Happy Black History Month! This is a time of great promise for us as a collective to elevate and celebrate the African-American heritage. Black History Month was declared in 1970 by President Gerald Ford, an extension of what began as Black History Week in 1926 by Carter Woodson. As we engage in learning together and from one another, let’s look to the practice of information-gathering:
Who? We are talking about Black individuals that you may or may not have heard of before, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, or John Lewis. We are called to recognize the individuals that played an integral role in making the collective America as we know it today—individuals who worked to achieve an American dream.
Why? Langston Hughes’s poem articulates it well “I, too, sing America”. To forget the struggle that African-Americans had to endure and continue to experience today is to diminish their existence and value to humanity.
How? So, how does one acknowledge the importance of Black History Month? As Gerald Ford suggests—“Seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” We must not tire in thinking of ways to honor the voices and narratives of African-Americans. But, instead let us look forward to the opportunity that presents itself daily.
When? Let us take the time today to use our capacity to see individuals as their authentic selves and value their contributions. As the musical Ragtime asks us to ponder—aren’t we all looking to ride on the "wheels of a dream"? February serves as a reminder of a new-found hope in the opportunity we have in this moment to acknowledge African-Americans in this space.
Happy Black History Month!
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