Black History Month remains an inspiration
February 4, 2010
By MARY STARR
The Brunswick News
Young people find annual observance as relevant as ever
Long before the Civil Rights Movement arrived at its peak, between 1955 and 1965, there were activists working to end slavery, segregation and unfair treatment of African-Americans.
Non-violent protests and marches, boycotts and sit-ins culminated in the 1963 March on Washington, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to the hundreds of thousands of people gathered.
Eventually, U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which guaranteed basic civil rights for all Americans, regard- less of race.
Black History Month was established in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as “Negro History Week.”
Woodson originally chose the second week of February because it contained the birthdays of two people who worked to improve the conditions of African Americans – Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
But with the Voting Rights Act marking its 45th anniversary and President Barack Obama, an African-American, elected to the highest office in the country, is Black History Month still relevant?
Yes, say two students at the College of Coastal Georgia.
Dave Jackson, 20, a physical therapy major from McIntosh County, and Domi- cia Humphries, 22, a business major from Atlanta, point out that observances such as Black History Month remind young people of the forebears who paved the way for them.
“It lets us know that we can accomplish whatever we choose,” said Humphries.
The examples of leadership, peace and unity demonstrated by their ancestors give the younger generation, many of whom, like Humphries, had grandparents involved in the Civil Rights Movement, an idea of how to succeed.
Humphries says that most young people she knows want to achieve unity.
“We don’t want to be classified as black or white,” she said. “We want unity and equality among all races.”
This generation, following the standards set by earlier civil rights leaders, believe that their responsibility is to make things better for those who are “coming up” behind them.
It’s important, said Jackson, for young leaders to teach other young people right from wrong and spread encouragement.
“They need positive role models and exposure to opportunities,” he said.
Black History Month gives people an opportunity to look back and gain knowl- edge about the struggles that members of previous generations endured and why.
“It’s a time to reflect on what they did for us and it encourages us to strive and do better,” Jackson said.
Both students are grateful for the opportunities they have, and they readily acknowledge that they have limitless opportunities compared to those of their parents and grandparents.
But as far as things have come, racism is still a reality, these two students say. Humphries said that a Black History Month poster at her workplace has received some complaints from customers.
“Racism is still alive,” Jackson said. “The first thing people notice is you’re black ... until we can get past that, we’ll always have it.”