Throughout Montgomery County and across the globe, numerous individuals emphasize celebrating Black History Month.
According to the NAACP, Black History Month started as a celebration that lasted one week (the second week of February) to encompass the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Historian Carter G. Woodson was highly dedicated to displaying the many impactful contributions of African Americans and advocated for the appreciation of the overlooked accomplishments of African Americans. This idea eventually culminated in Black History Month.
According to UNG, the month of February has been ordained as Black History Month in the United States since 1976. During this month, the country comes together to celebrate the history of African Americans. People often commemorate it by engaging in deep discussions about African Americans and their achievements through various activities, such as film screenings and museum exhibits. Moreover, researchers conduct studies throughout the year on the attainments of past and present African Americans.
Sherwood High School teacher Dr. Babasola Ogunsanya cherishes celebrating Black History Month but advocates extending the celebration beyond February.
“As an educator, inclusion is part of my philosophy of teaching and learning. I believe no one should be left behind… As much as I appreciate [and] recognize the black history month, I believe this should not be restricted to one month out of twelve months of the year. This is less than 10 percent of the months of the year. I believe celebration and inclusion should be a way of life for us… I incorporate the philosophy which the celebration brings… The historical details of Black History month should be holistic and all inclusive” Dr. Ogunsanya said.
Many Montgomery County events aim to emphasize the inclusion that Dr. Ogunsanya discusses. One such event is the Black History Month Celebration at the Kids Museum. Other events include Black History Month Family Day at Woodlawn Manor Park, the History Happy Hour in the Sandy Spring Slave Museum, a Hip Hop History Celebration with Wordsmith at BlackRock Center, a BHM24 Concert at Maryland Youth Ballet, and numerous others at Visit Montgomery.
In addition, Montgomery County has a profound history involving the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was the trail through which courageous enslaved persons sought their freedom. Throughout these trails, there are a plethora of sites that can be analyzed to better understand the railroad’s history and significance.
Likewise, schools in MCPS, such as Kingsview Middle School, celebrated Black History Month with an impactful presentation about the month’s history and various interesting facts.
Montgomery County Public Libraries also plan to mark Black History Month this year by compiling digital collections about the historic month. They are also hosting events throughout the month, including speakers, lectures, movies, arts and crafts, and story times, to shine the spotlight on the past and future accomplishments of African Americans.
Sherwood High School sophomore Abby Gleason believes that events like these are crucial because people are responsible for emphasizing inclusion and creating a welcoming environment for all.
Gleason said it is important to “focus on the achievements of African Americans throughout history… Black history month also unites people through education. Through learning about African American history, we learn from the past how to make a better future. Some activities that promote Black history month are going to museums, watching educational videos about civil rights, black leaders, and slavery.”
Sherwood High School sophomore Alexa Walters echoed these sentiments. “From a student perspective, there is lots we can do as individuals to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all. This can start in conversations and interactions with others. We can be more mindful of the terms we use, the comments we make, and the motive behind them. By doing this, a whirlwind of racism and discrimination can be avoided, just by being mindful of what we say and do,” Walters said.
Article Written by Nisha Khatri of Sherwood High School
Photo Courtesy of Flickr