Black History Month takes place during the whole month of February. February was officially made Black History month in 1986, but before it was a month it was only a week. Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926 picked the week in February that included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, to be Black History Week.
Black History Month is a time to honor the achievements, culture, and history of African American life.
“I think Black History Month is a celebration of black excellence, especially in America and all over the world,” Rhena Mungania, sophomore, said.
Mungania also believes that the month of February is the time to celebrate the things the black community has overcome.
“I think it’s a month to celebrate not the hardships, but like the things we’ve overcome and the stereotypes we’ve broken through and the history we have made,” she said.
Mungania also said that she is slightly disappointed in the fact that GEHS currently has nothing up to celebrate Black History Month.
“I think our school, Gardner Edgerton High School, should embrace black history a little bit more,” Mungania said. “I would like to see some posters up. I would like to see something on the slideshow about it.”
One idea she had was to have quotes up on the slideshows that are around the commons.
“I think this month we should only have quotes by famous black people. I think that would really benefit our school,” Mungania said.
Since this year is leap year, there is an extra day in February to celebrate Black History Month.
“We have an extra day of Black History Month and we need to celebrate very hard,” Mungania said.
