Often when we look into our past, we view our history with different lenses. Maybe we see our past from a rose-tinted perspective, glorifying the villains and turning simple into extraordinary feats.
We also tend to use a clouded vision. We overlook moments or people; we push events we are ashamed of off to the side. This is the perspective that hinders progress and takes away from the accomplishments many fought so hard for. This is best described by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his revolutionary, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” wherein he observed that the biggest obstacle faced by civil rights activists was not large groups like the White Citizens Council, but the thousands of average people who would rather have peaceful ignorance then tumultuous equality.
It is because of this that Black History Month is such an important part of American culture. As long as it remains established, it ensures that the valiant actions of activists and abolitionists never fade from our minds.
This year marks the 49th Black History month in the U.S., after it first became a nationally observed commemorative month in 1976 under Gerald R. Ford’s presidency. While Black History Month originally began as only the second week in February, it soon grew to encompass the entire 28 days thanks to the efforts from numerous colleges and President Ford.
Since that first historic month, each February represents not only Black History Month, but also a specific theme to accompany it. The theme for 2025 was “African Americans and Labor” and focused on the myriad of ways forced and voluntary African American labor contributed to the growth of America.
It is an indisputable fact that America’s success not only as a country but as a democracy is dependent on the efforts of African American workers. Ever since the U.S. gained its independence, its economy has relied heavily on goods like tobacco and cotton to support it. The ability of the country to mass produce these commodities is due in no small part to the efforts of thousands of slaves.
Despite this fact, it would take over a hundred years for African American citizens to be considered equal in the workplace under the law. This movement came in the form of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was passed by Congress after the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v Board of Education. Not only did this act fight to prevent discrimination in the workplace, but also in all public accommodations such as schools and restaurants.
This legislation would be meaningless, however, without the efforts of the people it aimed to protect. It is often speculated that the bold stances taken by activists like Ruby Bridges, were the most integral parts of the civil rights movement.
You may have heard of Ruby Bridges before, the youngest member of a group of African Americans children chosen to be the pioneers of desegregation. At just six years old, Ruby Bridges was the only one of these students who enrolled in school. Despite the backlash and hatred, the slurs and threats, Ruby held her head high as she entered the building, and even higher when she left.
Ruby Bridge’s actions serve as a reminder that we don’t need to wait until we are grown to make a change. Not everyone is presented with perfect opportunities, often times we have to make them ourselves.
So even though Black History Month has ended, it remains ever important to remember the people that shaped our country. Not simply to honor their memory but to use their visions as a guide for our future. History is not doomed to repeat itself so long as we remember it. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right when the head is totally wrong”.
References
Banerjee, A., & Johnson, C. (2020, February 26). African American Workers Built America. Clasp. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.clasp.org/blog/african-american-workers-built-america/
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (Ed.). (2025, February 11). Ruby Bridges. Britannica. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruby-Bridges
History.com Editors (Ed.). (2025, February 18). Black History Month. History.com. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
Jean-Philippe, M. (2021, January 26). 55 of the Most Powerful Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes. Oprah Daily. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/relationships-love/g25936251/martin-luther-king-jr-quotes/
Parrot-Sheffer, C. (2025, February 20). Black History Month. Britannica. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Black-History-Month