Celebrating Black History Month
Story & Photo by: James G. Johnson, Jr.
What does black history month mean to you? For many, it’s just about honoring those same figures that we hear about
constantly every February. The same figures that dominate the text books in grammar school. The constant talks of slavery.
Don’t get it twisted though. All that is important beyond measure, and should be known by everyone, but there’s so much
more to focus on. African Americans have add such great strides in this world, in every field you can imagine. Instead of
focusing solely on the negativity we often encounter as African Americans, what’s important are the positive aspects oft life,
and the life’s of so many African Americans. How we have been able to work hard, aspire for greatness, and be successful at
achieving these things. There so many people in African American culture who need to be I’m the text books. Al Sharpton,
Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Colin Powell, & Tom Joyner don’t even tip the iceberg. No,
it’s not just about those who fight social and political injustice. For me, it includes those in ALL walks of life. Oprah & Tom
Joyner have fought amazing feats to make journalism a reality for me. Magazines like Black Enterprise, which focus on the
vitality of our culture, show us just how powerful we can be.
There are so many powerful African Americans in corporate America. People like Ursula Burns of Xerox, and Helen Gayle
of Care USA are just two more examples. These women have broken down doors in their respective fields that we can only
be thankful for. Take a look at the Savoy Top 100 for a glimpse of just 100 more influential African Americans making a way
for those who follow behind. I look back at how things were before me, in the 60s, 50s, and far before that, when we as black
people hadn’t a say at all. Our destinies were predetermined. Now, we’re running our respective companies. We’re running
the world. This is what I need my son to see. Yes, he needs to know the reality of where we once were. He needs to know that
some people are still hateful and that’s never going to change. But history tends to focus on those from long before our time.
He needs to know if the people in his current time that are making history. Present day history. Having the opportunity to take
him into the White House and meet out top officials was the best experience I could have ever provided him thus far, and it
sums up my black history. Teaching him the strength and powerful we hold in the world is what it’s about for me. He knows
that anything is possible. He knows he can actually be the president of the United States, and no one can stop him. This is
something that he’s learning; not just in February, but all year round.
James G. Johnson II
Founder, Editor in Chief
Urban Grandstand
Www.urbangrandstand.com
Twitter: @urbangrandstand
P.O. Box 46726
Bedford, OH 44146
(216) 673-8609
About the Author:
James Johnson, Jr. is a freelance writer. He
has published his own online magazine for
the last 10 years. He has a genuine love for
entertainment journalism. He holds an AA in
Journalism, a BA in Journalism, and is close
to completing an MBA. He is a member of
the Society of Professional Journalists, and
have worked closely with several major labels
throughout the past decade to promote various artists.
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