When we think of black history month what do we think about? Is it slavery? The civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr.? I donÔÇÖt know about you but that is all I see when I look at black history month. ItÔÇÖs understandable, these are very important topics, I mean slavery was abolished in Great Britain in 1833, and in the United States of America 1865. And if it had not been for men like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X many black people living in the Western world today, would not have the opportunities in life that we now have, we would not be equal.
However whilst they are important, I canÔÇÖt help but think to myself, what about black history now? Does our history end with Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement? No it does not, there is more to black history month than those two major topics. Perhaps because they are so important they overshadow the rest.
So what is it that I am basically saying? Black history is still on going, what we, as black people, do now affect later generations. The achievements we make, the mistakes we make today effect tomorrow and become a part of black history.
Rather than talking about the mistakes we have made (black history month is supposed to be positive, no one wants a depressing article) IÔÇÖd like to highlight the achievements we have made, through certain individuals in particular.
First being Beyonc├® Knowles, a mother, a singer and an actress. She has had four solo albums with another one on the way (hurray for Beyonc├® fans), if you count DestinyÔÇÖs Child then thatÔÇÖs another four albums plus a Christmas album. She has been in ten feature films including the likes of Austin Powers, The Pink Panther and recently Epic. Even though Beyonc├® is a singer I donÔÇÖt think thatÔÇÖs her greatest achievement but rather how she is a role model to young black girls everywhere, showing them that it doesnÔÇÖt matter what colour you are, you can achieve in whatever field you pursue with perseverance and hard work. It sounds cheesy but it clearly works.
Now onto a male example, Mr Lenny Henry, the comedian and actor and interestingly co-founder of Comic Relief with fellow comedian Richard Curtis, you may or may not have known that already but I certainly didnÔÇÖt before I did this article. I may be Lenny Henry biased but if Beyonc├® is a good role model in terms of working hard no matter what your skin colour is for girls then Lenny is certainly that for boys. He has had to work hard to get where he is now, you can see that just by looking at what he has achieved so far. He has acted in films like Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Penelope; he has been a voice actor in childrenÔÇÖs shows like Big and Small. He has even tried his hand at theatre, Shakespeare to be precise in Northern Broadsides production of Othello, in which he received positive critical reviews despite it being his debut into Shakespeare, and recently he has been in the Royal National theatreÔÇÖs Comedy of Errors.
Another male example for all the sporty guys out there is Didier Drogba. As someone who doesnÔÇÖt particularly like Chelsea football club (Manchester United all the way) I have to admit Drogba has achieved a lot. Before playing for Chelsea he played for numerous French clubs, five in total. Then he ended up in Chelsea for ten to eleven years (didnÔÇÖt he get bored?) where he scored a total of a hundred goals in 223 matches. He then moved onto Shanghai Shenhua, a Chinese football club for a year and he is now currently in Galatasaray, a Turkish football club. And he also plays for his national team of Ivory Coast. But more than being a footballer he has also set up a charity in his name to help African people financially and educationally where they need it. Lately his organisation has also joined the fight against malaria which is ÔÇ£kills a child in Africa every 60 secondsÔÇØ (www.thedidierdrogbafoundation.com). So more than being a footballer or achieving for himself, like Lenny Henry he has used his money and fame to better help those that are not so lucky and who need it. More than his football achievements I think that is admirable.
Lastly there is Trisha Goddard she has lived in Tanzania and in Australia where she debuted as a presenter in shows like The 7:30 Report and in a childrenÔÇÖs show called Play Time. She is most famous for her English chat show called ÔÇ£TrishaÔÇØ which was based on ITV before it moved to channel 5 and in which she received, in England anyway, most of her fame. She has even been willing to do satires of her show in movies and TV shows such as Shawn of the Dead and Doctor Who (Army of the Ghosts episode). She has battled through cancer (and won) and has made a successful transition into American TV where her chat show is now being broadcast by NBC Universal Television Distribution.
Looking at all these examples it is clear to see that black people are still achieving, are still moving forward and creating a positive history that can be looked back upon in the future as inspirational for young children and teenagers alike. It proves that although in history black people suffered, instead of crippling them permanently it has made them stronger and more determined. So when you look at black history month try to think about the now and what you do as a black person for the future. You never know who you might inspire.
Gift Ruremesha
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