It’s February which means it's Black History Month. There's much more to the culture than Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X that they aren't teaching in the classrooms. Much of my black history knowledge was self-taught. Listed are a few pioneers that you may not have heard of but should know about and celebrate:

1. Carter G. Woodson (1875 – 1950)

First things first, Black History Month was birthed as "Negro History Week" in 1926. It was created by African American historian, educator and scholar, Carter G. Woodson.

2. Huey P. Newton (1942 – 1989)

Huey Newton was an African American political activist. He became heavily involved in politics while attending Merritt College in Oakland, California. He studied the likes of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Malcolm X. He founded The Black Panther Party along with fellow activist and co-founder Bobby Seale. The Black Panther Party was an organization created for the right of self-defense for African Americans. Fun fact: if you have ever caught an episode of “The Boondocks,” Huey’s character was based off of Newton.

3. Althea Gibson (1927 – 2003)

I am an absolute sports junkie but a lot of my favorite athletes wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for the ones before them. Althea Gibson was a tennis player and professional golfer. She was the first black athlete to cross the color line in international tennis and win a Grand Slam title.

4. Sarah Breedlove or Madam C. J. Walker (1867 – 1919)

Madam C. J. Walker was a philanthropist, activist and entrepreneur. She was the first female self-made millionaire. Walker developed and heavily pushed her line of hair products for African American women.

5. John Mercer Langston (1829 – 1897)

John Mercer Langston was the first black man to become a lawyer in Ohio. As the sitting dean of the law school, he helped create the department at Howard University. He was also the great uncle to one of my personal favorite writers, Langston Hughes.

6. Thurgood Marshall (1908 – 1993)

President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Thurgood Marshall to the United States Supreme Court, making him the first African American to be in a position as such. From the Supreme Court to the White House, we did well.

These six iconic figures are just a few of the many that need to be celebrated this month. While the celebration of black history needs to be more than just a month, it's nice that every year, time is devoted to recognize the works, bravery and overall dopeness of black people!