Stories

Why is Black History Month Important?

Why is Black History Month Important?

Initially, Black History Month was a way of teaching students and young people about Black and African-Americansā€™ contributions. Such stories had been largely forgotten and were a neglected part of the national narrative.

Now, itā€™s seen as a celebration of those whoā€™ve impacted not just the country but the world with their activism and achievements. In the US, the month-long spotlight during February is an opportunity for people to engage with Black histories, go beyond discussions of racism and slavery, and highlight Black leaders and accomplishments. Every year, a theme is chosen by theĀ ASALH, the group originally founded by Woodson. This yearā€™s theme, ā€œBlack Resistanceā€ focuses on how, through resistance, Black people have ā€œachieved triumphs, successes, and progressā€ in the US.

For many modern Black millennials, the month-long celebration for Black History Month offers an opportunity to reimagine what possibilities lie ahead. But for many, the forces that drove Woodson nearly a century ago are more relevant than ever.

As Lonnie G. Bunch III, Director of the Smithsonian Institution said at the opening of the Washington D.C.ā€™s National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016: ā€œThere is no more powerful force than a people steeped in their history. And there is no higher cause than honoring our struggle and ancestors by rememberingā€.