You should know something about me. There is a ton of stuff that I know absolutely nothing about.
I can't tell you why the world needs calculus or what ASU's Center for Solid State Electronics Research does.
I've never been able to explain why Michael Jackson doesn't seem to have more friends his own age, and I can't understand why professors acknowledge that students are adults but still insist on taking attendance.
I do know one thing. February is African American History Month. I've also seen February referred to as Black History Month. So I guess it seems I don't know the one thing I thought I knew.
Even though I try not to be, I'm ignorant.
I would like to think that my ignorance is harmless. I'd like to believe that I'm generally informed, aware, and nice. I've realized that it's not good enough.
Do you know who Dr. Carter G. Woodson is? I didn't before I started writing this article.
He was the second African American to earn a Ph.D. in History from Harvard. He spent his life researching and accurately recounting the history of those whose voices had been silent.
Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. He also published the Journal of Negro History.
In 1926 he chose the second week in February as Negro History Week because February 12 is Abraham Lincoln's birthday and February 14 is the birthday of Fredrick Douglass.
You may have known all of this.
I didn't. And there's something else I didn't know.
Dr. Woodson believed that once all people were accurately and evenly represented in historical accounts, there would be no need for a specific month dedicated to one particular group of people. But sadly, at the time he died in 1960, the month he designated in 1926 still needed to be celebrated.
I wish I could have met Dr. Woodson.
He seemed to understand that ignorance can be the breeding ground for fear and inequality.
Being someone who, on several levels, is not interested in perpetuating inequality or fear, I needed to do something to replace my ignorance with information.
I had a conversation with a professor on campus. His name is Dr. Neal Lester, and he's a professor of English. I primarily know of this professor though a series of e-mail exchanges between a group of people who were discussing the subject of cultural sensitivity.
The e-mail discussions got me thinking about the concept of "getting it." Have you ever heard someone say, "You just don't get it?"
I have. I e-mailed Dr. Lester. The subject heading read, "Help me get it."
The conversation we had wasn't long, but it was very important. So important that I'm writing about it now. Maybe I can help someone else who is trying to "get it."
I asked Dr. Lester how people could become more aware of their ignorance.
His response went beyond reading texts on diversity issues or taking classes that deal with race, gender, sexuality or religion.
He gave me an example from his life. He said that he tries to get to know people who think or act different than him. Once he begins to know people who aren't like him, he has a better understanding of differences and similarities.
What Dr. Lester said resonated with my experience. I, too, have learned through interacting with people who are different from me.
Those interactions not only help me understand why particular people view life the way they do, they also help me understand larger societal issues.
I left the conversation with Dr. Lester and started having other conversations with other people.
In order to address my own ignorance, I need first to admit that I'm more comfortable around people who are like me. I then need to know and believe that getting out of my comfort zone is completely in my control.
I'm responsible for my own ignorance. I'm also responsible for my ability to be informed.
Maybe if others join me, one day we will experience the type of complete history that Dr. Woodson envisioned, while celebrating culture year round.
Rosie McSweeney is social work graduate student. Reach her at rosie.m@asu.edu.
