A LONG WAY TO GO
A Quick Look at these Past Month's Celebrations
of Black History Month and Woman's History Month
By: Alishba Khan
Every month, we dedicate a time to celebrate the diversity of our country that has helped us prosper. During February of 2021, we had our month-long celebration for Black History Month. Soon after, during the month of March, we celebrated Women’s History Month. As we reflect on the lessons and contributions from these groups, as students, these events have opened our eyes to what has been done, and what we still need to do, in order to reach the long-lasting goal of real peace and equality.
Origins of Black History Month
This month, dedicated to honoring our country´s black history, started in February of 1969, by other black students and educators of Kent State University, in order to shed light on some of the important black figures that have set high standards in all categories.
Last month, America celebrated this month not only by honoring Black Americans who have shaped our history, but also by highlighting what it means to be black in society and how coming face-to-face with implicit bias.
Some admirable Black Americans celebrated include the renowned
poet Maya Angelou, who used her poetry to express her views as a civil rights activist, with her acclaimed work ¨I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”
We celebrate Mathematician Dorothy Vaugn, a woman who used the power of numbers to help make the Apollo 11 mission possible. We remember esteemed boxer Muhammad Ali, a man who had 56 wins and 37 knockouts, all by the age of 39.
These admirable men and women built the foundations for younger generations.