As February approaches, I often find myself feeling uneasy. Another Black History Month is here, and I can’t help but question the significance of it all. Why is it that our history is confined to just one month—the shortest one at that? Each year, the narratives we share and the historical figures we highlight seldom change. Black Americans possess a profound history that extends far beyond a mere 28 days. It is crucial that we instill in our children the understanding that Black history is, in fact, American history.
Black History Month represents an ongoing struggle for equality. Much of our education focuses on the contributions of white Americans, yet acknowledging the accomplishments of Black Americans seems to be a constant challenge. The impact of Black individuals on this nation is just as vital as that of their white counterparts, yet we attempt to compress centuries of history into a single month, which hardly reflects our value in society.
Growing up, I often felt like we were stuck learning about the same handful of figures every February. How many times must students hear about Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass before it becomes monotonous? While their contributions to discussions on slavery are undeniably significant, they are not the only ones worth recognizing. What about the countless individuals who endured enslavement and deserve acknowledgment for merely existing?
Slavery is not merely a dark chapter in American history; it is a fundamental part of the nation’s story. The United States was constructed on the labor of enslaved individuals—literally. While many may wish to ignore this truth, the reality is that America’s foundations were built with the blood, sweat, and tears of Black Americans, and yet we settle for just one month to celebrate that legacy. It hardly seems just.
Black history encompasses much more than the era of slavery or the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. While Black History Month holds importance, wouldn’t it be better if it were unnecessary? Why is it that, even in 2021, white history remains the default narrative?
When discussing advancements in medicine, imagine if we acknowledged the Black Americans who played crucial roles in those developments. For instance, Daniel Hale Williams was among the first to perform open-heart surgery during the Reconstruction era—a remarkable achievement for a Black doctor of his time. The painful legacy of experimentation on Black individuals, like those at the Tuskegee Institute, also highlights the sacrifices made in the name of medical progress.
Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman, deserves our gratitude for numerous medical breakthroughs. In 1951, her cancer cells were harvested without her knowledge, leading to the creation of HeLa cells, which continue to advance medical research today, including the development of the polio vaccine. Her story only gained recognition through the work of a white author, resulting in an HBO film, underscoring the need for more Black narratives.
It’s clear that we should focus on Black stories beyond just one month of the year. The contributions of Black Americans to the fabric of American history are ever-evolving. Reducing their history to February alone is an impossible task, yet we allow it to continue year after year.
What if, when discussing the “space race” of the 1960s, we included the names of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughn? Perhaps the revelations in “Hidden Figures” wouldn’t have come as such a shock if we had recognized their roles earlier.
Moreover, Black culture has had an undeniable impact on pop culture, so much so that many may not even realize they are emulating it. Recently, actor and director Jake Thompson expressed a desire to see a Black version of Friends. However, the truth is that Living Single, which showcased five Black 20-somethings, aired alongside Friends and is often regarded as the superior show.
Consider Elvis Presley, often dubbed the “king of rock-n-roll.” Before him, there was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was truly the genre’s matriarch. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019, her contributions remain largely overlooked. Even Elvis’s famous song “Hound Dog” was originally performed by Big Mama Thornton, a Black woman whose version hit the airwaves in February 1953.
Black History Month fails to account for the nuances of modern Black history and its daily relevance. For instance, fashion trends seen today, like Billie Eilish’s iconic neon attire, echo styles that Black women wore in the ’90s, long before Eilish’s time. The influence of TLC from that era is a prime example.
Furthermore, the internet has grossly appropriated Black drag culture, often without recognition. Phrases like “and I oop” or “yas queen” have been popularized by white figures, yet their origins lie in the Black LGBTQ+ community. This is just one example of how mainstream culture often overlooks the significant contributions of Black individuals.
It’s my hope that one day, we won’t need Black History Month. We need to actively acknowledge Black achievements as integral to American achievement. It’s not sufficient to trot out the same ten names every February and feel accomplished. We should strive to educate ourselves about these contributions throughout the year, exploring new narratives and celebrating contemporary Black history. The calendar shouldn’t dictate our recognition of the fact that Black history is American history.
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Summary
Black history deserves recognition beyond just February. It is an integral part of American history, encompassing contributions from countless individuals throughout time. By educating ourselves and others about these stories year-round, we honor their legacies and affirm their importance in the fabric of our nation.
Keyphrase: Black history is American history
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