Charles commissioner seeks to rename Black History Month

Commissioner Ralph E. Patterson II (D) is seeking to rename Black History Month — a recognition that was passed by Congress in 1986.

“The reason is, looking back at all the wonderful months we have where they celebrate all different heritages, February is the only month that has “history” in the name,” Patterson said at the June 25 meeting of the commissioners.

He seeks to rename the month to “African American Heritage Month,” at least locally.

“Black History Month never got the same recognition that the other months have received,” Patterson said. “We have Asian American, Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Arab American Heritage Month, so on and so forth.”

He sees it as an opportunity for Charles County to be a leader and deviate from what everybody else does.

“I’ll be blunt, Black is a color, there’s no other color used in any other of the heritage months,” Patterson said. “Full disclosure, there has not been recognition on the state or national level for changing the name.”

“Some folks identify as Black, some folks take offense when someone calls them African American,” Commissioner Amanda Stewart (D) said. “I respect everyone’s position. I’m not offended if someone calls me Black, I’m not offended if someone calls me African American. I’ve heard people say, ‘I’m not from Africa, so I’m not African American.’”

Stewart raised the concern that nationally the federal government recognizes Black History Month, and that she was not sure that a local change would have any impact.

Public hearings have been set to gather community input on the renaming. The first one was scheduled for the day after the request, June 26.

The next hearing will be July 17 at the La Plata Library, followed by a July 31 hearing at the Waldorf West Library and finished with an Aug. 8 hearing at the Waldorf Senior and Recreation Center. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Patterson seeks to have a firm decision on the renaming before February 2025 — the next Black History Month.