But it’s Black History Month!!

This February might be the worst Black History Month since the first February of slavery.  Yes, I said it.  I’m not referring to the usual “are you kidding me” moments, such as finding out there’s another sequel to Big Momma’s House.  That’s tragic (maybe I’m alone on that, since, well, there IS a sequel), but it doesn’t make or break a Black History Month.  But, let’s add that to the Pepsi Max Angry-Black-Woman-Chucks-Soda-Can-at-White-Woman Superbowl commercial.  And, for some celebrity flavor, let’s have Halle Berry cause a firestorm with “my baby is Black” (you’d think this one would be a good thing, but somehow it’s become a “how DARE you” affair). Of course, on my job, I had to run into photos of Black people holding moonpies next to monkeys and bananas.   And how could we miss Beyonce in blackface? But, again, these are all trivial and, at the most, raise an eyebrow or two (except for the Beyonce in blackface ordeal, that garners a *head cocked to the side*). But what if we add, I don’t know, a three-story billboard stating The Most Dangerous Place for an African-American is the Womb (see photo above), would that do the trick? And, for good measure, let’s place the ad in the middle of Watts.

The billboard is a pro-life add from a Black pastor.  Doesn’t make it any better in my opinion, but adds some context.  Nonetheless, whether or not you’re pro-life, the poster is questionable.   Supporters of the campaign use statistics to defend the poster’s existence, which is all well and good, except I could also use statistics to make a billboard on the freeway saying:

“Black women, good luck getting married!” or

“Please Try Your HARDEST To Not Be Black or Latino… Our Jails Are Too Full.” 

Or, to give the pro-choice argument, I could say:

“Want Lower Crime Rates? Abort Black Babies.” That last one was an actual suggestion from former Secretary of Education William Bennet.

The point is, relying on statistics alone to get your point across puts you on shaky ground, and doesn’t do much to address solutions.  That same money could’ve been spent on sex ed programs in schools, or free condom programs, or funding free clinics.  Right now, the poster is just confusing, and is the latest and most egregious in events that make me say “oh come ON! It’s Black History Month!!” 

Maybe I’m just being sensitive.  After all, many of these examples, when taken alone, are just that, isolated events taken out of context.  But… it’s February! If we aren’t concerned about how Black people are portrayed during Black History Month, then why even try to promote it as a month where we’re supposed to learn positive things about Black people?  At this rate, the CW might as well unveil the Don Imus Reality Show, or Tyler Perry come out with Why Did I Get Married 3, or, hell, MC Hammer might as well come out with another KFC commercial. 
 

 At this rate, those hypotheticals actually don’t seem so bad.

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