Black history month celebrates discrimination

A couple black history months ago, the company my father works at had a special way to celebrate the black people in their company. On a Friday, everyone of African descent was supposed to wear something brown so others in the company could appreciate them for being black. When word got around to my father, he asked his boss, "So, can I just come in naked?"

Instead of being fired for his mockery of black history month, he was given a promotion because of his sage wisdom and his ability to make people feel stupid and immediately regret their awkward proclamations.

You see, my father knows a big secret about black history month. It is not designed to celebrate black history. It is designed to make white people feel good.

I'm serious. Black history month, to me, has become perhaps the silliest and most irritating month of the year. While there is good that comes out of it (some good service opportunities, programs at the Hale Center, good A&E documentaries, etc.), mostly it's companies and schools patronizing their students and employees by turning black history month into a strange "black appreciation" thing.

In high school, we had to watch movies about slavery and the accomplishments of black people (usually it was "Amistad," "Remember the Titans" or "Roots"). My school would brag about its commitment to diversity while ignoring the fact that people thought it was funny to use the N-word as often as possible. My fellow students would ask me really stupid questions after the movies and programs, like if it made me angry or if I hated them for being white. Suddenly they would be interested in my opinion on "black" topics.

First of all, there were 4.5 black people in my high school, and one Arab person, so let's not pretend we were celebrating being a diverse community. Secondly, because we watched the same movies every year, I was probably sleeping, so I was not at all angered by misdeeds that occurred many years ago. Lastly, why is my opinion suddenly important in February? Even more important, does patronizing me on black history month cancel out the fact that racism is still very real and very prevalent in society (and in private high schools)? I think not.

College is not much better. I'm still asked to comment on the thoughts of all black people in the universe, because we all have the same opinions on everything. My friends also have decided that black is cool, resulting in conversations filled with statements such as, "Hey Everdeen, I think I'm going to date a black man next." (Thanks for telling me?) Or, "I want to make out with a hot black man." Why would you say these things?

My dear friends, as excited as I am that you are sexually attracted to black people, possibly more so in February, I do not care. Secondly, who cares that he is black? Stop mentioning it.

There are some built-in advantages of this most fabulous of months, however. Sometimes we have to make the best out of these things.

Black history month in 2008 was perhaps the best of my life. After being appreciated for the entire month of February, I had planned to make the final weekend as memorable as possible. First, I met a beautiful man on the street also looking to be appreciated.

"It's black history month," he said with a smirk. "Let's celebrate." Which of course I did, much to the dismay of my best friend. Later that weekend, a cute boy, confused by the true meaning of black history month, asked me if I felt different. I of course said no.

"Well, are people, like, nicer to you?"

Perhaps, because shortly after asking me this stupid question, he asked me out.

But seriously, I never answered that question. I have not decided yet if my heritage is being celebrated, or if I am just being patronized. Either way, I don't want to be treated a special way because of my skin color. I don't want to be special for one month. I just want people to appreciate the whole package, regardless of the calendar.