More than Black History Month

Although Black History Month can trace its roots back to 1915, the 50th anniversary of emancipation, its true roots began in 1926. This celebration happened in the middle of February and lasted only a week. It was not until 1976 that the celebration spanned an entire month.

But is a month even enough? Why not make every year a Black History Year, where the contributions of black scholars and leaders are acknowledged along with the everyday life of black Americans. To set aside only a month this year seems a bit underwhelming.

Even though a week of celebrating black history began in 1926, when I was growing up in Virginia in the 1960s, not much was said. And now a whole month is devoted to the celebration and remembrance.

February is a month intentionally set aside as a time to celebrate all of the achievements and contributions of black individuals in the United States.
Truly, this celebration should be year-round. But the purposefulness of setting aside a single month is what gives Black History Month its impact and power. We should celebrate and remember all year every ye

ar, but in February we should devote significant time to this remembrance.
At IU, this year’s theme is “Let’s Move! Freedom and Wellness in a Civil Society.” It is a time for the entire campus can focus on a holistic understanding of wellness.
We have set aside a month to ponder freedom and wellness. But it is my hope that this month will run over to next month, the following month and the rest of this year.

This month is a celebration that should continue throughout the entire year. As should every heritage month that we celebrate. Black History Month is a truly important month. It sets the trajectory for the entire year as we work to remember the large and small contributions of all black individuals from the likes of Malcolm X, Carter G. Woodson, Louis Armstrong and Rosa Parks.

I think our celebration should be Black History Year, with a single month, February, set aside to refocus for another year of celebration.

­— James Wimbush,
vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs at IU