the responsibility to define 'racism' but does not provide an in-depth exploration of how America's race-based caste system was established. The system was constructed through manipulated eugenics, codifying racial hierarchies that persist in modern society. So, while the textbook clarifies that 'race' is a social construct, it is significant that 'racism' is explicitly defined. This acknowledgment supports anti-racism work by recognizing racism as a structured system rather than an inherent human condition.

Observing Black History Month helps fill these gaps in the American historical narrative. It allows public spaces to highlight history beyond the standard curriculum, much like the post-Christmas shift into Irish heritage celebrations in March. Schools, which update their hallway displays every month to foster whole-child learning, make space for new historical insights. City festivals and restaurant menus expand to honor Black culture similar to the festive-though-historically-inaccurate Cinco de Mayo does. And, of course, social media feeds transform into informal classrooms. This year, even formal social media spaces have erupted! Get onboard the #HillmanTok trend while you’re still able.

Ultimately, my perspective is that recognizing Black History Month—and every other non-Anglo-Saxon, able-bodied, Christian, cis-hetero-centered cultural celebration—is essential for keeping the Great American Stew (not a melting pot) simmering heartily.

And since, as I mentioned earlier, real change often happens within one’s own racial or cultural tribe, I want to close out Black History Month as well as  this article with the voices of White North Americans who are actively doing the work towards anti-racism. Their perspectives highlight why Black History Month matters—not just for Black people, but for everyone seeking a fuller, more honest understanding of our shared history.

Jed Davis From North Carolina
Because Black History is American History.

Lesann Monahan From Massachusetts
Because our history is so sad and whatever we can do to build one another up will help with the healing.
I believe all lives matter and I have met so many different ethnicities and people from different countries & backgrounds while I was a nurse. You really get to know people when you’re thrown together like that and it breaks a lot of barriers down that may have been there.

Elaine Moss From Miami
Because our history books were written by the oppressors which limited [the] positive influence of people they wanted to marginalize. Because the atrocities committed by our country toward Black people need to be witnessed. I learn something new all the time and shake my head at my "good" education.

Peggy Wagner From New York
Because I get to learn some of the history that school didn't teach me!

Denise Leach From Texas
America is made up of many ethnicities and cultures. Black History along with Indigenous People are a major part of the history of this country. These cultures’, along with others, stories have not been told correctly. The important contributions of Black Americans need to be told and celebrated!!

Marianne Murphy from New Mexico
Representation matters. Sadly so many accomplishments from Black people were attributed to white people falsely. The American culture for me is a melting pot of all cultures and I enjoy learning and celebrating all of it. Black History is an opportunity to celebrate a rich culture that includes many accomplishments in the arts, science, business, politics, activism, food, music, military service, and more.

Lyndsey Sugar From Maryland
Black history is American history. We need to understand where we came from, and how, in order to prevent future mistakes. It helps us understand human nature and perseverance. It helps lay out how different we are when some choose to persecute and some choose to stand up for others. But it also helps us understand how similar we are. We can see how people respond to challenges, and change their path. There’s so much more!

Mona Carrandi Bowe from Mexico & Indiana
I immigrated from a different country where this was not taught, for obvious reasons. Not that our own history of underrepresented groups was [taught] back at home. What is that saying”, since history is always written by the victor, the hunter will always win over the prey”? As a citizen of this country, it is important for me to understand all of our history, not just what is generally taught. Native American, Asian, LGBTQ+ history, just to name a few... I feel we should never stop learning.

Bill Bennett from Louisiana
Every year, I learn about people who shaped my state, my nation, and my world. They are people who didn’t appear in the history books when I was in school, but they made profound contributions to society. It is my hope that these people will be added to our history books, and one day Black History Month won’t be needed. Until then…

Laura Siegfried Toshie from Florida
Yes! Black (brown, Latin, Asian, women’s) history IS American history - warts & all. We need to learn, appreciate & vow to do better when we know better.

Kitty Hodges Lutness From Ohio
Black American history is American history, so it should be all year. But I do learn something new every February.

Sheri Ensey Schrier From New Mexico
History lessons have not always taught us about contributions from anyone other than a white male perspective. It’s important for all of us to understand our full history l. Too often what we have been taught is not the full story. This can give people an inaccurate picture and it’s critical we learn about all cultures.

Jenna Haas Sparks From Ohio
It’s American History

Carol King From Texas
It’s my history, too.