There Is Definitely A Need For A Black History Month

The African-American actor Morgan Freeman is quoted in The Guardian (April 18, 2023) as telling a British publication that he considers Black History Month to be an "insult."

"You're going to relegate my history to a month?" Then he goes on to say "Black history is American history; they're completely intertwined." Freeman should be reminded that Black History Month (originally created by the historian Carter G. Woodson as Black History Week to be celebrated every February) came about because black accomplishments were excluded from American history and thought not to be important enough to be studied. Plus, it should be noted, black history is not limited to the United States. There are black people all over the world.

If blacks had been included in the study of American and world history in the first place, there would be no need for a Black History Week or Month. And with efforts by Governor Ron DeSantis to whitewash American history and dictate how it should be taught in Florida institutions of learning, black history is needed now more than ever.

As far as Freeman's objection to the term "African-American" is concerned, my answer to that is, yes, we know Africa is a continent, not a country. But since few, if any, blacks in the United States can point to a specific area of Africa as an ancestral home, we can claim the entire continent because we know it is where our forebears originated.

Are STEM Students Free To Launch Rockets?

The movie, October Sky, released in 1999 and based on Homer Hickam's memoir, Rocket Boys, is a riveting celebration of American know-how and determination.

It's set in a small West Virginia coal-mining town in 1957 when the Soviet satellite Sputnik is launched spearheading the Soviet/American space race.

Hickam, who later became a space engineer, at the time was a high school student, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, with dreams of designing rocket ships. His father, who works in the mines, vehemently disapproves and wants him instead to follow in his footsteps. But Hickam continues to pursue his dreams.

Young Hickam, along with his school buddies, and with the full  support of his science teacher, enters a student science competition and begins test firing rockets, many of which either fail to launch or blow up without ever leaving the ground. In the end, they achieve a successful launch.

After I watched this movie (which was a few years ago on either a VHS cassette or a DVD), I concluded that the kids today who are in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs in high schools would not be able to enjoy the same freedom to experiment with rockets as Hickam was. And  their efforts, because of national security concerns, would be stymied by government interference and/or accusations of terrorist activity.

Target Is NOT The Ideal Book Venue

I've bought several books (at a significant discount) at Target, a major retail chain. But, truth be told, Target, despite the discounts, is far from being the most ideal place to buy books.

First of all, the store tends to sell the ones on the bestseller list. And once they are off the list, good luck ever seeing them on sale again. Secondly, if I was looking for a specific title by, say, James Baldwin or Ernest Hemingway, I would be completely out of luck buying it there.

For hardcore book lovers like me, Target will never be a substitute for an independent bookstore where thousands of books are available for hours of browsing. Thirdly, there are no staffers who can recommend books or to ask about books or authors. (I've never seen a sign indicating that a particular book is a "Staff Pick.")

Paying full price for a book at an indie when I have to is no deterrent to going to one of them because they are sure to have the book I want, when I want it. And if they don't have it, they can order it. I don't think that's even a possibility at a Target store.

Plus, used books can be bought for a reasonable price at many independent bookstores like Book Culture and the Strand here in New York. That's another reason to spend money at an independent bookstore.