Fabienne Fleurantin/ Staff Writer
Frederick Douglass. Harriet Tubman. Rosa Parks. Martin Luther King Jr. Malcolm X. These are the figures we revere on Black History Month.
We are taught of their backgrounds—their hopes, dreams, fears and moments of courage. We learn of their histories and how that helped create our present state of union.
These people and so many others helped pave the way to greater opportunities. They have impacted our country in such great magnitude and redefined what it means to be an African American.
With that being said, how did Black History Month come to be? And why is it in February?
“Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of ‘Negro History Week,’ the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month,” according to history.com.
However, there has been some debate about certain individuals being recognized and credited for their great achievements. Why?
Because there have been others who have done the same thing as those famous figures and have not been rewarded for it.
Before Rosa Parks was known for refusing to give up her seat on the bus, there was Claudette Colvin.
“It was March 2, 1955, when the 15-year-old schoolgirl refused to move to the back of the bus, nine months before Rosa Parks’ stand that launched the Montgomery bus Boycott,” according to pbs.org.
Mind blown or what?
Some people are also angered by the fact that there is one month designated as “Black History Month.” Why should there only be one month dedicated to the education of black figures when this should be something learned about regularly?
Let’s clear the record and find out.
Some people ask why there isn’t a White History Month, and the scathing response would be: “Because every month is White History Month.”
Yikes.
Some might say that this month does not exist because white history is “the dominant narrative,” as stated on the huffingtonpost.com.
However, this should not be said to demonize the Caucasian race or make them feel bad about all the accomplishments they have achieved.
This is what we must understand: these designated months exposing different races and ethnicities originated “in an effort to create pride of traditions and character in certain groups,” according to Jacksonville.com.
This month and other months that recognize ethnicity are to encourage the education of that culture and race. It is not meant to degrade any achievements set by any other race or ethnicity. It is simply trying to recognize them.
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Photo taken from Flickr.
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