It has been a century since Black History Month celebrations have commenced. Over the course of a century, massive developments have existed in the world. We sent from the Roaring Twenties to the 21st century icons like Allyson Flex, Yolandia Renee King, Gabby Douglas, Ruth Simmons, Carla Hayden, Edward Enninful, Simone Biles, and Usain Bolt. We went from highways not being modernized to roads formed to drone aircraft delivering packages worldwide. Still, we rise. Our ancestors suffered the most brutal form of slavery in human history called the Maafa. They survived the whips, the chains, the abuse, and other unjustified atrocities in active defiance against tyranny. Our black ancestors herorically fought back too in Africa, in the slave ships, and in the Americas for their rightful freedom and liberation. Today, we are black people still rising to the occasion. Black history is not monolithic or static. It encompasses science and music. It deals with education and dance (with icons like Alvin Ailey, Katherine Dunham, Raven Wilkinson, the Nicholas Brothers, and Dorothy Dandridge). Black history also deals with art as black genius artists have changed the world from Elizabeth Talford Scott to Garrett Bradley. It can also focus on human resiliency and engineering as well. Black history can be close to home with our scrapbooks, our stories involving our families, our humor, and living our lives daily in the world. It is certainly a fundamental fact that culture revolves around us as the world always copies the way we talk, the way we use fashion, and the way we express ourselves in general. Yet, they can't duplicate us, because we are the original human beings on this Earth.
We are Black History. Black History Month is one part of the year when we honor our heritage, our creativity, and our authentic identity as black human beings. For example, Gordon Parks showed art and groundbreaking film culture as a photographer and film director. Harriet Tubman not only freed slaves, but she was a person who led a battle during the American Civil War during the Combahee raid. Rosa Parks, Claudette Clovin, Dr. King, Malcolm X, Ella Baker, Septima Clark, and other heroic black people didn't just talk about black freedom. They took active steps in public to advocate and defend the right of black people (from protesting, writing literature, using civil disobedience, creating black institutions, and forming other strategies to stand up for our liberation) to be free and independent in the Universe. The creator of Black History Month was Carter G. Woodson. He and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) helped to handle Black History Month. The celebration lasted for one week from the 1920s until 1970. The celebration was a full month in 1970. This goal was planned since 1969. One of my fondest memories of Black History Month was in February of 1996, when I was in middle school. During that time, I showed the historical contributions of Malcolm X on a poster that was celebrated in my middle school's library. It was a very joyful time in my life. Also, during elementary school, other classmates and I would sing the Black National Anthem of Lift Every Voice and Sing all of the time. For over one century, two truths abide forever. One is that Black History Month is to be celebrated yearly, not just in one month. Another truth is that Black History Month is about celebrating black history, black culture, and globally beyond just one country like America.
By Timothy
