Black History All Year Round

Contributions to history by African Americans should be celebrated - always and all year round!

Read, learn and reflect as PPS students at Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy share and explain to educate us. Black History is American History.

Sean Russell

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy

Grade 12

Oppressed. Nameless. Forgotten in history. Black History Month dedicates time to recognizing the known and unknown Black trailblazers. Yet, one month isn’t enough. America rose to prominence from Blacks being used as a pedestal.  Years of slavery rampaged the United States before its abolishment. Even then, Blacks were still undermined and ridiculed. The “Talented Tenth” that did make it – the Jesse Owens’s, Muhammad Ali’s, and more faced undue burdens along the way, making their accomplishments more significant. The unknowns that took a step toward freedom and toward hope deserve reverence, too.  

There have been Black scientists, inventors, athletes, astronauts, billionaires, and more that have impacted millions of Americans and shaped today’s world. Images, autobiographies, and videos forever engrain their impact on history. This didn’t happen in a day, week, or month. Their contributions lasted lifetimes. So, we must honor their legacies in our lifetime. We must apply their tenacity, perseverance, and leadership in our journeys. We must be united. We must remember them... For, Marcus Garvey famously said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” 

Antawn James

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy

Grade 12

I feel that Black History Month should be celebrated all year round because I feel that people that come from a Black/African American background should be informed about all of Black history. A single month of learning about Black history is not enough to try and encapsulate the entire history of Black Americans or go into depth about the challenges and success they have achieved. One example of not having the time to cover influential Black Americans could be Cathy Williams. Few people know that she was the first African American woman to enlist in the army, and this could be said about other Blacks who achieved something great in the past but are not recognized today due to limited time. I am Black myself and do not even know much about the history of Blacks. We continuously learn about the same people when it comes to this topic, so we need to show some versatility, and a month does not give us time to do that.

Jeffery Zialo 

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy

Grade 12

In our society of celebrating more and more minority groups, Black History Month holds a certain level of prestige and significance in all communities. It not only highlights the great accomplishments of Black individuals and their incredible contributions to society, but also inspires other special monthly celebrations such as Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women’s History Month. The iconic catalyst that never fails to attract change always encourages positivity in a historically disenfranchised group, yet forces all people to understand their faults and leaves them with the message to be “greater.” However, to acknowledge and celebrate any significant historical impact that black people have made in America can almost never be accomplished in a single month. To celebrate Black History Month all year round is to drop the “month” and really drive the fact that Black History is American history. The undeniable struggle of the African American is a “known” but is never really a first in the lengthy list of domestic problems our country faces. To truly celebrate Black History is to incorporate it into our daily lives and celebrate community. By having our communities be more integrated and welcomed in the historical conversation, it could open up new avenues for problem solving. In celebrating Black History we must make sure that the situations that forced African Americans to be great do not continue to be the catalyst that Blacks have to overcome in order to create today and tomorrow's compassionate and legendary leaders. Celebrating Black history throughout the year, instead of just one month, can ensure new confidence for Black people and a new generation of great Black leaders.

Josiah Russell

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy

Grade 12

The importance of Black History Month is to celebrate the roles African Americans have played for our country over the past generations and what they did to make America what it is today. In the month of February, people honor African American legends/activists like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, etc. – all who brought profound change to America while simultaneously changing people’s views on African Americans. We have many opportunities to celebrate Black History Month all year round, such as: visiting Washington D.C. museums, checking out monuments of activists, watching documentaries on their history and influence in changing the laws to make citizens feel safe throughout America. There are so many opportunities to honor those who have died, making America more inclusive. But, in order to pass down history to our future children in or outside of school and to learn the full truth about how America is what it is today, we must take more than just one month to celebrate our rich and essential history.

Dameon Southard

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy

Grade 12

Black History Month is important to be remembered and honored as we look at those who made sacrifices to advance our country, bring us together and learn new discoveries. We have lost many good people who need to be honored for what they have accomplished and remembered for bringing people together and expressing their beliefs and opinions. Black History Month can be celebrated year-round to support those who have been put at disadvantages and for everyone to remember we are all equal human beings who deserve equal opportunities. Celebrating the accomplishments and importance of Blacks in America, all year around, would be a step in the right direction in achieving these goals.

Maiesha Mohiuddin

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy

Grade 12

Black History Month is important because it is a time to remember and honor all the people and different events that happened to help improve lives for African Americans/Black people. Black people in America have faced hardship and struggle for decades, so they deserve to be celebrated for their victories in overcoming all the oppression they have faced and that still affects their lives to this day. It is important to recognize that the situation for Black people in America has improved significantly, but there is still generational trauma that impacts them now. Black History Month can be celebrated all year round by keeping an uplifting spirit when facing discrimination or setbacks that still occur. It can also be celebrated by supporting African American/Black people in numerous ways such as: contributing to Black-owned businesses, learning more about different African/Black cultures, or donating to Black organizations. Although educational institutions could do more to make sure that aspects of Black history are celebrated all year long, there are things that individuals can do as well to promote the year-round acknowledgement and celebration of Black culture.