Be proud every day, not just in February

Brown v. Board of Education, 1954, resulted in integrated schools. The Civil Rights Act passed in 1964. Affirmative action took hold in 1965.

Notice anything?

All legislation for equality is more than 40 years old. During the 40 years since an executive order was necessary to enforce equality, America has made tremendous strides in making success and advancement in society available to all.

Our fellow Americans DO judge us based on the content of our character. The same educational training and employment opportunity IS afforded to all. The American dream is alive and well. We want equality, yet we continue to lend credence to organizations and celebrations that drive the wedge deeper.

With Barack Obama sitting in the White House, I find it difficult to see the relevance in organizations and celebrations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, United Negro College Fund and Black History Month.

President Lyndon B. Johnson gave a speech to the 1965 graduating class at Howard University.

“You do not wipe away the scars of centuries by saying: ‘Now, you are free to go where you want, do as you desire, and choose the leaders you please.’

You do not take a man who for years has been hobbled by chains, liberate him, bring him to the starting line of the race, saying, ‘You are free to compete with all the others,’ and still justly believe you have been completely fair …

We seek not just freedom but opportunity—not just legal equity but human ability—not just equality as a right and a theory, but equality as a fact and as a result.”

I believe President Johnson would agree he could not justify the same speech today. For today, his words no longer resemble the face of our nation.

I propose we make use of our equality in a manner that directly reflects not where we have been but where we are now.

Yes, we should be proud.

Yes, we should educate ourselves and our children about the black men and women who broke the mold and outlived every stereotypical prediction thrown their way.

However, wouldn’t it serve us better to maintain that pride and curiosity every day of every month—not just in the 28 days set aside each year.

Let us do away with the institutions that increase the distance between races.

Let us deny these institutions reasons to inject their idiotic notions into our lives: notions that have been dormant for almost 40 years, notions that no longer bare any resemblance to the life our ancestors have afforded us.