What started as a simple week of recognition among schools and cities has turned into a month of celebration. Black History Month is a time to recognize and celebrate black Americans.
The idea of celebrating a month simply for black history started in the 1920s after the organization of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. This association was founded by Jesse Moorland and was dedicated to studying the accomplishments of African Americans. Soon after, schools and communities began to celebrate and learn about the triumphs of black Americans. By 1975, President Gerald Ford officially named February Black History month.
When asked why this was so important, President Ford replied that he wanted to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
When I think of Black History Month, I am reminded of how we honor the black Americans that have changed our country for the better. It serves as a reminder of the past, and the battles that have needed to be won simply to get to this point.
However, we need to do more than just celebrate the deeds of people like Rosa Parks, Jesse Owens and Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize the hardships all black Americans. For instance, black Americans still face blatant racism such as police brutality and in some cases are given less opportunities and jobs. As a result, black Americans end up living in poverty or on government assistance.
This month can also be used as an opportunity to not only reflect on the past but inspire change for future generations to celebrate. What will the history books say about our generation? How will we impact the future of civil rights, for all races? I, for one, want to be a part of that change and help bridge the divide between all races that is prevalent in our country.
It is important for everyone to come together and celebrate these great figures, as President Ford stated, and others who in the past may have been looked over because of the color of their skin. While it is amazing to see how far we have come as a country, we should not be complacent. We need to see how far we still need to go. The recognition and value of black Americans cannot be something that is restricted to only one month every year. We need to make honoring black Americans a part of our everyday life.