All month I have been thinking of a way to incorporate Black History Month into my blog. February is well.... basically over. Happy Leap Day, everyone! It won't be back for another 4 years, so make it count.
"Leap Day" episode flashback to How I Met Your Mother.
As a kid, well a black kid, I never truly understood why black's had a month for their history. I mean like I felt awesome cause who doesn't want a month to themselves. But as I get older and have grown up I wanted to take a minute to really understand why. Why is there a proclaimed month for blacks?
Black History month started way back in 1915 with Carter G. Woodson and a minister Jesse E. Moorland. They founded an organization that was dedicated to researching achievements by black Americans and blacks from other descents. With the help of the organization, Woodson and Moorland sponsored a national Negro Week in 1926. Trying to pick a week with great significance they choose the second week in February to honor Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass.
Years later mayors of cities across the US started issuing one week for Negro Week. In the late 1960, thanks to the Civil Right Movement, many people had a growing awareness of black identity and Negro Week evolved to Black History Month on several college campuses. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month. He called to the public saying, "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."
There you have it! That's where this month came from. Two black men who just wanted a little bit of recognition, and boy did it amount to something great. Black people continue to break down walls and barriers making the future brighter than before! There are a TON of amazing black people who have made history but here are some that I continue to look up to today.
1. Viola Davis.
She was the FIRST Black Woman to win an Emmy for a drama. (I know I posted about this before but how can I now put this here again?) I know I can achieve my dreams with the amazing roles models like her leading my path. She is helping me remember that my skin may be different but I can create opportunity for myself no matter what.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. I mean.... Need I say more?
(This is only a tiny piece of the speech, cause it's very long) Soak in those dreams! Martin Luther King Jr. Literally dreamed of this bright future that I live in now. I get teary thinking of what life would have been like if Martin didn't share his dream.
3. President Barack Obama and Michelle. History made. First Black President and First Lady.
4. Tiana, Princess and The Frog. My personal fave.
I can already here it.. "Olivia she is fictional." sure but people can still look up to fictional people. Her hard work keeps me in check and reminding me that it takes hard work to make dreams come true.
5. Jesse Owens.
Proved to that Hitler's "superior race" could be beaten. Also the first American to win 4 gold medals at a single Olympics. This is the teaser for the new movie RACE all about Jesse Owens. I'm dying to see it because it looks amazing!
6. Ray Charles.
The "High Priest of Soul" Blind and could play like there was no tomorrow. He started growing blind at age 7. In 2004, Rolling Stones ranked him number ten on the "100 Greatest Artist of All Time".
7. Oprah Winfrey.
I have always looked up to her. My mom loves Oprah and I feel like I grew up with the Oprah show always on. With her magazine, her books and her sayings to guide us. She is a mentor and friend and a giver. She grew up with nothing and now has so much she that she continues to give.
9. Maya Angelou.
She passed away in 2014, leaving holes in all our hearts. She was a poet and author. She inspired so many people and wrote about her life. She had lived through so much and needed to tell her story.
10. Beyoncé.
I mean Beyoncé is queen. But she has done do much for the black community regarding music. She was the first woman to win 6 Grammy's in one night. First black women to be on the September cover of Vogue.
These people remind me to live to my fullest self to own being black and to love it.
Thanks to Buzzfeed here are some awesome articles and videos I love about being black.
Stay excellent-
Liv
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