Celebrating Black Heritage Month: A reflection of generational resilience and perseverance
February is set aside to observe Black History Month — a time to reflect on the achievements and struggles of Black people throughout the course of American history. While the month-long observance of Black History Month acknowledges historical milestones, it often feels like a brief, concentrated acknowledgment of a people whose contributions and experiences helped to shape the American experience.
This is where the push for celebration of Black Heritage Month takes root — one that offers a fuller, more enduring understanding of Black culture, identity and legacy.
Black Heritage Month is a celebration of an ongoing journey that spans generations. Unlike Black History Month, which focuses largely on historical events and figures, Black Heritage Month emphasizes the continuation of the African American story.
It underscores the resilience and perseverance of generations of Black people whose legacies originate in the known and untold stories of forced migration, systemic oppression, discrimination and violence — yet still managed to thrive, evolve and contribute to the fabric of American society.
The word “heritage” speaks to a legacy that endures far beyond a singular event or period. This is not a history bound by the constraints of 28 days; it is a culture that continues to stretch across centuries.
The influence of the African American footprint is evidenced in our everyday convenience is equally profound. George T. Sampson’s clothes dryer has revolutionized how Americans dry clothes, while Sarah Boone’s ironing board made the mundane task of pressing clothes more efficient. Garret Morgan, known for inventing the gas mask, also created the traffic light, a critical safety innovation that continues to guide traffic flow and save lives today. Allow that thought to invade your senses to consider the magnitude of such an invention when you are sitting at the next light.
Further contributions that shaped modern life include the lawn sprinkler, created by John H. Smith, and the lubricating cup, a device invented by Elijah McCoy that allowed machinery to run more efficiently. Edmon Berger’s spark plug, which played a central role in the development of the internal combustion engine, powered the automobile industry. Even something as ubiquitous as the golf tee, invented by George T. Grant, reflects how African American ingenuity has touched all corners of modern society.
In the world of security and technology, Marie Van Brittan Brown co-invented the home security system, laying the groundwork for the surveillance technologies used to protect homes and businesses today. Alexander Miles’ automatic elevator doors revolutionized vertical transportation, and Mark Dean co-invented the first IBM PC and color monitor, as well as the gigahertz chip, shaping the computer technology we rely on every day.
While Black History Month serves as a necessary reminder to recognize key figures and pivotal moments in Black American history, Black Heritage Month offers an even broader perspective: a celebration of the inventors, thinkers, entrepreneurs and activists whose innovations and legacies continue to shape the modern American experience. These contributions, which span the realms of science, technology, medicine, politics and the arts, reflect the enduring spirit of African Americans’ resilience, determination and ingenuity.
Conclusively, while Black History Month offers a critical and necessary recognition of historical contributions, Black Heritage Month paints a fuller picture of Black Americans’ ongoing legacy.
Black Heritage Month invites all Americans to reflect not just on the past, but on the ongoing, living legacy of African American excellence.
It serves as a testament to the strength and resilience that has been passed down through generations — proof that Black culture is not just a historical artifact, but an ever-present force that continues to shape the story of America.
