America has been a slave to racism for centuries. Even today, there is still racism embedded in the DNA of the US. However, as times are changing, people have become more kind and accepting of one another. For years, black people have been subjected to different forms of racism throughout their lives. To eradicate this negativity and to promote equality and peace, America celebrates the Black History Month each year.
Black History Month is an annual observance, also known as African- American History Month, which celebrates and recognizes the important people and events in history of the African diaspora. People of the black race receive an official recognition from the government of the United States and Canada. Black History Month is celebrated in the month of February in the United States and Canada while Ireland, Netherlands and the UK celebrate black history month in October.
Black History month originated in 1926 in the United States where it initially celebrated historian Carter G. Woodson’s Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The reason this week was chosen is also because it collided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12th, who then freed black slaves and continuously helped the black community when racism and slavery was prominent.
Initially, the Black History Month was considered controversial. Although its controversial aspect was observed from both sides of the coin. White supremacists considered Black History Month a disgrace to the American culture, as they believed that America was meant to be ruled by the Whites only. Flipping the coin, some Black people, including Actor Morgan Freeman and actress Stacey Dash have criticized Black History Month but for a totally different reason. They stated that the concept of giving Black people only a month of honor is unacceptable. They believed that Black History is American History and must be celebrated every day without putting a separate month for it.
Throughout the years, Black History Month is celebrated in different ways. Now that we are in the digital age, the word of The Black History Month has been spreading and trending across the internet. In 2018, for the first time ever, Instagram created its first ever Black History Month Program, with the help of the company’s Head of Global Music & Youth Culture Communications, SHAVONE.
Instagram is one of the most used social media networks in the world. For Black History Month, Instagram created a program where it featured a series of first time initiatives, including #BlackGirlMagic partnership with the popular music streaming app, Spotify. Instagram also launched a #CelebrateBlackCreatives program which now has more than 19 million followers.
Even big companies in the United States celebrate Black History Month, including Coca Cola, Google, Target, Macy’s , Adidas, Nike and Under Armour, to name a few. Black History is also a part of the education curriculum in schools from 2020 onwards.
On Jan 5th 2020, there was the wrongful killing of Breonna Taylor.. 2 detectives and 3 policemen wrongfully killed her although she pleaded not guilty and fired shots and no one was charged for her death. After this incident was leaked, there were many more cases that began to open up where black people were wrongfully killed. This is when the nation decided to take things more seriously. Celebrities, political leaders and citizens protested on the streets with the sign Black Lives Matter for months on end. Although Breonna did not get the justice she deserved, the detectives on the job were fired and blacklisted. Since then, the national demonstrations over police brutality and systematic racism began in the late May.
Now, the world has become comparatively more compassionate towards the black race. Black people have been wrongfully subdued in all fields for years. However, post the Black Lives Matter protest, things have changed. Citizens are now reducing the amount of racism that takes place online and offline, people and celebrities alike have been supporting black artists and black owned businesses.
It might not be possible to completely abolish racism in the United States at least for a few more years. However, it is possible to show compassion and kindness as a human being towards other humans and animals.
We wish everyone reading this a great Black History Month and we honor the history and legacy the Black race have left and will continue in the following years till the end of time.
