Black history part of America’s foundation
Editor’s note: This is the first-place winner in the high school division of the Black History Month Essay Contest sponsored annually by UPMC Washington Teen Outreach.
Recognizing Black history all year means respecting Black contributions, struggles, and achievements that are not just part of one month. They are part of our everyday lives and most importantly part of our country’s story. Black history is woven into the foundation of America. It is in the music we listen to, the food we eat, the language we speak, the laws we debate, and the culture we celebrate. It is impossible to separate American history from Black history, because the two are deeply connected. When the recognition is limited to February, we shrink something that has always been larger than a single month.
Black history is not just something from the past. It is happening right now. Segregation “ended” in 1964. That was not hundreds of years ago. That was during the lifetime of many people still alive today. The effects of segregation and discrimination did not disappear overnight. They continue to shape education, housing, healthcare, and opportunity. Now, Black teachers, artists, scientists, nurses, and activists continue to shape every community. They lead classrooms, create culture, make medical breakthroughs, and organize movements for justice. When we only talk about Black history in February, we ignore the fact that Black excellence and struggle continue all year long. To respect Black history is to pay attention to those contributions in every season, not just when it is assigned.
Respect for Black history also connects to Black health and wellness. Black communities were and are often treated unfairly in the healthcare system. Some were and are denied proper treatment, and others weren’t and aren’t listened to when they speak about their pain. This history is not small or unimportant; it has real consequences. Higher maternal mortality rates, unequal access to care, and medical bias are not random. They are connected to a long history of injustice. Acknowledging that history is part of respecting it. If we only mention these issues briefly during one month, we fail to understand how deeply rooted they are and how urgently they need attention.
Black history is not a side chapter. It is not a footnote. It is not a lesson squeezed into February. It is the foundation of this country. Enslaved Africans built wealth that shaped the economy. Black inventors created tools and systems that changed industries. Black activists fought for rights that benefit everyone today. Civil rights victories did not just help one group of people; they expanded democracy for the entire nation. Ignoring that reality, or reducing it to posters and quotes, minimizes the truth about who built and continues to build this country.
In February, schools hang posters, share quotes, and decorate hallways. But once March comes, those decorations disappear. Real respect should not disappear with the calendar. It should show up in what is taught all year, whose voices we listen to, and whose stories we choose to highlight. It should appear in textbooks, in classroom discussions, in leadership positions, and in everyday conversations. If we truly value Black history, we should not pack it into twenty-eight days and move on. We should carry that awareness into March, April, and every month after.
Recognizing Black history and its impact on our daily lives is respect. It means understanding our daily struggles, honoring the achievements, and continuing work towards equality. Black history is not just about remembering the past. It is about acknowledging that every single day we successfully make Black history, while being prayed on by a country we helped shape.
Kenia Williams is a senior at Washington High School.