Perspectives: Black History Month

Black History Month is a celebration honoring the legacy of Black people and recognizing their contributions throughout history. The month-long celebration occurs every February and is practiced mostly throughout African diaspora communities in North America and Europe.

The origins of BHM date back to 1926, when the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASNLH) sponsored the first national Negro History Week, according to the site, africanamericanhistorymonth.gov.

Beginning Feb. 7 and ending on Feb. 14, the dates were chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two events which were celebrated by African American communities since the 19th century.

However, instead of simply celebrating the two men, the tradition extended toward studying the rich history of African-Americans and promoting their achievements.

This eventually evolved into Black History Month, which was first held in 1970, but the events became officially recognized in 1976 when President Gerald Ford called upon America to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Many other countries with large black communities have adopted BHM, but it has only been officially recognized in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The most notable figures commemorated during BHM today are civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and Sojourner Truth, who paved the way for future black leaders to thrive in white-dominated spaces.

Amongst African-Americans, Black History Month has many different meanings.

Two black Alexandria Senior High students weigh in on the significance this month has to them.

Nya P., 16, speaks of her gratitude to her predecessors.

“To me, Black History month represents a celebration of prominent black figures who came before me. It means paying tribute and giving respect to those who fought diligently for me to have a better life among my peers of other races. Throughout black history month, I feel it is especially important to recognize people who made significant impacts on the lives of black people like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, and many more. Black history month is a time to remember all the progressive changes notable black figures have made. People like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, risked their lives to fight for freedom and equality; they can be credited to some of the major changes in the civil rights movement.

Political figures such as Barack Obama and Kamala Harris have made recent history and a huge impact on the black community by becoming the first black president and black female vice president of the United States. I look up to black figures who have paved the way and opened up doors for so many African American people like me. I show my appreciation for outstanding black figures who sacrificed everything they had by working industriously every day in hopes to live up to the potential that they saw for the future of black Americans.”

Alexis O., 16, pays tribute to activists old and new.

"Black History Month, to me, means paying tribute and honoring the heroes that have fought and struggled for equality in a world built against them. During this month we recognize some of the greatest legends in history. One being, activist and spokesman, Malcolm X, who fought and died fighting against oppression and urging other Black Americans to take a stance against racial injustice. Another being, activist and abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, who had escaped and rescued slaves to help them to a better life. Malcom and Tubman did what not many would and were able to overcome the impossible. Whether it be so little as speaking out against discrimination, or going so far as to ecape slaves through underground networks, these black heroes put their lives on the line to give Black Americans the justice and liberty they were deprived of for centuries. And though these brave heroes faced and overcame great challenges throughout history in order to give us the world we know today, there is still so much work left to be done. This is why we continue to celebrate and uplift black voices during Black History Month."