Remembering Black History Month – just in time

By De’Janae Johnson
Staff Writer

I’m black, and even I forgot it was Black History Month.
February has 28 days, 10 award shows, four holidays, Super Bowl Sunday and the NBA’s All-Star Weekend.
Oh, by the way, it’s also Black History Month. Special thanks to the Snapchat filters on Feb. 1 for reminding me that “I’m Black, and I’m Proud.”
But, of course, like many other people, it slipped my mind again. The month of February is packed with many distractions to stray us away into forgetting that it is the month to celebrate black people and our culture.
It is our time, as black people, to educate others on the history that is not taught in school and for us to shine light on the many achievements in black history.
This is a time for us to walk around with our heads held high with pride, flaunting our beautiful, brown skin.
But I have walked around with my head down, trying to wrap my mind around how I will maintain and exceed my sales goals for the month at work and what I am going to do for Valentine’s Day.
It took me sitting in class and talking to my fellow reporters and advisors about what should be in this week’s issue when I realized that we had not planned any stories on Black History Month.
A week and a half into February, and we all forgot something. Something important. So relevant to our campus and its newsworthiness.
I am not going to lie; I’m pretty ashamed to admit that I forgot such an important month, especially one that generations before me fought so hard for.
So let us take a moment to celebrate historical figures in black history: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Angela Davis, W.E.B. Dubois, Jackie Robinson, Maya Angelou and so many more.
Let us shine light on the hidden figures in black history, such as Katherine Goble Johnson, Huey Newton and Mae C. Jemison, to name a few.
A special shout out to past, present, and future black excellence, for their contribution to the success and progression of black history. Continue to provide representation for younger generations to look up to.