Carter G. Woodson, founder of Black History Month

By Ava Tenn

Black History Month is the recognition, and celebration of the Black Race.

It takes me back to my people before me and leads me to the celebration, recognition and inventions the Black Race made to society. A race of people, who restrained, sustained and overcame.

Black History celebrates who they were, who they are and who they’ll always be.

The celebration of Black History began in Feb. 1926. Launched by Carter G. Woodson and known as “Negro Week” before it became Black History Month.

Carter was determined to letting the world know that Black History was a subject to study and to be aware of the history of the Black Race. He wanted the world to know about the many inventions and contributions they made to society. He believed the hidden history and culture of the Black Race should be known and celebrated. So, he made it his life’s work to research and write about the African American experience.

The African American experience began when African Americans were taken from their homeland and brought to America to work on plantations in rain, sun, snow and hail 18 hours a day from sunset to sundown sewing, reaping and producing. They were held against their will with no rights or control, withheld from voting or voicing their opinions, or a chance to struggle against corporate punishment, degradation and insults. They were refrained from knowledge, education, and the simple right to learn to read and write. They were beaten, lynched, mutilated and auctioned. They lived in deplorable conditions wooden shacks and dirt floors, slept on straws and board beds, and ate boiled corn and leftovers.

But even through their hardship, struggle and pain, they managed to be triumphant. Be who they are today, a people who are known, recognized and celebrated. A beautiful powerful race of people, who can reach their limit and still find heights to go. Without their intelligence, determination, inventions and contributions to society, civilization would not be what it is today. African Americans holds the patent to thousands of inventions in household names, medical, technical, mechanical, industrial and communication devices.

African Americans are inventors of the traffic light, elevator, electrical resistor, blood plasma bag, telephone transmitter, disposable syringe, and a system that revolutionize the sugar and shoe industry. The first open heart surgery was performed by an African American and the first self-made millionaire of any race or rank was an African American woman. Everyday we unknowingly celebrate African Americans and Black History by using their inventions.

The black race will always be a people with a history to celebrate. They are who they are today because of whom they were yesterday. They are triumphant, resilient, and full of pride. The history of the Black Race is who they were, who they are, and who they’ll always be.

Today the Blackman who endured so much hatred, pain, fight and suffering is the president of the United States. Who says resilience, hard work and determination doesn’t pay off?

Who says if you really want change things has to remain the same?

Black History means resilience and respect, history reveals, liberation come true, and victory is success.

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