Black History Month nowadays puts more emphasis on celebrity and politics than it does on the importance of black families.<\/p>\n
In an interview on Newsmax TV\u2019s \u201cAmerican Agenda,\u201d Project 21<\/a><\/strong> member Melanie Collette<\/a><\/strong> told hosts Bob Sellers and Heather Childers that Black History Month isn\u2019t doing a service for black Americans when it puts inordinate focus on acts such as putting abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels like lip service to me,\u201d Melanie noted, adding:<\/p>\n The original purpose of Black History Month was so that notable, accomplished black Americans get mentioned in the education and curricula in schools. And it really wasn\u2019t\u2026 to parade our people of note\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n More importantly, she explained how the purpose of this observance should be to ultimately make it irrelevant altogether:<\/p>\n Black history is American history. And so Black History Month\u2019s purpose is to make sure that black history is really integrated into our educational system and that it is part of American history\u2026<\/p>\n That\u2019s something I\u2019m looking forward to \u2013 when black history is just American history. And notable black Americans\u2026 will just be mentioned as a matter of fact, as: this is what an American has done who just happens to be black.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In the meantime, there needs to be more emphasis on valuable lessons that actually support the black community rather than just create idols. That\u2019s why, when Sellers asked Melanie what she would like to have \u201cunderscored\u201d during black history celebrations, she said:<\/p>\n I feel that the black family \u2013 and the strengths of the black family, which was really notable post-slavery \u2013 is something that is really important, and is lost in this day and age\u2026 [in] our culture.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Melanie pointed out that promotion of strong family structure is facing an uphill battle right now, with left-wing political movements such as Black Lives Matter actively seeking to tear apart black families as part of their\u00a0Marxist<\/a><\/strong> agendas:<\/p>\n Organizations like BLM don\u2019t really co-sign the theory of the nuclear family<\/a><\/strong>, which is a darn shame. Because… the cohesiveness of the black family is very important to the strength of the African-American community.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Conversely, she had kind words for how the Trump Administration sought to promote financial literacy in the black community:<\/p>\n One of the things President Trump did a really good job doing\u2026 is making sure we got the word out and we were able to educate in\u2026 predominantly black neighborhoods.<\/p>\n And I thought it was a very good idea: teaching them how to invest in themselves and invest in their families. It\u2019s very important.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Despite her concerns about celebrating celebrity, Melanie did respond to the Newsmax hosts’ questions about actor Denzel Washington\u2019s recent comments supporting<\/a><\/strong> police officers. In Hollywood, open support for the police is controversial<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0An incredulous Sellers asked Melanie: \u201cWhy is it news that a black actor is supporting cops?\u201d<\/p>\n Noting that support for law enforcement officials \u201cmakes perfect sense,\u201d Melanie replied:<\/p>\n You would think that\u2026 any American would support our police officers that serve and protect us and put their lives on the line each and every day. But the fact that it\u2019s news \u2013 that it\u2019s some kind of shock\u2026 that someone of Denzel Washington\u2019s caliber would compliment the police officers \u2013 it\u2019s a shame that\u2019s news.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s Washington\u2019s superstar status, Melanie explained, that protects him from the political recriminations that might befall newer and less powerful entertainers:<\/p>\n Denzel Washington is at a point in his career where he is absolutely free to do that. Not everybody is free to make these kinds of comments in their career without getting serious backlash from the woke left.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n