February 1st marks the beginning of Black History Month. This is a month each year where citizens place their sights in particular on the historical contributions that have been made to our country by African-Americans.
This time of remembrance originally began as Negro History Week in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson but in 1976 was expanded to a full week by President Gerald Ford. In President Ford's own words, he felt that this country needed to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
While many people disagree with the celebration of this month, saying that it leaves room for people to neglect our African American past for the remaining eleven months of the year or that it's unfair to devote a single month to one people group in particular. I whole-heartedly believe that it is vitally important to celebrate this month.
Black History Month is important because it provides an opportunity to place the spotlight on the best of African-American history and culture. All too often it seems as though only the worst of the African American community gets reported. We see stories about rates of incarceration, drug use, single mother pregnancies, EBT cards, rappers and raunchy TV stars which in return can make other African American people in our communities the subject of unfair assumptions and judgments. Black History Month gives us an opportunity to place the spotlight on a more positive aspect of the African American community as a whole. On people like W.E.B. Dubois, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Louis Armstrong, Frederick Douglass, and more. African American heroes such as these deserve to be honored for the strength and sacrifice they showed in order to achieve racial equality in our country.
Black History Month is important because it creates awareness for all people. As a child I remember being SO taken aback when learning of each civil rights landmark in our history. To know that at one time in our history as a white American I wouldn't have even been allowed to be close to my African American neighbor on the street is mind blowing. Black History Month provides an opportunity to make others aware of what others have gone through in the past in order for our country to be where it is today when it comes to racial equality. Awareness of the past plays an important part in the ability to be thankful for the blessings we are able to enjoy now both as white American's and Black American's (Although, in some ways we should not ignore the ways that our African American neighbors are still struggling to be accepted by those around them.)
Black History Month is important because it brings us together. It reminds us that black history, is a part of all history, our history as a whole. The impact of African-Americans on this country - as well as Asians, Latinos, Mexicans, and other races - is a part of us all and taking the time to remember the contributions of African American's to our great country ties everyone into the diverse history of our world. Because in fact, it is very diverse and it does involve many different people of many different races.
In conclusion, Black History Month matters. Intentional effort to observe the achievements of the African-American community matters. May we all strive to realize the importance of this month because without awareness of the past, our eyes cannot be fully opened to the state of the present and where we are going in the future.
