Black History Month: A Call for Continuous Education, Unity, and Action

Black History Month is not just a time of remembrance—it is a reminder of the ongoing struggle, resilience, and triumphs of Black Americans. However, the education and celebration of Black history should not be confined to February. It must be a continuous, daily commitment to reclaiming and preserving the legacy of our ancestors, understanding our critical role in shaping the United States, and actively working toward a collective future of empowerment and prosperity.

The Importance of Black Historical Education
Understanding Black history is crucial because it reclaims a narrative that has been intentionally distorted, ignored, or erased. Black Americans have been integral to the economic, cultural, and political foundations of this nation, from building the wealth of America through enslaved labor to leading movements for democracy, justice, and civil rights. Education is a powerful tool that  upholds pride, awareness, and agency in our community.

Yet, we see a concerted effort to erase or dilute this education. Affirmative action, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and Black history itself are being systematically dismantled across institutions. This is not coincidental—it is a calculated move to maintain existing power structures and suppress Black progress. Without knowledge of our past, Black Americans become more susceptible to misinformation and systemic oppression. Therefore, we must take responsibility for teaching our history in our homes, communities, and institutions, ensuring that younger generations understand their worth, contributions, and potential.

Black Americans and Systemic Oppression
Despite our undeniable contributions, Black Americans remain disproportionately impacted by systemic oppression, particularly in the realms of the prison industrial complex, socioeconomic status, and healthcare.     
     1. The Prison Industrial Complex
Black Americans, particularly Black men and women, are incarcerated at significantly higher rates than their white counterparts due to systemic racism embedded in policing, sentencing laws, and prison labor exploitation. The 13th Amendment legally abolished slavery “except as a punishment for crime,” which has allowed mass incarceration to function as a modern form of enslavement. Black Americans, who make up about 13% of the U.S. population, account for nearly 40% of the prison population.     
     2. Economic Disparities
Centuries of institutional racism have created a massive racial wealth gap. From denied access to land ownership (e.g., Black farmers losing land), redlining, discriminatory banking practices, and lack of generational wealth, Black Americans have been systemically blocked from economic mobility. Even today, Black workers face wage discrimination, and Black businesses struggle due to limited access to funding and resources.     
     3. Health Disparities
Black Americans experience higher rates of chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and maternal mortality due to systemic healthcare neglect, medical racism, and environmental injustices (e.g., Flint’s water crisis). The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these disparities, proving that health inequities are deeply rooted in structural racism.

The Need for Daily Action and Collective Unity
If Black Americans are to reclaim their power, education must become a daily practice, not an annual observance. This means:

• Teaching our history at home – Schools may limit Black history education, but Black families must commit to sharing knowledge daily.
• Supporting Black-owned businesses – Economic empowerment is crucial for community stability.
• Advocating for policy change – Combating voter suppression, advocating for criminal justice reform, and demanding fair wages are essential.
• Strengthening community ties – Black Americans must work together, rejecting division and embracing collective progress.

Incarcerated Black Women and Black History
When discussing Black history, the experiences of incarcerated Black women must not be overlooked. Black women are the fastest-growing prison population, often victims of intersecting oppressions related to racism, sexism, and economic disadvantage. Many are incarcerated for non-violent offenses, often tied to survival crimes (e.g., theft due to poverty, drug-related offenses due to addiction or coercion by abusive partners).

The criminalization of Black women has historical roots—Black women were subjected to brutal treatment during slavery, denied protections during Reconstruction, and continue to be ignored in modern justice reform efforts. The neglect of Black women’s incarceration in mainstream discussions mirrors the broader disregard for Black women’s contributions and struggles.

Final Thoughts: A Call to Action
Black History Month must be a launchpad for lifelong education, unity, and resistance against oppression. Black Americans must control their narratives, uplift their communities, and forge paths toward economic and social liberation. The fight for justice includes addressing mass incarceration, economic disparities, healthcare inequities, and historical erasure.

Incarcerated Black women, often the forgotten voices of the justice system, must be recognized in Black history discussions. Their stories reflect the ongoing struggles of Black Americans and the urgent need for systemic change.

Black history is every day. Our future depends on what we do now.