Image: Sevana Wenn
What do Thurgood Marshall, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Sojourner Truth have in common?
They’re all iconic leaders within the black civil rights movement. And their faces can all be found around the halls of La Canada High School this February.
As part of an initiative to increase cultural awareness and diversity on campus, LCHS has gone to lengths to celebrate Black History Month. Outreach has included posters of historic figures, morning announcements highlighting quotes, and posts on the school’s Instagram.
This nationwide effort to uplift the accomplishments of African-Americans began in 1926 with “Negro History Week,” inspiring schools and communities to host performances, lectures, and other events. Black History Month was officially recognized in 1976 by Gerald Ford, who implored the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
LCHS’ celebration of Black History month has been positively received by many students, including Michael Lea (11), who is deeply proud of his African-American heritage. “I think it will create a positive change on campus,” said Michael when asked about these efforts. “As someone who is African-American and most of my classmates are not, I think it is cool for my classmates to learn about figures in history that most African-Americans know about but most [other ethnic groups] don’t.”
This February, you can make an effort to uplift the accomplishments of African-Americans by reading works by black authors, learning about black history, or even just taking a moment to read a poster during break. By educating ourselves about diverse cultures, we can all gain a better understanding of what it means to be an American.
