A Tribute to Black History Month

“We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.” -- Carter Woodson

This is a tribute dedicated to our history; Black History. For many have questioned why are we the only group of people with a month dedicated to us. Last week at a forum that was hosted by the NAACP one of the questions that stood out to me was, 'What would the world be without Black People?'

It was a question that I never really asked myself. Indeed what would the world be without us, a wonderful group of people. Some responses received was that there would be no Hip-Hop others answered that inventions such as the gas mask that was invented by Garrett Morgan. Or even down to potato chips that we eat that was invented by George Crum, would not be created.

So let's take a couple minutes in history class and learn about the history of Black History Month.
Negro History Week was announced in 1962 by Carter G. Woodson, who was an historian and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. They dedicated the second week in February a Negro History Week due to two important birthdays in African-American history. The birthday's of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14).

However, in 1976 the first Modern Black History Month was created. It came about as a suggestion by leaders of the Black United Students at the Kent State University in Ohio in 1969, where the first Black History Month was celebrated the next year in 1970. It wasn't until six years later where it was officially recognized by the federal government and President Gerald Ford.

A tribute to Black History because many have paved the way. In 2016, we saw Black celebrities such as Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce put on great performances dedicated to our rich history. So here's a tribute to Black History; one that is around us 24/7; 365/366. We as African-Americans should be proud of our heritage and look at where we came from. Look at our progression from the Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade to the Civil Rights Movements to Our Modern Era. We've made some major accomplishments throughout the time period. And we should continue to excel and be great.

So I leave with this challenge and that is to love your melanin. Love the skin you're in.

-Black Queen.

“We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” -- Maya Angelou