WHY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IMPORTANT?
- Jan 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 24
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
"...Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen" (Mt. 4:12-23).
Stay Awake and Pray
As another Black History Month fast approaches, I ask myself, “Why is Black History Month important?” A plethora of reasons run through my mind, such as: how did we get a month on the calendar designated to celebrate our Black contributions and excellence to the history of this once-looked-upon country, in the world’s view, as the beacon of Democracy, the land of freedom and opportunity for everyone? Who started Black History Month, and when did it start?
Black History Month began as “Negro History Week” in February 1926, organized by historian Carter G. Woodson. In 1976, under the administration of Republican President Gerald Ford and to coincide with the United States of America’s Bicentennial, Black Americans’ contributions and accomplishments were extended to a month-long celebration in February and called “Black History Month”. Fast forward to 2026, under the administration of another Republican President, Donald Trump, the contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans are being erased or rewritten to minimize any significant contributions made by Black Americans to the United States of America. Books that tell the history of our enslaved ancestors have been removed from schools and colleges. Slavery, the Reconstruction Era, and Jim Crow Laws are being described by adjectives that paint these periods of time in a softer light by the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren of the ancestral perpetrators. They enslaved and routinely lynched our ancestors and developed a socio-economic system that remains today, which disproportionately provides advantages across the spectrum for the upper class and wealthy.
Although generations have passed since slavery and the lynching of our ancestors, we cannot let our history be watered down, white-washed, changed, or altogether eliminated. We are the stewards of the history of our ancestors in this country. African Americans must safeguard those sacred stories that have been passed down from generation to generation through storytelling, songs, and prayers. Informing the next generation of how resilient our ancestors were in their darkest days because of their unwavering faith in God and their hope that He would one day deliver them from the bondage of slavery. Our ancestors are those people who are spoken of in Matthew 4:16, “The people who live in darkness will see a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.” So many of our great leaders have seen this light amid darkness. One of my favorites is Harriet Tubman, also known as Moses. (Abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison nicknamed Harriet “Moses.”) Moses experienced dreams and visions of what was to come. Those visions helped her plan and guide hundreds of slaves to freedom land, both directly and indirectly.
We must share how our ancestors communicated their escape plans through coded messages in songs, such as “Steal Away”, which signaled imminent departure, “Wade in the Water”, which instructed fugitives to hide in water to evade tracking dogs, and “Go Down Moses”, which referred to Harriet. These songs transformed spirituals into powerful signals used in the Underground Railroad. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” was one of Harriet Tubman’s favorite songs. It signaled that the chariot (a conductor) was coming to take them away, or a chance to escape was imminent.
Currently, books on slavery, along with the contributions and accomplishments of our ancestors, are systematically being removed from school curricula and libraries throughout this country. We must be intentional in teaching and sharing the lived experience, contributions, and history of our ancestors in the United States of America with our youth and future generations on a weekly, if not daily, basis.
We must ensure that Black History Month is not erased from the calendar. Black History Month helps our community as a whole to celebrate and learn about the contributions and inventions Blacks have made, such as Garrett Morgan (traffic signal and gas mask), Dr Charles Drew (blood plasma), Dr Daniel Hale Williams (first successful open heart surgery), Katherine Johnson (NASA mathematician for space missions), Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X (Politics and Civil Rights). Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou (Literature and Poetry). We must also ensure that the families of the perpetrators who caused so much pain, suffering, and death to our ancestors never forget their ancestors’ role because of denial, shame, or refusal to engage in the uncomfortable discussions regarding the vile mistreatment dispensed by their ancestors/families.
Black History Month is important because it constantly reaffirms how good our God is. It also reminds me that our ancestors had joy with each other, although darkness surrounded them. They knew about God’s unchanging hands. Throughout our history, God has delivered us from our darkest days, and I know our God will deliver us from the dark days of our country’s current Administration. I will stand firm on the words in Isaiah 41:10, “Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.”
God, "You have brought [African Americans] abundant joy and great rejoicing, ..." (Is. 9:2). Celebrate Black History Month somewhere!
Stay Awake and Pray!
Stay Awake and Pray!
Author: Marla Clark-Sanders, President
KPC Coordinating Councils and Courts Southwest Region
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