Now that we are in 2024, a lot of us know that schools wash down Black history, especially during Black History Month. After leaving school and getting to college, I’ve learned more than I could imagine. So this article is going to be about people and facts I’ve learned this Black History Month. Hopefully this article will teach you, the readers, something too.
Henrietta Lacks
I want to start by talking about this woman because people do not know about her at all. I did not know about her until I was directing a Black History Month play and one of my co-directors mentioned this woman. Henrietta was a mother of five who was dying from cancer. She went to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. At this establishment, they took samples from her tumor without her knowledge. She didn’t know, her family didn’t know and they didn’t really help her. She died, and neither her nor her family got any compensation for it. They still use her cells to this day to make advances in the medical field. It has been 71 years since they took her cells and have since been replicating them for tests. Click here and here to read more about Henrietta Lacks, and why she should be recognized for furthering the world of medicine.
Kathrine Johnson, Dorothy Vanghan and Mary Jackson
These three women could be recognized as a group or as individuals. At first glance, these names may not ring a bell. However, when said with the phrase “Hidden Figures,” you may begin to connect the dots. The movie “Hidden Figures” focuses on three incredible women who made an impact as Black astrophysics. They were often overlooked and close to unnoticed because of their white, male co-workers — notice how I said co-workers. Even though they were the same work status, they were rarely treated as such because of their skin’s beautiful color. This movie has a great message for all Black audiences it proves that all Black people can preserver in this world.
Dr. Worley
Dr. Worley was one of my teachers when I came to Bradley University. I was always excited to go to her African American literature class. Little did I know she made Black history as the first African American woman hired as a professor at Bradley University. Along with this success, she has way too many more to count. She has been an influential part of my Bradley experience and will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life. Because I can’t highlight all of her successes, including her numerous books and poems published, you can go here and here to read more about the incredible person she is.
My parents
Finally, my parents. They aren’t perfect people but in my eyes they are always making Black history. My mother and father having four incredible daughters is worthy of history. Them having a daughter attend Bradley University, while another daughter sells makeup and makes her living off social media is history. My 10-year-old sister having three published books is history. Her counterpart making any dance team she wants is history. My mother having a successful publishing company is history, the same way my father starting a car and family YouTube channel will become history. Anything my family does is Black history in my eyes, and everything your family does should be history to you because we all have a legacy, we all have a path. Although it’s not the same, your story should be heard. With all that being said, go out and make history today, we are not promised tomorrow.