Andrew Prince
Staff Reporter
Black History Month is the month to celebrate African American triumphs, heritage, and adversities. January 2, 1970-February 28, 1970 was the first occurrence of Black History Month. February is the birth month of two historical figures who emerged large in black past, Abraham Lincoln born the 12th who issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and African American abolitionist, orator, and author Frederick Douglass born February 14th.
Since their deaths, the black community has celebrated their contributions to African American liberation and civil rights on both their birthdays. February soon became the month of Black History. Martin Luther King Jr. has become the most visible spokesman and leader during the civil rights movement in 1955. Harriet Tubman was enslaved, escaped, and helped others gain freedom as the “conductor” of the Underground Railroads. Rosa Parks is known as, “The mother of the civil rights movement”.
Muhammed Ali ranked as the best heavyweight boxer ever. Ali turned his attention to philanthropy and making life better for others. Barack Obama was the first African American president. George Washington Carver was an African American scientist and educator. Carver is famous for many inventions including a number of uses for the peanut. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in the MLB and won Rookie Of The Year.
The population of African American in 1870 was 4.8 million, but in 2019 the number of black residents of the United States was 46.8 million and 46.9 million in 2020. Racism has been a big problem in the U.S for years and years. With the passing of George Floyd who was murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest after a store clerk suspected Floyd may have used a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill. The cop had his knee on his neck even though he told them over and over he could not breathe but the cops did not listen. His autopsy stated that his death was a homicide caused by "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression".
It started an uproar in the world and people protested for months and months. African Americans are still fighting for civil rights. They do not feel equal to white people. African Americans are Americans too. They contribute so much to society such as music, sports, black owned shops, food, and their culture. It is only right that the month is contributed to them.
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