Celebrating Black History Month, Today

Me and my sister, the lovely, Jeryn Turner& As Black History month comes to an end, I am reflective about what it means historically and what it means now. Historically, Black History month was created to be a national celebration to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans. One of the goals was to help Americans, as a whole, understand Black customs and history--thereby challenging negative stereotypes.& Those who are “woke” or even just aware of things beyond their own experience know about the accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. Those who are better informed may know about all that A. Phillip Randolph, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Julian Bond did to advance the rights of Black people. And those who are lovers of the arts have been moved by Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston and Nina Simone. Their stories and their accomplishments were informed by allies and opponents to the advancement of the rights of Black people. Indeed, there were non-Black people on both sides of the issue. To think that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed just 60 years ago tells us that those who are alive today participated in many of the...