Happy Black History Month! This event started way back in 1926 as Negro History Month by Carter G. Woodson and was later changed to a month-long period recognized by Congress in 1976. It recognizes Black achievements that were overlooked by mainstream history and was chosen to be celebrated in February due to Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
We celebrate people like Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr., two important figures in the abolitionist and Civil Rights Movements. Along with them, we remember scientists and mathematicians, such as George Washington Carver and Katherine Johnson, the latter of whom helped make space travel possible.
In terms of modern heroes, we celebrate leaders like Kamala Harris, the first Vice President of African American descent; Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, an executive director of GLSEN, an education program that offers help against discrimination; Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett, a doctor who played an important role in creating the COVID-19 vaccine; and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. These are only a small percent of the important Black figures who contribute to the world, and they demonstrate how Black voices continue to make change today.
Black History Month is important because it serves as a reminder to remember the achievements and influence of African American people in society. However, it’s important to remember that we should constantly be recognizing Black voices throughout the year. These heroes have created a better world for us and deserve respect and admiration. As freshman student Mika Odell shares, “Black History Month is a good reminder to remember people of Black culture and what they have done for the U.S.” These figures are honored figures in the Black community, and have contributed in all fields of study. We must honor the achievements of these and other Black Americans in the month of February.