The Need to Celebrate Black History

It was July 8th, 1776. Though this is not the day we typically think of as our Republic's birth, it was indeed a triumphant celebration of the dawn of a new chapter in humanity's history. On this day, history tells us that the Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time. In acclamation of this fact, the famous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia was struck. Its chimes echoed throughout the Colonies, reflecting a jubilant hope that the dream of freedom would finally be realized for all of humanity.

The words of the Declaration likewise echoed throughout history, proclaiming in one rebellious voice a bold new idea: that "all men are created equal," and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This idea put forth by the fathers of the American Revolution represented a sharp break from the reality that the Colonists lived under at the time; it was their statement of a new world order, their manifesto of freedom. With the ringing of the Liberty Bell, they would throw off the shackles of British bondage that had henceforth dominated their lives.

Yet, even as the Liberty Bell tolled that day, and even as the Declaration was signed, thousands upon thousands of black slaves toiled in fields and worked under masters that subjugated and oppressed them. These people knew that as Philadelphia's symbolic siren of liberty rang that day, its chords celebrated freedom that they themselves could not fully enjoy. The chains of the white colonists would soon be broken, but the chains of black slaves would not.

When I think of Black History Month, I think of that moment in American history. Black History Month is both a recognition of where we have been and how far we still have to go. It is a recognition of who got us here. Black History Month is an occasion to celebrate the contributions of black people to our society and to recognize the hand that so many have had in bringing about a more equal and just United States.

This month, we celebrate trailblazers like Barbara Jordan, the first black congresswoman from the deep south; and we also celebrate icons of art, music, and entertainment, like Nina Simone and the legends of the Harlem Renaissance, who eloquently spoke to the struggle of black people and fought passionately for justice. This February, we also celebrate athletes and activists like LeBron James or Fannie Lou Hamer, who achieved great things and used their God-given gifts to advance the cause of equality for all. Ultimately, we celebrate titans of history, like Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King Jr., who risked their lives to liberate Black America from systemic racism. These heroes deserve our celebration and praise, and the stories of their sacrifices for liberty must continue to be told.

But to me, Black History Month requires action. Celebrating Black America and highlighting its heroes does not just mean telling their stories or reminding each other of their legacies for one month each year. Black History Month also means continuing the work that these heroes did. Fighting for economic justice, ending police brutality, reforming our criminal justice system, and recognizing the inherent discrimination in many of our American institutions. This is the work of our time, and it must be the work of Black History Month and beyond.

On that day in July of 1776, the tolling of the Liberty Bell proclaimed the founding ideal of a new nation: liberty. But this ideal was not a reality for the slaves that toiled on that Philadelphia day. Those people must not be forgotten, just as we cannot forget the heroes we celebrate this Black History Month. As we recognize their contributions to society, we must do everything we can to make sure that, as Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: that all men are created equal." Like the Liberty Bell, Black History Month rings like a siren of liberty, its cords celebrating Black America and its quest to be free. This month, we must ask ourselves, are we doing all we can to support this quest?