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It's Black History Month!
 For some, Black History month is a time for remembering those who have made everlasting impressions on this nation and the world; historical figures like Harvey Smith, Tupac Shakur, and Barack Obama. For others, it’s a time of commemorating community activists who have made an impact on black neighborhoods through their day to day dedication. However you feel, you should celebrate Black History, and take a moment to see what Youth Radio staff and students have to say about Black History Month. |
 Black History is current events! A lot of people feel that for an event or a person to relate to Black History it has to be something that happened fifty years ago. But I feel that BH is happening around me every day. I think when I say this, people may immediately draw connections to what’s going on in the democratic primaries right now. But I would challenge those people to turn their eyes to the streets. Now some of the BH that you may see today can be found in a youth center or on a basketball court, even on the corners where young black men and women can be seen selling drugs or selling their bodies. We may not acknowledge these day today events as black history. But in thinking this way, we relinquish our history to be told by others who did not live it. We must realize that this month is not just about remembering the past, it’s about celebrating the present so that African Americans can have a future.
- Quincy Mosby, 21
 Honestly I take [Black History Month] for granted. If [no one brought] it up, I wouldn’t have thought about it. I forgot February is BHM. I’m more worried about losing my house. I don’t have time to think of anything else.
- Desean Clintin, 18
It’s funny to me that I know when Black History Month is, and yet fail to remember when the history and culture of my own people is recognized in the American calendar... That being said, working with a lot of black youth, February kind of makes me sad. The young folks often have a certain cynicism around the month and what it represents, referencing how it is a topical solution towards a larger problem. That’s something I can’t argue, but it hurts when it comes up as their reason to forego pursuing knowledge of one’s self and culture. In my eyes, that expression of defeat is emblematic of oppression.
- Erik Sakamoto
BH is a celebration for all that have done things in the past for our culture... To recognize those who have paved this path for us. Like the ’68 Olympics with John Carlos and Harvey Smith... And everyone knows the King stood up for non-violence and Civil Rights.
- Allante Coleman, 16
Not too long ago I was on the bus and this older Black man asked to use my cell phone. I didn’t say yeah and he said, “you aint nothin’ but a yellow bitch!” He didn’t know that my grandpa is African American and that I always had a problem with my skin color. Incidents like this make me think of Black History everyday. I wonder how that scene would have changed if we were back in the day.
BHM is a good time to remember all the good things that Black Americans have accomplished: civil rights, jobs, and voting. But I don’t pay huge attention to this month... It seems like every year it’s the same information we hear of MLK, Huey P. Newton, and Malcolm X. We should make BHM a month to bring about new leaders. It should be reinvented because honesty, it’s not that interesting to me anymore.
- Leilani Hopson, 17
Black history month should be celebrated everyday because Blacks are a part of American History.
- Tapan Munshi
Black History Month? I call it "Wack History Month" due to mainstream media’s lack of pure attention and dedication… towards black history month. It’s good to know about Jimmy Hendricks and Garret Morgan but the youth need to learn more about what BH is truly about and how to return to the love we once had for ourselves. We no longer have the leaders we used to. I don’t consider Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson leaders that I would support. We’re just lost at the moment. When the media focuses on the tree clichéd movies: Malcolm X, The Color Purple, and Roots, what sense of education do we have? Lets face it, today’s sources of information are the internet and television so we have to focus more attention to display images of more of our ancestors and what’s really significant of why February is BHM. I grew up in a pro-Black family where we sat down everyday and went over things of our history and who we are so I have a better understanding but a lot of us don’t! I just want to see that change.
- Leon Sykes, 23
 Acknowledging Black History Month
"Though I have always noticed that my school doesn't acknowledge Black History Month, now that I am a senior, I feel there should be a change."
By Janee Wafer
Growing Up In a Sheltered Community
"I am surprised by the fact that I have not heard one thing to promote Black History Month at my school or within my community."
By Alex Espinoza
Remembering The Past
"While I do know some things about my history, I would like to learn more."
By Nakkaila Hayes
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