Every February the United States takes a month to honor African Americans and the impacts they have made in U.S. history.
“Its really cool if you really think about it,” said sophomore Isaiah Ware. “Less than a hundred years ago people like me would be treated badly. People like Martin Luther King did so much to change how people think about us. People like him really do deserve their own month.”
That’s just how Dr. Carter G. Woodson felt. He realized that black people were highly ignored throughout American history, and when they were mentioned blacks were looked down upon. To counter this he established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
He founded Black History Month in 1926. Originally a week long, recognized as Negro History week, it was officially declared a month in 1976.
For some students, it may be the only history-related or even school-related thing they feel obligated to learn about.
“I’m not that into school stuff, but Black History month things are completely necessary to learn about, especially when you get to learn about the extreme guys like Malcolm X,” said sophomore Jayden Bennett.
Not only does Black History Month get attention at school it is also mentioned in pop culture.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar released a song called “The Blacker the Berry” on Feb. 10 talking about how black people were hated for being black and how he is proud to be black. Even artist, recognize Black history month.
Black History Month is possibly the best way to honor contributions made by African Americans.
