Is Black History Month Still Relevant?

Black History Month to me means using the 31 days of October to celebrate black history and culture. Across the month I usually expect to see relatable news articles, conversations springing up with friends and associates about topical matters, and perhaps even pop-ups around cities.

Yet, I never questioned why Black History Month is celebrated, whether Black History Month achieves its purpose and whether it is even still relevant, until now.

To begin, I think it is important to start with why Black History Month exists.

Origins of Black History Month

The roots of Black History Month can be traced back to Dr Carter G. Woodson, an African American historian, born to former slaves. Dr Woodson, who lived in a time of great prejudice, believed that it was "merely the logical result of tradition”. He was passionate about African American history and advocated for educating America on the history of blacks as a means to help Americans take a step away from