I low-key feel Black History Month should be re-named African-American History Month or Black American History Month because too many Americans of all colors, including black, seem to think this is a celebration of race when it is a celebration of CULTURE. African American culture. Every year some good and grown white American, who should know better, asks me or says around me ‘Why is there no white history month?!’ I also teach in an inner-city school system that is predominantly black & latino in student body, but there are still white kids here, and every year a few of my white students ask me why there is no white history month also. I don’t mind the question coming from a child or teen and always answer them nicely, but grown folks really should know better.

But ok, in case you really don’t know, here is your answer:

There ARE celebrations of white culture throughout the year! Celebrations on where you came from, and celebrations to your identity as white Americans. Perhaps there isn’t just a single month because you all decided celebrating yourselves couldn’t fit in one month. I’m born and raised in Ohio, and every single weekend there is not snow on the ground (and sometimes even then) there is a white people cultural parade or festival or event happening somewhere in this state. Just 2 minutes on google looking for stuff happening in 2026 (and I looked for just festivals! this does not include any parades or other events) I found a couple Greek American festivals happening in June, Irish American festivals happening in June and July, Scottish American festivals in June, Russian American festivals in February, Slavic American festival in June, several Norwegian American festivals in April and June, French American festivals in August, several Italian American festivals throughout the year but most in July and August, and several German American festivals in August, September, and October. Oh you thought it was just Oktoberfest? Nah, these Ohio German Americans need 3 months minimum to celebrate their heritage lol.

Now you know, deal with that

So, knowing this, if you are white you can just let go any bitterness or anger you feel about Black History Month and/or Juneteenth. Your fellow Americans who are black just have these two. And if you are black, you can let go of that tighness in your chest you might feel when your white co-worker or whoever snidely asks why there is not white history month or acts like black history month is ‘reverse racism’. Just smile and remind them of alllllllll the white people cultural celebrations, parades, and festivals there are throughout the year, and ask them why they begrudge African Americans in particular from doing what any and everybody white American is doing. HUMPH