Everyday Black History

As you well know, February is Black History Month. As alluded above, it is part of our responsibility to educate our children and families, not only in a general fashion but also about the historical contributions of Black Americans.

Even in 2007, the diversity and contribution of Black Americans is not acknowledged as frequently or as thoroughly as White Americans, therefore it is up t us to education both ourselves and our children. This education should not be limited to iconic figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. While these two men certainly served to effect great change in the Black community and should be acknowledged, they rose to their positions in history through the persistence, sacrifice and contributions of others.

Others such as Ida B. Wells, an educator, who in may, 1884, when physically forced by three men to move from a railroad passenger car to a smoker car (usually filled with laborers and other rough characters) left the train rather than suffer that indignity. She later sued the railroad and won, but the decision was reversed by the Supreme Court. The point was not of her winning or losing but that she took action. Or, my personal favorite: William Edward Burghart (W. E. B.) DuBois, who recognized the duality that many Black Americans feel even today:

"One ever feels his two-ness — an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder." – W.E. B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk

We, as Black Americans, do not materialize into society February 1, nor do we disappear February 28. Black history is happening every day and should not be pigeonholed into one month. Education – ourselves, our children - is the foundation of opportunity. We must know where we have been in order to move forward with vision.