Nearly six decades ago, African Americans won the fight to end the discriminatory laws against them. The month of February is popularly known in the United States as Black History Month, in which Americans of all races celebrate this fight and the historical African American figures who fought to develop society into what it is today.
“Despite a history of racism and oppression, many African Americans figures are key in our past and present. Our history wouldn’t be what it is today if those figures never stepped up.” Hidden Valley History teacher Joseph Kavanaugh said.
Scholar Carter G. Woodson observed the idea of a month dedicated to African American history in 1976. Later, in January of 1996, President Clinton issued a presidential proclamation for National African American History Month, emphasizing the theme of honoring the achievements that African Americans in all periods of U.S. history have made, from the early 17th century slaves to the suffrage movement and African Americans living in the United States today. Since then, Congress has annually passed resolutions honoring Black History Month.
“Think of Martin Luther King Jr. Fredrick Douglas. Washington Carver. They dedicated their lives to America and making it a place where African Americans can humanely live.” Said Hidden Valley History teacher Beverly Newbern.
Some of the greatest turning points in our history were achieved by African Americans. A famous example is activist Martin Luther King Jr. He organized and led marches for Blacks’ right to vote, desegregation, labor rights, and other basic civil rights during the early to mid-1900s. Another civil rights activist was Rosa Parks, who famously refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white woman. Jackie Robinson, player of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was the first African American professional baseball player in U.S. Major League. These three are ones of many that Americans recognize during the month of February.
“We want to learn from the past. But if we don’t recognize their struggle and fight just to be treated as human, how would we learn?” Beverly Newbern.
In spite of the issues that have threatened to divide the country throughout the years, all Americans remain united in the celebration of Black History Month. Every day, a different man or woman is being celebrated. Take the time to recognize them with a few flicks of your keyboard, for they are the reason many of us are standing here today.