As the nation celebrates Black History Month, the O’Neill School is working to amplify Black voices within our own community. From students to faculty and alumni, the O’Neill IUPUI blog will feature guest posts throughout February discussing the individual’s research, fields of expertise, and/or experiences.
Written by: Roxy Lawrence, Director of Evaluation for the IU Public Policy Institute’s Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy
In 1925, the historian Carter G. Woodson, known as the Father of Black History announced Negro History Week—a bold, but necessary proclamation to commemorate the contributions of Black Americans in the United States. Decades later, the United States celebrates Black History Month during the month of February to highlight the plight of Black Americans and commemorate their far-reaching and indelible achievements.
Over the years, there has been much to celebrate. The sacrifices of Black abolitionists like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederik Douglas—who fought for Black suffrage and our collective liberation—have granted Black Americans so many of their inalienable rights. Modern-day heroines like Stacey Abrams, Helen Butler, and Tameika Atkins continue to fight for Black voting rights and representation in the electoral process. Grassroots movements, such as Black Lives Matter, have worked tirelessly to ensure that injustices perpetuated against Black bodies are brought to justice.
Their collective contributions have led us to a reality in which Kamala Harris, the second Black woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate, was also elected as the first Black U.S. Vice President in the past year. In a time with so much uncertainty stemming from an ongoing pandemic and racial injustice, seeing Vice President Harris serve in one of the highest offices in the country might offer Black Americans and youth with much-needed representation in government.
However, while it is pivotal to honor the Black men and women who fought tirelessly—and often to the detriment of their well-being—it is equally important to acknowledge that pervasive anti-Blackness, racial inequity, and social injustice continue to devastate and decimate Black lives and Black communities in this country.
