Black History Month has been celebrated since the year of 1962 when it was Negro History Week. After it became Black History Month, people started acknowledging it in schools, on the job, in church, and several other social settings. The most important aspect of the acknowledgment, "History", is a very trending topic, to say the least. How does this relate to our lives here and now?
Being college students, we learn Mathematics, Science, English, and History. Black history is more than likely not taught in its entirety. Especially at a PWI. PWI stands "Predominately White Institution". In a school like UAB, we learn about European heroes, conquerors, fighters, and rulers. I will say, we do learn a minute amount of information concerning African-Americans. There may be a pop-up of info, but nothing like the European counterparts. This is a concerning factor but influences the discovery of African History greatly.
Now that there has been a little knowledge dispersed regarding the background of Black History Month, and how it impacts our campus. I'd like to highlight what we're all reading this article for: How to celebrate black history at a PWI.
I celebrate my history 3 ways:
1) Take time to study. I look up information about Black History Figures that aren't always researched. For example, Robert Smalls, Miriam Makeba, etc. It is important to acknowledge Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, but there are several others that have paved the way for Blacks.
2) Get to know people that look like me on campus. UAB is a very diverse campus, and that is one of the primary reasons I decided to be a student here. While that is an amazing fact about our school, we should take the time to relate to those who have shared our past and current struggles as a people.
3) Research and appreciate other cultures. There's no way we can be functioning and ethical humans of society if we do not acknowledge how other cultures' history plays a role in ours as well as society as a whole. Learn their struggles and successes so that we can relate to them as well.
It sometimes can become difficult to fully celebrate your history, but educated yourself and appreciating other cultures makes it more worth the while, especially at a PWI. UAB has taught me to appreciate my culture, and respect and appreciate others. Go Blazers! Ase`.
