Black History: Let’s Move Beyond the Famous 10

Many people have contributed to the growth of America past and present… It would be great progress if all of their stories could be told all year long. In fact, it would be wonderful if we could just refer to these stories as “American History…” Until then, we need these months to tell the stories left out of our country’s great history. T. Lanette Pollard

I have quite a few opinions about Black History month. I could talk about the fact that it is during the shortest month of the year. I could also talk about the fact that the same historical figures (the “Black History 10“) are presented during February.

Wait, let me say that again: The same Black historical figures that I learned about as an elementary student from 1973 to 1978 are still being taught to our children in 2016. In 1973, I was 5 years old. I am now 47 years old. That is a sad statement of America’s progress. Even sadder is the resistance of some people to accept that racism still exists. (However, that could be a post on its own.)

This Tumblr post from HistoryLover restored my faith that our stories will be told beyond the designated “10.” Many people have contributed to the growth of America past and present: Black Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Americans, European Americans (male and female). It would be great progress if all of their stories could be told all year long.

In fact, it would be wonderful if we could just refer to these stories as “American History.” Unfortunately, if we do not have an honest conversation about America’s history of racism and exclusion and how it still has an impact in today’s society, this will not happen anytime soon. Until then, we need these months to tell the stories left out of our country’s great history. 

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Related articles

• National African American History Month
• The New York Times is unearthing unpublished photos from its archives for Black History Month