Celebrated every February, Black History Month honors Black Americans’ achievements, resilience and contributions throughout our country’s history. Black History Month originated from Negro History Week, created in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson. First celebrated during the second week of February, Negro History Week coincides with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, who signed the 13th Amendment ending slavery, and Frederick Douglass, a renowned abolitionist and writer who escaped slavery.
As the celebration of Negro History Week gained popularity and more people began recognizing its significance, it expanded and in 1976 President Ford officially established Black History Month to honor the struggles, contributions and triumphs of Black American communities, ensuring that they are recognized as an integral and important part of American history.
Today, Black History Month serves as a platform to raise awareness of Black Americans’ contributions throughout history, to celebrate social progress and to fight for a better future. Recently, though, various groups, politicians and even corporations across the country have been trying to suppress Black history. For instance, a study by PEN America, a 501 nonprofit organization that protects free expression in the U.S., reported 10,000 book bans during the 2023–2024 school year, many of which targeted books that focused on Black history and included voices from marginalized communities, underscoring a rise in educational censorship. Additionally, Google removed several cultural celebrations, including Black History Month, from Google Calendar this month due to the Trump administration’s actions to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Despite these continual challenges and attempts at censorship, the Black community has achieved many milestones across politics, business, education and entertainment. In the past year alone, many political victories, groundbreaking entrepreneurial ventures and contributions have continued to shape not just our country but the world. Listed here are some remarkable Black individuals whose impressive accomplishments often go unrecognized.
Over the past year, Black leaders have continued to shape the political landscape as they become appointed to high-ranking positions across all governing levels. The appointment of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2021 is an example of a historic first. Born on Sep. 14, 1970, Jackson grew up in Miami, Florida and attended Harvard University for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She served as an editor for the “Harvard Law Review,” and after law school, she clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Jackson later filled Breyer’s seat on the Supreme Court, becoming the first Black female justice to be seated on the court. Since the court’s establishment in 1789, there have been 116 justices, and only eight have not been white men. Celebrating the achievements of Black Americans ensures that stories like Jackson’s are acknowledged and remembered.
Over the past year, Black-owned businesses with increased access to venture capital and funding opportunities have flourished in industries such as technology, fashion and finance. Accomplished Barbadian pop star Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a self-made mogul whose Fenty Beauty brand continues to dominate the beauty and fashion industry. Fenty and her brand have redefined the spaces for other Black American brands. By focusing on creating inclusive, representative and high-quality products, Fenty effectively encouraged other makeup brands to follow suit.
New initiatives aimed at supporting Black business owners have fostered economic growth, allowing entrepreneurs to expand and uplift their communities. For example, Nancy Twine left Goldman Sachs to found Briogeo in 2013, creating a clean and inclusive haircare brand. By 2018, Briogeo earned over $10 million annually and grew to $40 million by 2020. Twine is the youngest Black woman to launch a hair care line at Sephora and has transformed the beauty industry with natural, science-backed products. Her success story is an inspiration for young entrepreneurs, proving that passion and innovation can drive major success.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have gained increased recognition and funding from the federal government, and they are currently experiencing a surge in enrollment. HBCUs have historically provided opportunities for Black students who were denied the same access to predominantly white institutions. Increased funding ensures that these institutions continue their focus on providing high education and addressing educational inequities. In addition to institutional support, individuals are also making meaningful contributions to uplift and educate the Black community. After the last bookstore in the Bronx, New York, closed, Noëlle Santos founded The Lit Bar in 2019, the only independent bookstore in this majority Black neighborhood. Despite having little knowledge of bookselling, Santos opened this store and created a successful career that celebrates Black and Latinx voices. Additionally, close to Poly’s campus in Altadena is Octavia’s Bookshelf, named after the Black sci-fi writer Octavia Butler. The bookstore prioritizes selling books by BIPOC authors, celebrating and amplifying historically underrepresented voices.
As we celebrate another Black History Month at Poly, these achievements serve as a testament to the resilience, brilliance and boundless potential of the Black community. The progress made over the past year is a reminder that history is written every day, and the future holds even greater possibilities for all.
Towards the culmination of Black History Month, Poly’s Black Family Alliance hosted The Black Cultural Celebration on campus on Saturday, Feb. 22. The Upper School’s Black Student Union also put on a school assembly on Monday, Feb. 24 to highlight the unity of the Black community on Poly’s campus. Draped over Haaga House, the Pan-African Flag, which represents Black unity and solidarity, affirms Poly’s dedication to fostering an inclusive environment. It acknowledges the past and uplifts the present and future of Black students, faculty and community members. By embracing and educating ourselves about Black history, we ensure our campus is a place where all voices are heard and amplified.
