4 Activists To Remember This Black History Month
Many students know that February is Black History Month, but they might not know the history behind it. The practice of using February to remember important black Americans throughout history began in 1976. The original celebration, which lasted only a week, was created by Carter G.Woodson and other prominent African Americans of the time.
Since that time, every American President has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. But is a month enough? Many students don’t think so.
“I feel like it should be a longer time period to celebrate black history than just a month,” says Eastside student Oscar Norman.
While Oscar is right that a month can’t contain all of black history, we at The Eastside Times believe that it’s important to take these upcoming weeks to remember prominent African-Americans. To that end, we’ll be using this month to spotlight politicians and athletes, celebrities and activists, scientists and artists, record-breakers and world-changers— all of them African-American. We’re going to start the series today by spotlighting four black activists whose fierce work on behalf of equal rights helped paved the way for a more just America.
Martin Luther King Jr.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat everywhere.”
Marther Luther King Jr. is the reason many black people have the civil rights they enjoy today. He was a preacher at a church who marched for black people’s right to vote. He was born January 15, 1929, and died on April 4, 1968. He had 4 children and is best known for his famous “I have a dream” speech.
Malcolm X
“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Malcolm X was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist. He led protests against racism and police violence, fighting for a world in which black people were given the same freedom and treatment that white Americans enjoyed. He was the father of six children and a firm believer in the power of education. He was born on May 19, 1925, and died on February 21, 1965. He was assassinated by rival black Muslim Americans while he was giving a speech in New York City.
Rosa Parks
“Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet.”
Rosa Parks was an American activist who played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement. She was born on February 4, 1913, and died on October 24, 2005. She graduated from Alabama State Teacher College For Negroes and had zero children. She is best known for refusing to give up her seat on a bus because she believed that black people should have to freedom to sit wherever white people were allowed to sit. For this action, she became known as the “the First Lady of Civil Rights.” She was later given the Presidential Medal Of Freedom.
Harriet Tubman
“I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”
Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist who fought to free slaves. A former slave herself, she managed to escape, then made thirteen trips back to the South to help other slaves escape. She and the other slaves traveled along the “Underground Railroad,” a secret trail of houses that provided safe harbor to escaped slaves until they could reach freedom. She died on March 10, 1913, and was mother to one child.
