In many schools and communities, the only Black history talked about is the freedom of enslaved Africans, the Civil Rights Movement, and the elections of Vice President Kamala Harris and 44th President Barack Obama. While these events are historic, they are just a small portion of what Black history is. Founded by Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month first started out as a week. Woodson wanted to expose children to their history and increase representation. He encouraged learning about African American history because he believed it would show others how much the country’s growth stemmed from black contributions. 

     Black history is often narrowed to a few milestones made by African Americans that lead many to believe they played a tiny role in the formation of the United States. Much of the history created by black people are left out of context, especially in school systems. Students are taught about American heroes who aren’t black and past presidents who enslaved people. These diluted stories are chosen over rich black history that shaped this country. Each February, efforts are made by many people across the nation to learn about Black history, but efforts to stop the celebration of the history are also made. On Tuesday, February 1st, 2022, at least 14 Historically Black Colleges around the country reported bomb threats on the first day of Black History Month. This was obviously an attempt to discourage the celebration of Black history and disrupt safe spaces created by people of color.  

     Throughout the course of time, Black people have started powerful movements. We have been a part of monumental eras and continue to voice our concerns through action. Activism has played a significant role in the lives of many African Americans and is solely responsible for most of the social change. In the 1920s and 30s, the voices of African Americans were very absent from cultural and political America. Until the Harlem Renaissance, a black movement in Harlem, New York, that centered around African American Culture, dance, art, fashion, literature, and theater. The Harlem Renaissance brought attention to the experiences of Black people by producing lively literacy and art. African Americans spoke the truth and displayed their experiences with racism through art. In 1966, in Oakland California, the Black Panther movement became one of the most influential organizations. The party confronted politicians, challenged police brutality, and protected Black people. Due to the Black Panther Party, for the first-time black power became a global revolution. It was a movement that advocated for the people it protected and organized programs that helped Black society. The footprints of this era can still be seen influencing many other social movements. Finally, on July 13th, 2013, three women of color named Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometti created a movement that changed the way Americans fight for freedom. Since 2013, the movement has worked to change how the United States operates locally and nationally. Black Lives Matter works on the issue of systematic corruption and has helped incite the release of 4 unprecedented U.S Department of Justice Reports that confirmed the widespread evidence of police corruption in Baltimore, Chicago, Ferguson, and Cleveland. The cultural impact of these movements continues to be responsible for popularizing speaking up and holding the actions of someone or something accountable. These movements gave birth to a range of liberating organizations and successfully influence other demonstrations like #Me Too, #Never Again, and #Times Up. 

     Every February, the same historic figures tend to get the spotlight. Although they deserve all their flowers, what about those hidden figures that transformed America? Like Althea Gibson who is said to be the Jackie Robinson of tennis. She took the world by storm in the 1950s with her skill and strength. In 1956, Althea became the first black tennis player to win a Grand Slam tournament. By the time she retired, she had already won 11 Grand Slam titles. Gibson’s successful career was often challenged by racism, but she dominated tennis and inspired generations of athletes. Another important figure is Bayard Rustin, who was a Civil Rights leader that overcame many forms of prejudice. He was a key ally to Dr. Martin Luther King and an openly gay Black man during the Jim Crow era. Rustin advised Dr. King on many things and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His crowning achievement, however, was organizing the march on Washington D.C. Which was one of the most important protests in history. Lastly, we have Max Robinson, a trailblazer in broadcasting and journalism. He became the first Black person to anchor the nightly network news in 1978. Robinson’s career began to rise after he moved to Washington. He worked has as a tv reporter and later co-anchor, making his mark as the first Black anchor in a major U.S city. Robinson later became increasingly outspoken about the portrayal of black people in the media and sought out mentoring young Black journalists. He was one of the 44 founders of the National Association Of Black Journalists. 

          Black history is American History, and this month we recognize the contributions, achievements, and impact African Americans have in this country. It is important to acknowledge the cultural roots planted by Black people because the national narrative neglects critical facts. Our history is not just slavery and the Jim Crow era, it is rich in excellence and I am proud to be a part of celebrating African American achievements in every field. So this month, I hope you learned something new about Black History.