My Black 365
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

My Black 365

February is not the beginning and end of Black History.

18
My Black 365
PRX

Growing up, I enjoyed attending the Black History Month programs at my schools. The music, the art, and reenactments of moments in African American history, just seemed so exciting and exotic in a sense. Maybe because it was not really spoken of until Febuary the first came rolling around. So it was not too hard to find that my excitement waned the older I got. I still had a strong love for my culture, do not get me wrong; however, I began to see the implications of something that was not morally right. My race, a big piece of this nation, was being confined to being celebrated twenty-eight, twenty-nine if we are lucky, days within a whole year.

How can a history so influential be diminished to being worthy of only a month out of 365 days? Is that all we are to this nation? A measly month? Is that how they see not only this race, but the others as well? Are we just inferior pawns within the history of the United States that cannot be placed on the same pedestal as say Caucasians? Some great, innovative achievements have come from African Americans; stop lights, fans, and refrigerators are just a few that we use in our daily lives, yet their creators remain unsung. Although my people have brought magnificent change to our nation, their existence seems insignificant.

We, African Americans, are here and have been present for almost all of the most pivotal moments in American history. From the civil war to the World Wars, we have always been there. Fighting battles constantly for a country that does not even value us enough to commemorate our accomplishments. Although to many, they believe that a month is satisfactory enough to give accolades to all the African Americans who have achieved and brought prosperity to our country.

Then to add more insult to injury, the figures who are highlighted in our history remain the same. Dr. King, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks are a few of the recycled iconic figures that we are given in our classrooms and in the media. Even though they are great representations of our people, there are more than those three individuals who have made a difference in our history. W.E.B DuBois, Madame CJ Walker, and many others could be used;however, we are limited to our three.

My dad used to tell me that Black History Month was every month. At the time I thought nothing of his statement, being a 12 year old who was focused on boys and entering middle school. As the years passed;however, I began to understand what he meant. He was saying what I am now trying to covey, that we are more than a month we are 365 days.

More should be done in our education systems to resolve this disservice to not only our children but also also everyone else. Maybe showing that we have a deeper knowledge of our heritage will show the rest of the nation that we care and they should as well. Showing solidarity in a movement as important as this one is imperative to the future of African Americans. If we do not then we can just consider February to be our only month forever.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

To The Classes That Follow

I want you to want to make the most of the years that are prior to Senior year

264
To The Classes That Follow
Senior Year Is Here And I Am So Not Ready For It

I was you not that long ago. I was once an eager freshman, a searching sophomore, and a know-it-all junior. Now? Now I am a risk taker. Not the type that gets you in trouble with your parents, but the type that changes your future. Senior year is exciting. A lot of awesome things come along with being the top-dog of the school, but you, right now, are building the foundation for the next 4 years that you will spend in high school. I know you've heard it all. "Get involved", "You'll regret not going to prom", "You're going to miss this". As redundant as these seem, they're true. Although I am just at the beginning of my senior year, I am realizing how many lasts I am encountering.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

The Power Of Prayer Saved My Best Friend's Life

At the end of the day, there is something out there bigger than all of us, and to me, that is the power of prayer.

1620
Julie Derrer

Imagine this:

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

Why Driving Drives Me Crazy

the highways are home

1426

With Halloween quickly approaching, I have been talking to coworkers about what scares us. There are always the obvious things like clowns, spiders, heights, etc. But me? There are a number things I don't like: trusting strangers, being yelled at, being in life or death situations, parallel parking. All of these are included when you get behind the wheel of a car.

Keep Reading... Show less
Baseball Spring Training Is A Blast In Arizona
Patricia Vicente

Nothing gets me more pumped up than the nice weather and the sights and sounds of the baseball season quickly approaching.

Keep Reading... Show less
Featured

Impact Makers: Melanie Byrd

Find out how this TikTok star gets women excited about science!

4911
Impact Makers: Melanie Byrd

How it all began

Keep Reading... Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments