Black History Month, which began as “Negro History Week,” was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, an African-American historian, scholar, educator and publisher, according to Time.com. February is dedicated to celebrating achievements by African-Americans and the role they had in United States history. Although this is the shortest month of the year, this does not discredit the work of all of the people that made this month’s celebration possible.
With everything that is going on is the world today, we need to embrace the history that benefited America as a whole. Black history is history because it continues to transform our lives whether we notice it or not. It is 2018 and we are still acknowledging African-Americans who have been the first to gain positions or to complete tasks that other races have done for many years.
Black history is history because there are so many perceptions of a race that people have a preconceived notion on how they should be. This history inspires people to overcome adversity, to gives a chance to those who figure that they may not have many options because of their surroundings. I say this because racial profiling was acceptable in the past when segregation was around and to this day there is an issue with people who target or suspect a person of a certain race based on a stereotype.
Black History Month is not only celebrated in the United States but in other countries as well. For example, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands devote a month to celebrate this significant time. Yet, it’s rare to find information in school textbooks on how much of an influence African-Americans have had in transforming and creating the United States to what it is today.
A heightened awareness of Black History Month makes can help eliminate the ignorance of racism. There is no reason that racism should still be an issue because of how much we have progressed as a country. It seems as though history is repeating itself, but it does not have to if we are educated on our past and what our future should be.
Black history does not dishonor other races’ hardships. In fact, it allows for others to observe what was done in the past and even today, to help us move forward as a country. The main thing about history is to inspire and allow for us to come together as a community and work together. If that is the case, American history is knowing African-American history.
