Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 11, 2017

By Samantha Kay Smith Special to The Independent

Feb. 1kicked off Black History Month.

March: National Womens History Month.

May: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month.

June: LGBTQ History Month.

September: National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month.

October: National Italian American Heritage Month.

November: National American Indian Heritage Month.

We have just started one of the most celebrated of our diversity themed heritage and history months with Black History Month. Most of our other months throughout the year are also dedicated to underrepresented portions of our history. These months are when we try to tell an entire peoples history in just 30 days.

We dont try to do this to any other history. We dont try to tell American history in one month. By only dedicating one month to all of these histories, we dont learn the complex and beautiful histories that make our nation.

Have you heard of Alice Paul? She helped lead the Womens Suffrage Movement and advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment to be added to the Constitution.

What about Edmonia Lewis? A famous African-American, American-Indian sculptor who attended Oberlin College in the 19th century.

Do you know who Mary and Joseph Tape are? Mary sued the local school principal for barring her Chinese-American daughter from attending. This was in 1885, almost 70 years before Brown v. Board of Education.

Do you know about Alan Turing? Did you know about him before you saw "The Imitation Game"? He was a British scientist who revolutionized computer technology during World War II. He was also imprisoned because he was gay.

Bayard Rustin? Emma Lazarus? Alex Haley? Madame C.J. Walker? Jonas Salk? Maria Tallchief? Carlos Juan Finlay? Phillips Wheatley? Cesar Chaves? Charlene Teters? Irving Berlin? Loreta Janeta Velazques?

How many of those names did you know? These are all men and women who influenced America and American culture. They all are men and women that would have only been recognized during their Enter-Identifier-Here History/Heritage Month. They are men, women, black, Jewish, American Indian, Asian Pacific, East Asian, Latino, and every other combination of identities. And they are all people who should be recognized in our National History.

Unfortunately, because these stories are almost never told, we have to have special diversity months.

At Spring Hill, we believe these people are American history. We should be teaching black history all year 'round. We believe in teaching womens history all year 'round. We believe in teaching Jewish American, American Indian, Asian Pacific American, LGBTQ, and every other history out there. We should be teaching a reflective history of the men and women who have made America and our world.

And we should be ensuring that every student of history can see themselves in our shared history.

Samantha Kay Smith is the director of Spring Hill Historic Home, and writes the blog, "Kendal's House on the Hill" published at IndeOnline.com. Read her blog on The Independent's website and reach her at 330-833-6749.

Read more here:
America's diverse history holds many untold stories - Massillon Independent

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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