It’s Important to Recognize Black History Month and Make Change

Black History Month is essential for American society. Period.

Celebrated in February, Black History Month honors African Americans’ achievements and their vital role in shaping the United States. This month, the theme of Black History Month is Black Health and Wellness, which focuses on African American healthcare scholars and providers, as well as the specific rituals they participate in to stay healthy.

It is crucial to recognize Black History Month and African American history because the United States would not be the same without African American contributions. Also, it gives us a chance to celebrate and integrate all distinguished African Americans, not just the figures that we study in school.

Apart from the more familiar pioneers in Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass, some significant contributors are largely hidden from common knowledge. For instance, Annie Turnbo Malone was an agent to well-known Madam C.J. Walker, developing a line of safe hair-care products for African American women. Additionally, Alice Coachman set an impressive record in the high jump event in the Olympics, becoming the first African American woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal.

While we can celebrate these noteworthy people, Black History Month also gives us the valuable opportunity to honor those that have been exploited. In the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, African Americans were unethically treated and were injected with syphilis for a study conducted by researchers who knew the disease’s fatal effects. Now, we can learn from past mistakes to avoid the same horrors rooted in prejudice and racism.

In the present day, President Joe Biden has taken essential measures to ensure that African Americans are integrated into our society and have a voice. In a Proclamation on National Black History Month, Biden says he appointed African American leaders in prominent government positions, like Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors and Secretary of Defense, to “[build] a Federal Government that looks like America. This statement holds immense truth because since African Americans have a positive influence on society and have made valuable contributions, it is only fair that they constitute the voice of the African American public.

It’s also important to question whether Black History Month has helped increase acceptance in our community. Shouldn’t we celebrate African Americans and diversity initiatives every month of the year? In a Forbes article, Jacqueline Fernandez argues that we should stop bringing up diversity just for one month. This is a valid point because celebrating African Americans and their potential in the workforce should be considered all the time. Permanent measures should be taken to make offices, hospitals, and classrooms around the United States representative of the many skin colors our society should embrace beautifully. While Black History Month gives us a dedicated time to think about African American achievements, these thoughts should carry over permanently.

In short, Black History Month allows students and adults alike to appreciate a marginalized group. It also forces us to ponder whether we are making enough permanent changes in our societal frameworks to include African American talent truly.

Snippet: Celebrated in February, Black History Month honors African Americans’ achievements and their vital role in shaping the United States. Apart from the more familiar pioneers in Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass, some important contributors are largely hidden from common knowledge. In the present day, President Joe Biden has taken important measures to ensure that African Americans are integrated into our society and have a voice. In a Proclamation on National Black History Month, Biden says he appointed African American leaders in important government positions. It’s also important to question whether Black History Month has helped increase acceptance in our community. Shouldn’t we celebrate African Americans and diversity initiatives every month of the year?