During Black History Month in February, we honor outstanding African Americans in our community and society, both past and present. February was chosen primarily because it was the month in which President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass had their birthdays.
Sienna Gomez is an athlete at Washington High School, and she has just joined leadership this year, which has been an amazing experience so far. In terms of extracurricular activities, she has been rock climbing for several years and has started tennis at Washington this year. She enjoys having something to do all of the time, whether it’s rock climbing or crocheting, another hobby she picked up this year.
Gomez is aware of many people who don’t feel appropriately appreciated for the work they do, and she believes that Black History Month provides an opportunity for people to honor those who made those contributions. Sienna celebrates Black History Month by shopping at black-owned small businesses, which are often overlooked. From Sienna’s point of view, Black History Month symbolizes that Black people are finally getting the respect they deserve. It’s important, in her opinion, to give credit where credit is due for the countless ways that African-Americans and other Black people have influenced the actions we engage in and appreciate today, such as music and other traditions.
In the United States, February is designated as Black History Month. It’s a time to honor and commemorate the history and contributions of African Americans. Although the month-long celebration’s roots may be found in the 1920s and the work of African American historian Carter G. Woodson, it wasn’t until 1976 that the U.S. government gave it formal recognition. In order to celebrate the achievements and experiences of Black Americans throughout history, numerous activities and educational programs are held around the nation during Black History Month.
It is an important time of year because Black Americans are frequently underrepresented in mainstream media and education. Additionally, it enables consideration of the ongoing fight for racial equality and the work still required to accomplish it. Black History Month also serves as a time for the community to gather together in remembrance of the heritage of their ancestors and the sacrifices they made for the advancement of their community and the nation.
Ashley Albers teaches ninth, tenth, and twelfth grade special education classes at Washington. She directs the African American Focus Group, supervises the Women Empowerment Group, offers a secure location for GSA meetings, and takes part in BSU whenever she can. She views Black History Month as an opportunity to recognize and honor the contributions made by the African American community to both their own empowerment and that of other communities. She admires several Civil Rights Activists, including Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice of the Supreme Court, who argued the case of Brown v. Board of Education, Megar Evers, who spoke out against racism and Jim Crow laws and started the investigation into the murder of Emmett Till, Malcolm X, who advocated for black liberation, and W.E.B. DuBois, a founding member of the NAACP and a scholar ahead of his time who pushed for African Americans to embrace their African heritage while struggling with life in America. She hopes for a change in civil rights in the future. “We have the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but there are so many loopholes in law and so many people who face constant discrimination,” Albers says. “The law is still only working for the select few. Civil rights need to be for everyone at all times. And there needs to be hard lines when it comes to discrimination of others because those who are often faced are people who are non-white.”
Sanam is a senior at Washington High School. She was born and raised in Fremont, California and this is her first year at The Hatchet. Some topics she is interested in writing about are history, food and culture, and politics. In her free time, she likes to read mostly about psychology, history, and mystery. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family. She plans to study abroad for college and find a major that she is passionate about.
Gigi Astrid Monares is a second-year high school student in Washington. She spent her entire childhood in the Philippines before she immigrated to the US in 2018. She became a journalist because she enjoys photography. Her hobbies are watching Korean dramas and listening to music to keep her from becoming distracted while working. Although she’s still considering her options for the future, for the time being, Gigi simply wants to be able to graduate from high school and figure it out.