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Black activist Jesse Lee Peterson has announced his opposition to Black History Month, saying such an observance is outdated and diverts attention and resources from combating real problems in the African-American community.
"According to the latest study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, blacks now make up more than half of the new AIDS virus infections," Peterson, the founder of Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, or BOND, said in a statement. "Yet, civil-rights organizations like the NAACP are focused on celebrating black history while ignoring black misery. To spend an entire month promoting the idea of black history is foolish."
Traditionally commemorated in February each year and begun in 1926, Black History Month is observed not only by civil-rights groups but also organizations like Focus on the Family.
The newly released CDC study Peterson referenced shows that of 156,000 new cases of HIV infection between 2001 and 2004, in 33 states, 51 percent were in blacks even though blacks made up just 13 percent of the population in those states.
"Unless we as blacks begin to face the grim realities of immorality, AIDS, crime and a host of other problems facing our communities, we won't have a future or a history to talk about," Peterson said.
The activist also says Black History Month is divisive.
"Black history is American history and needs to be treated as such," Peterson stated. "The idea of a separate month for black history in this day and age is divisive and unnecessary."
Actor Morgan Freeman slammed Black History Month on CBS' "60 Minutes" recently.
"You're going to relegate my history to a month?" he asked host Mike Wallace. "I don't want a Black History Month. Black history is American history."
Peterson, sometimes referred to as "the other Jesse," is often at odds with the black establishment in the United States, having hosted the annual Day of Repudiation of Jesse Jackson for several years.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48719
"According to the latest study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, blacks now make up more than half of the new AIDS virus infections," Peterson, the founder of Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, or BOND, said in a statement. "Yet, civil-rights organizations like the NAACP are focused on celebrating black history while ignoring black misery. To spend an entire month promoting the idea of black history is foolish."
Traditionally commemorated in February each year and begun in 1926, Black History Month is observed not only by civil-rights groups but also organizations like Focus on the Family.
The newly released CDC study Peterson referenced shows that of 156,000 new cases of HIV infection between 2001 and 2004, in 33 states, 51 percent were in blacks even though blacks made up just 13 percent of the population in those states.
"Unless we as blacks begin to face the grim realities of immorality, AIDS, crime and a host of other problems facing our communities, we won't have a future or a history to talk about," Peterson said.
The activist also says Black History Month is divisive.
"Black history is American history and needs to be treated as such," Peterson stated. "The idea of a separate month for black history in this day and age is divisive and unnecessary."
Actor Morgan Freeman slammed Black History Month on CBS' "60 Minutes" recently.
"You're going to relegate my history to a month?" he asked host Mike Wallace. "I don't want a Black History Month. Black history is American history."
Peterson, sometimes referred to as "the other Jesse," is often at odds with the black establishment in the United States, having hosted the annual Day of Repudiation of Jesse Jackson for several years.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48719
