The History Behind Black History Month

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – What started out as a week long observation of African American history, is now a month long nationwide celebration.

With every new generation, some people worry that the leaders of prominent American History are getting lost in the pages of text books.

“Black history Month from where I’m from wasn’t really taught on a consistent basis,”said Mississippi State University Sophomore Christopher Lee.

Mississippi State University Sophomore Christopher Lee attended a school just outside Hattiesburg.

“I went to a predominantly white suburban school and whenever it became February we would get maybe one or two days talking about the important figures that were before me and so it always dawned on me, why is it that we learn about every other part of history but when it comes to significance in the African American Community we only get one or two days,”said Lee.

History shows negro history week was designated the second week of February by black historian Carter Woodson in 1926.

Aaliyah Moore works for the Mississippi State Institution of Diversity Inclusion department. She also helped bring the university’s first Black history program to campus.

She says it’s important to let the younger generations know just who helped pave the way for them to succeed.

“When you say black history month of course you see names like Martin Luther King Junior and Rosa Parks and of course those were things we were taught in our generation but as time progresses, we’re kind of getting far removed from that. I don’t thing the lessons ever become not important because those people, of course really really paved the way,” said Moore.

MSU Freshman Elliott Ware says he had a different experience with learning Black History growing up in the state’s capital city.

“Where I’m from Black History is something that’s celebrated all month from schools to churches on the radio, there’s a lot of events. Definitely celebrating the figures that came before us and made changes that we could have better opportunities and have an impact and make even more change,” said Ware.

Lee says no matter where you go to school, take on the task of seeing the history for your self.

“Do your research on how we got to where we are today and make sure you understand that you have the power to change anything you want to in life and this is something that our fore-fathers preached about and actually went through struggles and triumphed over to get to where we are right now,” said Lee.

The MSU Black History program titled “Back To Black” will be February 28th at 7pm.