What makes February black history month? I am really curious, I've never actually taken the time to try and find out.I was a history major in college and that's one area where students seem to be seriously lacking.

One of my daughter has come home every day all excited about what she learned that day. They are having extra stuff that gets the kids all excited and putting in extra effort. They need to know this stuff but why is the fact that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white person more important than say, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was probably one of the most brilliant minds this country has ever had and if you are REAL lucky, most children MIGHT be able to tell you he was a founding father. I find that offensive and racist.

Oh, that's right. He was a slave owner. He owned slaves but was a very outspoken critic of slavery. As a matter of fact the first draft of the Declaration of Independence held language blasting England for the importation of slaves in the colonies. It was dropped at the request of the delegates from South Carolina and Georgia.

The importation of new slaves into Virginia was stopped due to a bill Jefferson proposed in 1778 and the Northwest Ordinance that stipulates that new states admitted into the union could have slavery of any kind. Obviously none of this stopped or abolished slavery but it was certainly a step in the right direction.

It's not that I don't find black history important. Far from it. I just feel that the kids need to learn AMERICAN history with the same fervor and excitement. They need to learn all the stuff, good and bad. Does the fact that Jefferson own slaves make him less important than Rosa Parks? Far from it. If not for Jefferson and his freedom loving compatriots, who got to ride on the bus would be a moot and pointless discussion.