Happy Black History Month!
Though black awesomeness should be a year-long celebration, we’ve (officially) got 28 days to cram all the amazing, magical, wonderful, brilliant, things black Americans have achieved and accomplished in this country. It should be a joyous time to celebrate, but unfortunately, the vice president just had to kick things off with some white savior ridiculousness.
Vice President Mike Pence took to his Twitter on Wednesday (Feb. 1) to acknowledge Black History Month. However, instead of honoring one of the pillars of black history like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks, he felt it in his heart to shout out a white man: 16th President Abraham Lincoln!
As #BlackHistoryMonth begins, we remember when Pres. Lincoln submitted the 13th Amendment, ending slavery, to the states #NationalFreedomDay
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) February 2, 2017
Pence conflated National Freedom Day, which celebrates Lincoln signing the 13th Amendment on Feb. 1 1865, which outlawed slavery, and Black History Month. However, he didn’t even get it that right. By only crediting Lincoln with ending slavery, Pence erased the efforts of those involved in the abolitionist movement.
Needless to say, Twitter called out Pence for choosing to honor a white man during Black History Month. #PenceBlackHistory and #WhiteBHM and other hashtags were created.
As #BHM begins, we remember Elvis Presley. His music brought Big Mama Thorton's song "Hound Dog" national recognition. #PenceBlackHistory
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 2, 2017
Without the white bus driver telling Rosa Parks to get up, she wouldn't have been able to refuse. #PenceBlackHistory
— Micah R. Bratton (@MBreezi) February 2, 2017
#PenceBlackHistory Let us remember sir Paul McCartney for introducing us to successful black artists like this one! pic.twitter.com/m9lFlLsyIp
— Banji ?? (@thebanjimens) February 2, 2017
Black History Month: Let's remember @JoeBiden, first Vice President to a Black President. #PenceBlackHistory
— Jeremy Bandini (@netexplosure) February 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/WJ_Simmons/status/826987531493314560
can't wait for women's history month when Pence & Tr*mp thank the brave dudes who let us have a month outside the kitchen
— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) February 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/JoelJGibbs/status/827134630050529281
Maybe remember when ACTUAL BLACK PEOPLE did stuff? Besides Ben Carson + Omarosa of course. And um, about the 13th amendment… oh nevermind. https://t.co/dIPV6YAeS4
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/g_dynamo/status/827218223670116352
If white people never enslaved you and took your civil rights, then you would have never had MLK and Malcolm X #PenceBlackHistory pic.twitter.com/kZMQDimIU8
— just some guy (@b_eternal757) February 2, 2017
Remembering Teddy Roosevelt today for that one time he had dinner with Booker T. Washington. #PenceBlackHistory
— Frederick Douglass (@FredrckDouglass) February 2, 2017
For #BlackHistoryMonth let's all recognize Melania Trump for her performance of Michelle Obama's speech #PenceBlackHistory
— Èire Julita (@derptyderp) February 2, 2017
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and White House press secretary Sean Spicer seemingly have no clue who Frederick Douglas was, his contributions to American history, or that he’s been dead for 122 years.
“Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who has done an amazing job that is being recognized more and more, I noticed,” Trump stated during a Black History Month breakfast with black leaders and a few of his blacks black supporters.
WATCH: Speaking on Black History Month, Pres. Trump praises MLK, Frederick Douglass, Ben Carson, Omarosa and others; bemoans media coverage. pic.twitter.com/imOmC85Sbk
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) February 1, 2017
Spicer attempted – but failed – to explain Trump’s statement later that day after a reporter asked for clarification of what Trump was trying to say.
“Well I think there was contributions. I think he wants to highlight the contributions that he has made and I think that through a lot of the actions and statements that he is going to make, I think that the contributions of Frederick Douglass will become more and more.”
Yeah, all this was just day one. This is going to be a very interesting Black History Month with Donald Trump as POTUS and Mike Pence as VPOTUS. These white men clearly have no clue what’s going on.
