Black History Month

The first day of February marks the beginning of Black History Month, a month when important black figures are honored throughout the United States; at least that's how it is supposed to be. Ten Central students were all asked what person they are taught the most about during this historical month and eight out of the ten said Martin Luther King. This raised the question: Out of all the important black figures, why do we mainly focus on only one man? Black History Month was originally known as, “Negro History Week,” and was celebrated during the second week of February. Carter G Woodson, an African-American historian and journalist, created this week in 1920. Woodson was one of first scholars who chose to study African American history. During the 1960 Civil Rights Movement, Negro History Week became heavily affected and by 1976, it was made into its own month. It is a bit ironic how the man who created this special month isn't even the face of it. It is even more sad than ironic that many people wouldn’t even know what Woodson did if his name came up. Martin Luther King is well known for his, "I Have a Dream," speech of 1963. His influence during the Civil Rights Movement could be a reasonable explanation for his being covered the most during Black History Month. However, it is unacceptable that important black figures who impacted history by being rebellious during this time period are not covered enough. Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton, who were both African American political activists, are not covered in classrooms. Newton and Seale co-founded the Black Panther Party in 1966. These men both believed that fighting violence with peaceful protest wasn’t an effective way of thinking. “Sometimes if you want to get rid of the gun, you have to pick the gun up,” said Newton. The Black Panthers fostered many unique programs that catered to Blacks who lived through an oppressive era. Examples of these programs are the Black Student Alliance, employment-referral services, and free clothing programs. The most popular program started by them was the Free Breakfast for Children program. All three of these important figures made a great impact in the black community. While Martin Luther King fought for equality, Newton and Seale did too; they just had a more violent approach. Yet, like many important historical African American figures, these two are forced to stand in the background during the celebration of black accomplishments because their methods weren't the way others wanted them to be. "I am not a hoodlum. I'm a community organizer," said Seale during the Civil Rights Movement. If only others saw him--and all other heroes whose methods were controversial--the same way. If not for war, how would slaves have been freed? As said by George Washington, "To prepare for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace."

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