February. The shortest month of the year, yet one of the most important. The month not only offers well deserved honor to and acknowledgment of the historical achievements of Black Americans, but also the struggling history of them. Unfortunately, more often than not.
This reflects the exact reason Black History shouldn’t be reserved to just one month a year.
In grade school, I remember whenever Black History Month came around, all that ever registered was the word “slaves,” and I didn’t know it then, but it was because that’s all I ever learned when it came to our history. It was as if that piece of it was what made up our entire puzzle.
It is a crucial part of how Black Americans paved their way to freedom and a life of prosperity, but there was no talk of amendments and abolitionists or even the Harlem Renaissance. There was only a revisiting of the role Black Americans played during that time, which was being a slave.
Even that word itself, “slave,” single handedly makes that our identity, as if all we were, all we are – are slaves. More people should know how incredibly inaccurate that statement is.
Black Americans were enslaved? Yes. Black Americans transcended the trials faced and rose above what seemed to be everlasting hierarchies, stereotypes, and dignity stripping accusations? Also yes.
Now it isn’t just the world who should know about the rest of our history, it’s our world too. Many young Black children, teenagers, and even adults don’t understand how important they are and their ancestors were and continue to be to this world.
Those accomplishments cannot be taught and grasped in just one month, and most certainly not in the shortest one either.
The life, history and legacy of Black Americans should be celebrated every single day, not one month a year. That’s how you truly honor a group of people. By reminding the world of their prosperity and resilience every single day.
