Since 1926, Black History Month has remained an annually celebrated holiday. It is a time to commemorate the achievements and contributions of heroic African American citizens. Before the 20th century, historical records of the United States failed to include African American his-tory. School textbooks did not even mention the struggles and achievements of African Ameri-cans until Carter G. Woodson, an African American scholar, championed the cause to begin re-cording and acknowledging the history of the African Diaspora. His hard work and persistent efforts resulted in a Black History Week to educate Americans about African history. For many African Americans, the holiday provides an opportunity to celebrate the years of African history that the United States had neglected for so long.
I remember going to school early on a Monday morning in February and seeing posters of African American heroes such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. In elementary school, teachers dedicate the month to doing activities, games, and projects in remembrance of famous black historical figures. I associate Black History Month with short awe-inspiring documentaries displaying the valiance of these heroic figures and the accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement. I recall listening to stories showcasing Rosa Parks' bravery and conviction when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger before being arrested for her disobedience. Mar-tin Luther King, Jr., one of the most celebrated figures during Black History Month, acted as the figurehead of the Civil Rights Movement. His renowned "I Have a Dream" speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial inspired those seeking justice during the Civil Rights March in Washington, D.C. He dedicated his life to battling racial inequality using non-violent methods. The image of my classmates' re-creation of the famous "I Have a Dream" speech neatly plas-tered on the hallway walls of my elementary school reminded me of the tremendous sacrifices made by Civil Rights activists to improve the future of racial equality for Americans.
However, Black History Month is not accepted by everyone as the most adequate way to alleviate race relations in the United States. Some African Americans argue that packing the his-tory and celebration of an entire race of people into a single month seems rather absurd. Is it pos-sible that Black history could be counterproductive to its intended purpose? Does allocating a month to celebrate Black history somehow separate it from American history? Should the history of African Americans be even more prevalent in American history textbooks? Wouldn't such a change also require the increase of Asian American, Jewish American, and Hispanic American history in school textbooks? These are questions currently being discussed by historians in the United States and around the world.