There is an epidemic that is plaguing all cultures and ethnicities. One that disrespects the values of these cultures, and effectively ignores the importance of celebrating them. This plague is apathy, a lack of interest and enthusiasm, specifically towards understanding the histories and all of the contributions of various ethnic groups.
To combat this issue, history months were implemented to focus on one culture at a time, whether that be Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage month, Women’s History Month, or Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. These months are meant to serve as a reminder of the diversity in different aspects of our lives, like school, work, and activities. In theory, focusing on one culture at a time should effectively to build affinity and cultural awareness, yet, not much has changed when it comes to cultural engagement.
Shucayb Harir ‘26, a member of the Student Diversity Leadership Club (SDLC) and leader of SHADES, says “I feel that we aren’t doing enough for affinity groups,” and he continues by stating “I hear more jokes about history month than I see action.” Harir details his own experience as a student leader of multiple affinity groups, expressing his frustration with the lack of any real participation when it comes to celebrating these months. By reducing history months to just a symbol of our heritage rather than a way to physically celebrate different cultures and actually engage in conversations, the true purpose of history months is lost.
When asked how we can encourage more participation for history months, Esther Lee ‘27, a leader for women in business and member of SDLC, says we should “Make it more interactive, so everyone can see the perspectives of different cultures, [and] having hands-on activities in schools and classes.” Reflecting on her own experiences, Lee details what she believes is the proper way to encourage participation in history months.
By making an environment where a diverse group of people are able to enjoy learning and celebrating cultures, people will be more likely to participate if it’s a fun activity rather than a nice gesture. To change how we view history months, and acknowledge a wide variety of cultures, we must create an environment different from what we have right now that encourages participation, rather than baseless symbolism.
