A lot of African American inventors who’ve made a significant impact on society do not get the recognition they deserve.
There are many African Americans who have made history and are not being recognized for their work. Too many of us know only about the most popular influencers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Mary McLeoud Bethune and Malcolm X.
There are many more influential people who deserve to have a day in February dedicated to them, their history and the difference they made in the world today.
Many African Americans believe their history is slowly being erased and this would be a great idea to take each day of Black History Month to educate the nation about various Black figures.
“I think history is so washed down that it feels almost odd to give African American people their credit. My people were and still are inventors, innovators, teachers, navigators and much more. My people are the backbone of the country and it’s time to give us the credit we have been deserving of since we came to this country forcefully,” said Vanesha Paul, a social work major at Florida State University.
There are many Americans who refrain from speaking out about history and politics because they don’t want to offend anyone.
“I refrained from posting Black History facts the past two years due to campaign season, but I like to post the overlooked figures in Black History because I didn’t learn about them until my 29s, so I figured others didn’t know as well. I definitely feel like this is something we should focus on moving forward,” Miss FAMU Aliya Everett said.
It is important to keep the legacy Black history and influencers alive right now and for future generations to come. It will teach the younger generations that they can do and be anything the way to be. This type of recognition will be an opportunity to bring light to those who have made a difference.
“It is a great idea because there are so many people who have done and made history in certain sectors that may not be as widely known. It helps people see that you don’t have to be ‘great’ to be great and you don’t have to be out in the limelight to make a difference in the lives of people. This will help people be encouraged to do things on their own that are making a difference in the lives of their peers and not for recognition,” said Phyllis Walker, an associate dean with FAMU’s College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities.