Black History Month is a month that honors the achievements, culture, and contributions of African Americans throughout history. This month highlights the struggles that African Americans faced during slavery, the civil rights movement, and today’s movements like Black Lives Matter, and the celebrations of significant cultural, political, and social contributions.

There are many people that are honored during this month. In 1968, Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2008, Barack Obama was the first African American U.S. President. In 2001, Colin Powell was the first black U.S. Secretary of State. These people have made huge political impacts on our society.

We also celebrate Black History because of key figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. These people have done remarkable things for the African Americans and fought everyday for their rights and for their freedom.

Black History Month features nationwide, city sponsored and many educational events including museum exhibits, film festivals, and lectures celebrating African Americans contributions towards society. There are many educational tours and workshops as well offered by NYC Parks, King Manor Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture offer walking tours of historical sites and many programs to learn more about black history.

There are many ways to celebrate during Black History Month. During this time, we should remember that Black History Month is not just about the past, but also about celebrating the impact of African Americans today.