rediscovered.

But designating a special month towards one ethnic group has also raised serious debate.

What about other Bermudians? Do they not deserve special recognition? Or does the particular historical circumstances of Blacks warrant or merit special consideration.

Longtime educator and MP Dale Butler said that if Black history was a part of a comprehensive school history curriculum, then there would be no need for Black History Month.

"There is no such thing as black or white history, it's just history,'' he said. "You can't talk about black history without talking about world history. You have to look at the whole picture.

"You can't look at Dr. E.F. Gordon without looking at Sir Henry Tucker.

"It should just be taught as history in a comprehensive way that includes everyone,'' he added. "If history was taught in a comprehensive way, we wouldn't need to have a special month -- you wouldn't need to single out one group.

Mr. Butler said that a lack of comprehensive history forced black Americans and Bermudians to designate February as Black History Month.

"It wasn't taught in Bermuda and the US,'' he explained. "So Bermuda followed the American lead and embraced Black History Month.'' But Mr. Butler said Black History Month served a symbolic purpose and helped raise awareness.

"It serves a symbolic purpose and makes people aware of the fact that they have a rich history,'' he pointed out. "And in the US, it raises awareness.'' And Mr. Butler admitted that over the years he has honoured the requests of others and organised several events to mark Black History Month.

"Over the last two years I reluctantly organised events,'' he said. "I say reluctantly because we are in the majority so there should be no need to have special events, but I did so because that was where the public pulse was.'' This year, Mr. Butler said he has not organised anything but plans to attend any Black History Month events set up by others.

The Bermuda College's Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Dr.

Donald Peters echoed Mr. Butler's stance that history, including black history, needed to be taught all year around.

"Black history should be done all year around,'' he said. "History needs to be taught every day.'' And he stressed that Black history needed to examined in context of world events.

"Black history cannot be isolated,'' he said. "It has to be taught in the context of world history.

"How are you going to study Black history without studying all history?'' But he noted the importance of Black history in an Island where the majority of the population was Black.

And he agreed that designating a month to Black history did serve a purpose by raising awareness.

"From an education purpose, students need to know their history and if they need a special month to help them do so, then fine.'' Dr. Eva Hodgson, of the National Association for Reconciliation said Black History month should not even be an issue in an Island like Bermuda.

"In a place like Bermuda, there should not even be a basis for discussion since most of the population is black,'' she said. "If the history is taught fairly, then Black History would be covered.

"This is really an American discussion since Blacks are a minority there. It is only because we have had a distorted history and we are over-dependent on America that it has been adopted here.'' Despite her beliefs, she admitted that she will take part in observances for Black History month.

"I and others will be doing things for Black History Month, only as a reflection of the US,'' she said. "We take whatever opportunity we can.'' COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY -- "You can't look at Dr. E.F. Gordon (L) without looking at Sir Henry Tucker (R), says Island MP and educator Dale Butler.

History should be taught in a comprehensive way that includes everyone, he says.