Black History Month is here and with it comes a plethora of representation for African Americans. While some people believe Black History Month is unnecessary or allows people to forget about black accomplishments for the rest of the year, it is still a crucial event that celebrates the importance, culture and achievements of black people.
The history of African Americans is part of American history, as are the histories of Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Caucasians and other races and nationalities. Americans should feel free to celebrate any history month if they wish to, as all of our histories shape how America is in the present day.
According to Time Magazine, Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History organized an event called “Negro History Week” in February of 1926. It was made to provide African-American representation that textbooks failed to properly give. The event piqued the interest of many at the time, but it was not until later that “Negro History Week” evolved into Black History Month.
Black History Month is a great time to remember the black heroes and idols who came before us. Most Americans know about the major heroes in the Civil Rights Movement — Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X — and the black historical figures of the Civil War, such as Harriet Tubman, but there are many more who deserve to be recognized.
This month allows other historical figures to be recognized, such as Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panthers; Katherine Johnson, a mathematician for NASA; and Denmark Vesey, a freed slave. All of their hard and underappreciated work is usually only mentioned in the classroom, and the stories of those leaders are only explained to a certain extent. Having a month of intentional recognition allows for conversation outside of the classroom.
Remembering what the world has now is another reason why everyone should not forget of the privileges that were fought for over the years. Slavery legally ended in the U.S. on Dec. 6, 1865, but African-Americans continued to face unimaginable discrimination for many years, and that discrimination is still visible today. It would be a disgrace not to honor and remember the many black people who gave their lives to pave a brighter future for other blacks in America. Black History Month enables us to learn from the past in order to change the future.
When others hear, see or talk about people in the black community, it is usually in a negative light. However, when we celebrate Black History Month, we focus on all of the positive ideas and creations black people give to the world. Black History Month gives those a chance to show others their creations — the music, the fashion, the stories — and other things that make them proud to be black.