How well do you know Black history?

De’Arbreya Lee
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer

After looking at a video entitled “This Is So Disturbing And Ignorant: What BYU Students Know About Black People!” posted on the World Star Hip-Hop website, the feeling of being “disturbed” was just a mild emotion that came over me.

To sum up the video, a Caucasian male poorly disguised as an African-American male walked through the campus of Brigham Young University asking several students questions pertaining to their knowledge of Black History Month.

I understood that the university, whose demographics consist of 14 percent minorities, according to a 2012 report, was clearly not an HBCU and would lack in some way the cultural historical richness that an HBCU provides, but I thought that students at an institution of higher learning, regardless of race, would know a little something about Black History? After watching the video, those thoughts diminished.

The disguised black male began with the question: What is Black History Month? One response after another yielded a lack of knowledge of this month long celebration. The next question, “When is Black History Month?” yielded no correct responses either.

Of course, many were able to name such profound leaders as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.  That’s great, but what about people such as Vivien Thomas who heavily assisted in the first successful “blue baby” heart operation in 1944?

Of the two African-Americans whose interviews were displayed in the video, both students were unable to give correct responses to the questions asked and no one took notice that the interviewer was in costume the entire time.

Another student responded nonchalantly saying “You know what, I think that I forgot.” Another student said that he celebrates Black History Month by watching all of the commercials geared towards commemorating the monthly celebration. Is this what our history has been reduced to by others?

I’m certain that these students do not represent  the majority but it disturbed me to think that even one individual would think so nonchalantly about the history of a people, my people.

The video posed a greater question for me and one that I pose for all students: If you were stopped at random and asked about Black history, would you be able to give a strong response? Would you be a living testimony of the impact that African-Americans have made in American society?

African-Americans come from a rich history and have not only overcome slavery but have a lineage of kings and queens that dates back to the shores of Africa.

My hope for all is that we do not wait to celebrate the richness of Black history, but that we make it a daily practice to celebrate it continuously.

The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represent the views of The Blue & White Flash.