Celebrating Black History Month
By: Anita Grabowska
Origins of Black History Month
Americans have celebrated Black History Month every February for fifty-two years recognizing the roles of the African American people in America’s deep-rooted beginnings. However, it was not until approximately 1976 when African American contributions started getting attention and notice.
In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month. Fast forward to 2022, Black History Month is now a time where Americans across the nation celebrate the legacy and contributions of African Americans throughout American history. Leaders and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr.,Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks are now known as change makers to African American history throughout American history.
Although Black History Month has been celebrated every February since 1976 many Americans still don’t know that every president has endorsed a specific theme each year. “Black Health and Wellness” is the theme of Black History Month for 2022 and emphasizes the legacy of Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine. Black Health and Wellness theme’s focus is to celebrate the collective focus on familiar practices and “rituals” that many individuals in the Black community perform in order to improve wellness amongst African Americans.
Reasons Why Black History Month Should Be Celebrated
Regardless of an individual’s heritage there are many reasons why Black History month should be celebrated. The first reason being that Black History Month celebrates the diversity and awareness that we as American people all have something to contribute. It also takes Americans beyond the history books and gives individuals the opportunity to learn about the impact that African Americans had throughout our history. Where in school we are taught about the accomplishments of Thomas Edison and the light bulb, but are unaware of the African American Engineer known as Lewis Howard Latimer who was an engineer and an accomplished inventor who helped Thomas Edison with his discoveries. Black History month is about studying stories beyond the textbook.
How to become more educated on Black History
To make changes for the future it is important that Americans start now by educating themselves about African American culture and history outside the month of February. There are many TV shows, books, plays, and films that help challenge individual perceptions of Black History. Whether individuals are interested in their ancestors’ lives or are curious about their African American ancestry and history, resources like the companies known as Ancestry and 23AndMe can help individuals uncover the names, places, and details that connect them to their family’s unique story. It is important for the world to know that African Americans contributions and achievements are not just our history, they are our present.