Each February, people around the world observe Black History Month, a celebration established by historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. It honors culture and pride, and commemorates the conflicts that African Americans face. 

Students shared their thoughts on the holiday, reflecting on honoring Black culture and the sacrifices made by the African community: 

“What does Black History Month mean to you?”:

Aniya Young stated, “Black history month means a month full of empowering Black culture and recognizing African American history. It should be celebrated to raise awareness of discrimination and dark times.” 

Young draws attention to the importance of remembering past events, even though it is about celebrating culture; people should be aware of the difficulties that came with it. 

Adding onto that, Young said, “It’s important to be in the know about Black History Month. Not everyone is aware of what African Americans have been through. They were dehumanized, and the month can educate people on the harm of racial slurs that are used against African Americans.” 

She hopes that people will stop using racial slurs and become educated on Black culture, not just in February. 

“Is there a Black historical figure that inspires you?”:

Madison Holley explained, “I’m going to say Malcolm X, because he aggressively approached racism, and it’s looked down upon as disrespectful, but what’s misunderstood about him is that he begged for freedom. Whether you want to approach it passively or aggressively, that’s up to your own prerogative. I admire him for taking his own initiative and not caring about what others said about his activism. My favorite quote by him is ‘It’s time to stop singing and start swinging.’”

Despite Malcolm X’s stand for equality taking place during the 1950s and 1960s, his work  continues to influence the Black community about their identity and justice to this day. However, some students say this influence is not always emphasized in schools.

“Do you believe Black History Month gets the recognition it deserves in schools?”:

Young expressed, “To a certain extent, it is recognized in school. But the actual history and meaning are not talked about enough.” 

“No, I don’t think it’s looked upon in the light it should be. Many people don’t see the importance of Black History Month. It feels passed over, and I feel like teachers don’t take the time to bring up how it originated,” commented Holley.

Both Young and Holley believe schools should do more than just acknowledge Black History Month. Instead, they should help students get a clear understanding of what the month represents and its background.