Celebrating Black History Month by Atul Rawat

History is a brief narrative of the collective memories of a community. It is important because understanding the present needs to include the understanding of the sum total of past experiences. History is studied not only because of the interest it creates about knowing our past, but the study of the collective past memories is the medium of knowing about the self–both individually as well as collectively.

What happens if a person loses one’s memory is aptly described by the story of the American President Ronald Reagan and his Alzaimers during his last years. It is said that he was baffled by the respect that people showed to him. He forgot that not long ago, he was the most powerful leader of the free world. If such can be the result of memory loss at an individual level, imagine the tragedy that can befall a nation or a community if it were to lose the collective memory of its past.

It is indeed like suffering from a collective Alzheimer’s. If people forget or are made to forget their history they lose their morale, confidence and ultimately even their identity. A competitive or hostile community then can take advantage of such loss of identity and use the unfortunate community to further its own interests at the cost of the targeted community. Since the goal of study of the past is to know the self, it is closely connected to the sense of identity. It is thus the nature of the study of the past that it generates a tremendous amount of power. The other side of the coin is that forgetting the past generates an equal amount of weakness. Besides the History of American Blacks, World history is full of many such examples. However, even without going into other examples, it is easy to understand that the significance of the history of the American Blacks can neither be underestimated, nor be overstated.

The significance of Black American history lies in its contributions to the American story. This inclusive nature of the black history was emphasized by President Obama when he pointed out that: ”As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s important to remember that we shouldn’t treat this month as though it is somehow separate from our collective American history. Black history is American history.”

There are many very important contributions that the Black history has made to the American story. Some of these contributions, like resilience and resistance, need mention here. The Black Americans have demonstrated remarkable resilience and resistance in the face of systemic oppression and racism. From the slave revolts (the first recorded one took place on Christmas day in 1521 AD more than 250 years before the birth of the US) to the Civil Rights Movement (1960s), Black Americans have fought for their freedom and rights, often at great personal risk. From the abolitionist movement to the Civil Rights Movement, Black Americans have fought for equal rights and justice, paving the way for progress and social, economic, educational and cultural change. Their role in the American economy (from their labor during slavery and Jim Crow to their entrepreneurship and innovation in the present day), their struggle for educational equality (from the establishment of historically black colleges and universities to the fight for integrated schools and access to higher education), and their contributions to the sphere of culture (jazz, blues, hip hop, and gospel, to literature, fashion, and cuisine), are their great achievements.

In short, Black American history is significant because it represents the triumph of the human spirit in the face of oppression and injustice, and the ongoing struggle for freedom, equality, and justice. Historians understand and appreciate the importance of passing on the collective memory of these achievements and contributions from generation to generation to build a better future. It is therefore, no wonder that the celebration of Black History was started in 1926 by Historian Carter G. Woodson. It has ever since been celebrated in the US. Carter G.Woodson had also founded the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, to study, understand and appreciate the contributions and achievements of Black Americans.

Black History Month uses four colors—black, red, green and yellow—to symbolize unity and pride. These colors are widely used in various African flags and represent the link with the land of the origin of the whole of humanity. The four colors stand for resilience, sacrifice, and optimism of Blacks and reflect the natural abundance of Africa.

The inclusive nature of the celebrations is also reflected in the selection of the month to celebrate the Black History Month–February. This coincides with the birthdays of the great President Abraham Lincoln (b. February 12, 1809) and Frederick Douglass (February 20, 1895). In a way it is a homage to the President who declared the emancipation of the Blacks despite the fact that he had to fight the civil war and even got martyred for the ideals for which he fought.

Among the other notable figures celebrated during Black History Month are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who fought for equal rights for Blacks during the 1950s and ’60s; Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1967; Mae Jemison, who became the first female African-American astronaut to travel to space in 1992; and Barack Obama, who was elected the first-ever African-American President of the United States in 2008. The year 2023 has a similar importance attached to it as we celebrate the First Black Governor of Maryland veteran Wes Moore.

Every year the Association for the Study of African American Life And History (ASALH) chooses a theme for Black History Month celebration. The theme for 2023 is “Black Resistance”, which has not only challenged questionable practices but also has helped to build a more inclusive American society. It has moved us forward towards the ideals of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness enshrined in our Constitution.

The story of the celebration of the Black History Month is a story of celebration of our nationhood, our resilience, our creativity, and our perseverance as a diverse and inclusive people. It has enriched American culture, politics, and society and thus made wonderful contributions to the greatest experiment of humanity that American life represents.