Since 1976, the United States and Canada have recognized February as Black History Month. The idea to dedicate time to the contributions of African Americans was originated in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson. His vision was to increase the awareness of people and communities to the significant additions African Americans have made to the overall history of the United States.
His vision has grown since 1926 to include an entire month where elementary, junior high and high school students take time to learn about notable figures and accomplishments of African Americans.
Black History Month’s annual celebration has come with its fair share of criticism. From questioning the need to dedicate an entire month to a single race to complaints about the month chosen being the shortest month of the year, the opinions are as varied as they can be outlandish.
Regardless, the idea to educate ourselves about the historical influence countless African Americans have had on our country and communities is with merit. It is a time to dig past the dates and names to attempt to put you in the shoes of race of people who have struggled to gain an equal footing in the United States.
Without Black History Month we may be familiar but not as cognizant of the incredible feats of Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, or Maya Angelou. The contributions African Americans have made to the fabric of the United States are without question.
Throughout the history of the United States which African Americans have inspired you and why? The person you choose can be as recent as Tiger Woods or as old as Frederick Douglas. They person can be real or fictional. Which stories resonate with you? For example, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, or Ruby Bridges.
Daniel- throughout the history of the US Martin luther king has inspired me because of what he had done not only for the US but throughout the world. i like how he stands up for what he thinks is right and never gives up. magic johnson, michael jordan, bill russell, barry sanders, julius erving, wilt chamberlin, walter payton, jim brown, jackie robinson, hakeem olajuwon,and muhammed ali. all these people didn't play for the money they played because they loved the game. i like chris paul, ray allen, kobe bryant, tiger woods, maurice jones drew, andre johnson, calvin johnson, dwight howard, robert griffin III, and derrick rose i just like these players and look up to them..............
ReplyDeleteSena- Martin Luther King Jr. has inspired me the most. He stood up against racism. He changed the way we looked at people with a different skin color. Also President Obama, he has tried to make a big difference in the US and I think he has. Malcom-X, and Darren Sproles he is just so amazing and loves football! Dwane Wade has inspired me. He came from a very poor home. His father left him when he was very young. He is now a very good basketball player!
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ReplyDeleteWell I don't know where to begin. Probably Ruby Bridges has inspired me the most. For someone as young as her to have that courage is amazing. Her story almost feels unreal. The hatred and racism in our world is insane. Her story really pin points a lot of racism. Ruby was an exceptional little girl and everyone can learn something from her. Rosa came from any typical home then and she ended up opening the door for for black children across the US! She's amazing!!!!!! :)
Dillon/dillbill- In US history i think that Rosa Parks was one of the most remebered African Americans. She inspired me to stand up for what i beleive in. Rosa Parks was one of the most remebered African Americans there was. She was right up there with Martin Luther King Jr. She was remembered for her courage and her bravery. Rosa Park was remembered for not giving up her seet on the bus for a white person. I think that she did this because she was fed up with the way that white people were treating the Africa Americans. Her contribution was improtant because the stand she took inspired the entire Civil Rights Movment which helped everyone be treated not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
ReplyDeleteMine is Martin luther king junior. He was so brave to say all of that in front of 200,000 people. Watching rosa parks is very amazing. All of these people had to have so much gut to stand up to segregation. This is Aaron
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ReplyDeleteI like Brandon roy but I feel bad for him because of his knees..he is a great guy.....Samuel dalambert is a generous person that,donated more than 700 mill to haiti
700 thousand
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ReplyDeleteThe person who has inspired me the most would have to be Jackie Robinson. He was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. He had to go through critism,shunning from his teamates,and even death threats. The stories about him that stick with me the most are that he just ignored everything that people said about him and remained peaceful. Without Jackie Robinson doing what he did the game would never be the same. There would be no Willy Mays,Hank Arron,Rickey Henderson,Ken Griffey JR.,or even Carl Crawford. Without these players the.game would never be the same.
Natalia-Ruby Bridges has inspired me because no matter what you look like you do what you have to do even though people may not like you. It shows me that no matter what i do even though people may not think im cool or something if im doing the right thing it doesnt matter. Martin luther king jr. also inspired me because he stood up foor what he thought was right. so it really shows me that if i think something is right i should stand up for what i think.
ReplyDeleteMatea- All of them inspired me by telling people that they should be treated fairly to. They never gave up and always looked at the good things that could happen. Showed us how to be so courageous.
ReplyDeleteBut the person that really took my heart away with their courage was Ruby Briges. Who wouldn't be freaked out about doing what she did. Every other child didn't go to that school, but she went. It was hard for her, i know that. it would have felt so good being the first person to do that. now she can look back and say, i helped make a difference in the world.
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ReplyDeleteRyan-freedom isn't free-The person that was inspired me is probably Martin luther King Jr. He showed me that you can win some with out violence.You can can win wars with out weapons. The story that i mainly know is rosa parks well mainly because thats the only on i remember.I still like the story tho.How one person stud up for what we think is right and not be afraid of what might be consequences. I think we should all stand up for what we believe in . It will be hard but one person can make a huge difference.
ReplyDeletetrekster(Nissa ^_^) Rosa Parks has truly inspired me because she had the sheer... guts to stand up for her seat on the bus. It may not seem like much, like a huge fight over nothing, but she stood firmly against what happened everyday in her time period, against what was considered normal at the time. She wasn't afraid of getting jailed at all. I know that she's one of the most famous, but she really did make a difference in African-American's lives, starting the ball rolling towards the end of racism in America, finally overcoming it to the point that we, as a nation, have elected an African-American as our president. Just that simple act of not getting up made a huge difference, the effects showing even today.
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ReplyDeleteThroughout of the US history Martin luther King Jr inspired me because what he did for all the Us people and saying that we are all the same even if were black or white we are all the same. i like how he stands up for everybody.
Tay- People that have inspired me are Ruby Bridges and Jackie Robinson. I really like Ruby because she was younger than I am now and she still held her chin up and went into that all white school. She was really brave and I want to be like her. Jackie Robinson inspires me because he just wanted to play baseball and all of those people were yelling at him to get off the field. But he didn't. He just kept playing and did what he really loved to do. These people really had a lot of courage, and they deserved better than what they got. I don't understand why people feel that they need to hate someone because of their looks. They're a person just like you, so why would you treat someone exactly like you so bad? I just don't get it.
ReplyDeleteKatie H.- I think for me Rosa Prks and Martin Luther King Jr. have been the most in spiring because they used words and peaceful actions to change rights for Africans in the US. Even though they both were arrested and persucuted, they still stuck with what they believed in and that has inspired many other people to do the same!!!
ReplyDeleteAZI(ghost adventures freak)- well Ruby Briges in spires me 'cause she didn't back down from going and geting an education. And she grew up to be an amazing person.She showed amarica that all people have rights to do things like get a echacation,get a job, be with a mix of races. No matter what color , race,or age,we should go hand and hand at the table of brotherhood.
ReplyDeleteAmaia- I think one of my favorite is like millions of others, Martin Luther King Jr. He was just such an amazing man. He stood up for what he believed in and had immense amounts of self control to put up with what he did. If it weren't for him, I truly believe we would not have changed much from the fifties and sixties. After all these years he is never forgotten.
ReplyDeleteGabi- i think one of the people who has inspired me most would be martin Luther Kinf Jr. he was such an amazing person. everything he did came from the beliefs that he had. he stood up for what he believed in and did it without violence. even with all the violence around him he didnt fight hate with hate he did it with love. he really made a difference in our country and thats why he inspires me.
ReplyDeleteim inspired byall the people who tryed to make a better life for themselves and their children.these people really stood up for themselves and fRiends which all people should do if people lived like this today it would be a better place -belle
ReplyDeleteJacob- Martin Luther King Junior has inspired me the most because he is the person that i think did the thing that God would want most. He fought for equality which is great but he also did it in a peaceful manner which is better. I think that all of the Africa American athletes, especially those during white black segregation ending are really inspiring to do well no matter what the situation.
ReplyDeleteVInce-i think that martin luther king has inspired me the most. he was a great leader and did amazing things for our world. i also LOVE lebron james, he is the coolest amazingest bball player ever. I also like michael jordan he was amazing. the story about rosa parks sticks out in my mind the most of all.
ReplyDeleteVInce-i think that martin luther king has inspired me the most. he was a great leader and did amazing things for our world. i also LOVE lebron james, he is the coolest amazingest bball player ever. I also like michael jordan he was amazing. the story about rosa parks sticks out in my mind the most of all.
ReplyDeletePeter- President Obama has done a lot to break down racial barriers in the United States and around the world. While I wouldn't vote for him I still think that he is a good citizen and a good man. He is thoughtful and articulate and has done a lot of good things to our country.
ReplyDeleteCatie-Rosa Parks really inspired me. I love how she was able to stand up to the people who were doing wrong to her. I think her punishment was stupid. She had the right to do what she did. I hope that I will be able to be like her and to stand up for myself to the people that need to be stood up to.
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ReplyDeletethe person that i saw as the most impacting is dr martin luther king because he showed people that wars dont need to be fought with bombs and guns and i bet alot of peoples lives were changed by him.
Alice*- Ok definitely Ruby Bridges and Martin Luther King, frankly every black in that time, because they had to have the courage to deal with the segregation and inequalities of that time. Ruby had to deal with whites threatening to KILL her I don't think I would be able to hold up under that kind of pressure that takes a LOT of courage. Martin Luther king stood up for all of our rights of equality, and again you would have to have so much courage and bravery to stand up to all the people opposing you. They are just a couple of inspirational people among hundreds.
ReplyDeleteEmma- There are so many African-Americans that have inspired me!! One of them is Martin Luther King because he was the one that made everyone notice that no matter how you look we are all eachothers family and friends. Without him our world could still be the same judge mental place which would be absolutely horrible! He did a major thing for our country and without him our freedom wouldn't be the same. He defintely inspires me!!
ReplyDeleteStephanie. Ruby bridges probably inspires me the most. She was really brave to go to avschool where everyone there pretty much wanted to kill her. I think she was really brave and had a lot of faith in God
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