What Black History Is About

Black History Month can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Some would say it is because of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. and others would say because of the Civil Rights Movement. Most people only celebrate Black History Month in February but Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies Maurice J. Hobson said that he celebrates it year round.

Dr. Hobson is not only a African American Studies professor, he is also apart a historically African American Fraternity. When asked what Black History Month Means to him, Dr. Hobson takes a deep breath:

"It is a very serious attempt for the United States to reconcile and acknowledge the existence of African Americans."

Dr. Hobson elaborates, "And so now the movement, particularly for African American history, is to kinda really talk about aspects of culture and resistance and spirituality and religion and everyday life. I do acknowledge Black History Month but I celebrate Black history everyday of the year."

Being that Dr. Hobson is African American himself and that he attended college and played football for Alabama, one would automatically assume that he went through his share of racial opposition and or discrimination. On the contrary Dr. Hobson said that it wasn't until he spent time in the North that he actually experienced racial problems.

"When I moved to Champagne, Illinois is when race became very prevalent to me. Most of my really racist experiences have been felt outside the South and I guess that's because my comfort zone is in the South."

Dr. Hobson told of some racial opposition he has experienced here at the University as well.

"As a professor here at the University of Mississippi you would be amazed at the emails I get from random people who ask me particular questions about African American studies or say they don't understand why it even needs to be acknowledged. There have been many times when I'm walking through campus with a shirt and tie and a woman would clutch her bag."

Dr. Hobson said that even in his neighborhood people won't speak to him because he is the only African American in the neighborhood. Although there are some negatives, Dr. Hobson sees a lot of change university wise as well.

" There is movement here. This university is not the same university it was 20 years ago, let alone 30 years ago."

For last remarks, Hobson had one last thing to say.

"The study of African Americans is not a course for African Americans, it's a course about African Americans."