When others thought we had failed, we achieved greatness; when they thought we had fallen, we rose above our challenges; and when they counted us out, we persevered. In February, when all others have forgotten…We REMEMBER.

Black History month is a time to honor those great men and women who have positively shaped, molded, and built up the Black race. Started as “Negro History Week” by Carter G. Woodson in 1926, it is a tradition that has not only educated, but instilled a sense of pride in all those encompassed by Black Culture. Black History Month reminds us that we cannot know where we are going, until we know where we have been.

Our ancestors, once taken from their homelands, have given birth to an array of beautiful, black children with inquisitive minds, talented hands, angelic voices, and insurmountable abilities that have built many nations, and showcased the strength and wisdom of African Americans. It is because of these individuals achievements to not only African Americans, but to humanity as a whole, that it is imperative that we keep their dreams and hopes alive.

In the last year America has experienced the leadership of its first black President Barack Obama, and New York gained David Paterson, its first black Governor. None of these achievements would have been possible if those such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Percy Sutton, Senator Hiram R. Revels, or Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. had not made their voices be heard. The study of African America History, one of the top programs in many universities today, would not have been possible without W.E.B DuBois, the NAACP, or Justice Thurgood Marshall speaking up for those that could not speak up for themselves.

In the month of February, as we watch the millions of black men and women march into their future, let us not forget those who have paved our way, and remember that Black History is everyday, of every month.