Making Black History Month Truly Meaningful

By Dr. John E. Warren Publisher

It’s not enough that Black History Month is the shortest month in the year; or that many capitalize on it with lip service and faint recognition. By this we mean the commercialization of “Black History Month” by some while others are attempting to erase us by banning books that speak to our history and struggle.

When we personally stop and reflect or read the accounts of what people like James Weldon Johnson and his brother did in writing the “Negro National Anthem” over 123 years ago; when we consider that this was done in the midst of a segregated society with much open race hatred, it’s a testimony to the personal and family commitment to a people that you not only identity with, but are proud of.

To make Black History meaningful to us individually and to our people, we must first get reacquainted with our history. For example, it is embarrassing to be in a Black History program calling for the singing of “Lift Every Voice & Sing”