February 1st of 2025 is the beginning of a new Black History Month. A celebration of people who have contributed a ton to the world as we know it, a recognition of their hard work and their ability to confront the challenges they’ve faced. History has not been kind to those who are different, to minorities, black people being no exception. While it is important to celebrate how far we have come as a society when it comes to racism, it is also important to recognize the injustices that still occur. Racial prejudice and out right discrimination of black people is still alive and well in even the most advanced countries. It is easy to look over this fact since this is far from the most racist period in history. Still, in the US, for example, black people are still living with the consequences of the past, many are living below the poverty line in hoods, the result of decades of segregation and abuse. Not being allowed to buy homes in the suburbs back when they were affordable has cemented these people into hoods. These people live in areas where their access to education is extremely limited, and their families lack money, which means they rely on the public education system unless they get a scholarship. Who knows how many brilliant minds weren’t and aren’t allowed to flourish because of this. Still, with this inmind, there are many black people who have done incredibly important things, where their intelligence and ambition managed to push through all odds. Here are just some of these brilliant minds:
Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde was born a disabled, lesbian in 1934, so you can imagine how easy her life was. She was an activist, a feminist, and a poet. Her poetry was intentionally made to help connect African American woman, although other marginalized groups could relate to her poetry. She believed that poetry was a necessity for women as it allowed them to connect with each other over their shared experiences. “If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.”-Audre Lorde. This quote best summarizes the type of person Audre was, a strong and passionate spirit. Her best-known poem, A Litany for Survival, specifically addresses those who are marginalized from society and the fear these people live with. Her ideas were ahead of her time, the courage it took this woman to make her poetry public cannot be understated. Audre died in 1992 from cancer, still, and she remains an inspirational figure whose passion and bravery should motivate anyone.
Ella Baker
When thinking of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-60s, certain names come to mind. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., these people were incredibly important and managed to push America forward in ways it hadn’t been pushed before. Still, we must remember they weren’t the only prominent figures for the Civil Rights movement, take Ella Baker. Baker was the CO-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) headed by the man himself, Martin Luther King Jr. She served as executive director and supported the idea of young people getting involved in the Civil rights movement. She helped create the Mississippi Democratic Freedom Party (MDFP) in hopes to overturn the all-white democratic party delegation. Even though this party failed to do so by itself, it inspired many African Americans to vote. Ella Baker was a quiet historical figure, yet her achievements cannot be understated.
Bessie Coleman
Coleman was born in 1892 into a family of thirteen kids. She was quicky recognized by her family for her aptitude for mathematics. This freed her from having to work in the cotton fields like the rest of her family, and eventually she moved to Chicago for work. She attempted to join aviation schools but was discriminated against due to her race and gender. Determined to become a pilot, the young woman learned french and managed to enter Caudron Brothers School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France. Yeah, she learned an entire language and moved to another country to pursue her dream, to say she was determined is an understatement. Black philanthropists Robert Abbot and Jessa Binga helped pay for her education. Eventually on June 15th of 1921 she became the first black woman to earn an international pilot’s license. After finishing her studies, she flew back to the US to look for work as a pilot, yet due to racism and discrimination, she couldn’t pursue that career option, so she became a Stunt pilot. She performed her first public flight on Labor Day and became quite popular. She raised money to create a school to train black aviators like herself, sadly this honorable dream of hers never came true as she tragically died in a rehearsal. Her plane spun out of control and fell 2000 feet, ending the young woman’s life at 34. Coleman was an inspirational figure who proved that black women were just as capable as everyone else. Her determination to pursue her dreams overcame any prejudice she faced. In her short life she accomplished so much, a true icon.
Black history in the USA is filled with oppression and discrimination, yet within the horrors, there was determination and hope. I may have only written about three black heroes, but there are many more incredible black minds most of us have never heard of. Use Black History Month as an opportunity to learn about these people. How they managed to do so much even with all odds against them. America owes so much to these people, don’t let their history be forgotten.
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