As we all know, February is recognized as Black History Month in the United States and in many other parts of the world. From the time we were small, many of us have been to countless Black History programs and tributes that highlighted the brilliance, sacrifice and courage of African-Americans throughout time.
To be honest, February really didn’t feel much like Black History month to me. I’m not saying that we must only think of Black History in February, and I don’t mean to belittle any other culture or ethnicity. I’m simply saying it has felt just like in other month of the year when it’s suppose to be a time of great significance and strength not only to African-Americans but to everyone.
Now before anyone takes this the wrong way, please don’t think that I believe my race is superior or above anyone else’s because that is so not true. I just feel that this is very important and it saddens me to see so many not even acknowledging its relevance anymore.
I have asked many people I know and speak with on a daily basis about black history, and it seems as if many of them thought of it as some kind of cliché or something, like it was something that has been rehearsed and repeated so many times without a cause and is useless or an inconvenience.
When it comes to establishing programs and other ways of paying tribute, we are not as excited or eager as we should be. As college students, I feel we get so caught up in the future we are trying to make for ourselves, we tend to forget about the ways that were paved for us by the heroes and heroines of our past.
This is especially close to my heart because yes, I am an African-American and though I’m not very old, I have seen a lot in my life. I see every day how many of the things we take for granted would not be possible without the strength and the intelligence of many other African-Americans.
For example, Sojourner Truth is a wonderful example of this. Truth was one of the most profound African American and women’s activist during the 18th and 19th centuries. She was born into slavery, misfortune and under unjust circumstances, but her fight for justice and the truth was nothing short of remarkable. She is most famous for her 1854 speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?”
In one of the most powerful parts she said, “That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud puddles, or gives me any best place, and ain’t I a woman? … I have plowed, and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me – and ain’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man (when I could get it), and bear the lash as well – and ain’t I a woman? I have borne 13 children and seen most all sold off to slavery and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me – and ain’t I woman?”
We, the present generation, may never know the pain, fear or devastation that our ancestors did, but we can definitely honor them for all the obstacles they endured so we could walk with our heads held high, never having to look down to anyone.
We need to wake up and realize there was a battle in the past and there is still a battle going on now, but we can never forget about our fallen soldiers and those who are still on the battlefield. Our future is only as bright as the past that came before it. If the past is forgotten, we will be lost forever.
Stedmond Ware is a sophomore majoring in biological sciences. He can be contacted at [email protected].