Commonly referred to as the month of love, February brings much more than just the arrival of Valentine's Day. It is also Black History Month, which celebrates the contributions of African Americans throughout history.
"It should be celebrated because it remembers African Americans that weren't remembered back in the day," said George Washington High School sophomore
Raymon Doane.
For other students, it is also a celebration of their personal histories.
"It is a chance for us to celebrate our roots... [in] the fact that we have our own month we have a chance to grow," said senior
Ashlee Frey.
Founded by Dr.
Carter G. Woodson in 1926, the original celebration, Black History Week, took place during the second week of February to commemorate the birthdays of
Frederick Douglass and
Abraham Lincoln, both of whom had great historical impact on African Americans through the abolition of slavery.
Since then, Black History Week has expanded to become Black History Month and is celebrated throughout the United States. It focuses on great African American historical figures and the strength it took for them to overcome their obstacles and make major contributions to society across the board.
In politics,
Thurgood Marshall changed a nation by becoming the first African American Supreme Court justice, paving the way for other African Americans in politics, and influencing the outcome of many important court cases, including Brown vs. the Board of Education, which mandated desegregation in the U.S. public education system.
In other civil rights issues,
Martin Luther King Jr. and
Rosa Parks crusaded for and won the desegregation of public busses through the nonviolent Montgomery Bus Boycott.
"Rosa Parks should be celebrated because of the role she played in civil rights, and even in her death her lifetime accomplishments still affect people," said senior
Jeniece Jones.
King continued to fight for civil rights in the face of adversity and, at the age of 35, became the youngest man ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize. His wife,
Coretta Scott King, who recently passed away on Jan. 30, shared his peaceful ideals and was said to personify the characteristics of the civil rights movement he fought for.
In business, Madame
C. J. Walker launched a hair care business in 1906 that made her the first African American millionaire.
In music, the Harlem Renaissance and numerous other great African Americans transformed the way modern America views music.
W. C. Handy published the first blues song, Marian Anderson sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and
Ray Charles,
Duke Ellington,
Louis Armstrong, and
Aretha Franklin rocked the country with their music.
In sports,
Jesse Owens won four gold medals in track,
Jackie Robinson became the Most Valuable Player in the National League, and
Althea Gibson became the first African American to win a U.S. Tennis Championship, paving the way for other with similar dreams.
In writing,
Ida B. Wells lead the anti-lynching crusade through her journalism to protect the safety of African Americans in the 1890's.
Zora Neale Hurston and
Langston Hughes challenged the traditional style of writing and created new niches in the field.
The contributions of these amazing African American men and women live on today, affecting how America runs its public systems, the opportunities available for people of all racism and the way the arts are viewed worldwide.
"Without the struggles that were made, I wouldn't live the life that I do. By living my life to the fullest, I am celebrating their dreams," said Jones.
Article submitted by: Katie Whitnah, George Washington High School