Black History Month – A Student Perspective

23 February 2022Beluchi O, Mack '23

When talking about Black people, we typically talk about slavery or the Civil Rights movement, with Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King as historical trailblazers, but there comes a time when we must realize that this is not all that Black people are – but the regularity with which we discuss slavery, particularly in relation to the Black population, makes it seem that way.

This is the essence of Black History Month: to celebrate a community that came from so much strife and struggle but one that accrued many accomplishments along the way. Black History Month, at its core, is an opportunity to commemorate and learn more about Black history, moving beyond accounts of discrimination and enslavement to honor Black excellence.

Our history classes should not only highlight the value of a diverse history – genuine history – but also demonstrate that Black people were prominent figures who achieved progress in a variety of areas, not all related to race. In a more inclusive Brentwood, we would see ourselves in a better light and not just when the topic of slavery arises.

Brentwood, in my opinion, has a way to go in terms of diversifying its history courses and acknowledging the importance of the Black community, which is often overlooked. Though there are some structural changes that Brentwood needs to make, the path to a future where its students understand the relevance of Black success is possible if the students’ efforts are matched by tangible changes implemented by the administration because, at the end of the day, we have the ability to teach Black history – because we are still creating it.

Beluchi O, Mack ’23

Where Students Choose To Be