Black folks often joke among ourselves about how out of all the months to celebrate and honor black history, America gave us February, the shortest month of the year. As if black history and our contributions to American society can be encompassed in a month.  

The Latinos get October, May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Native Americans get the November slot. Korean Americans? They get just one day: January 12.

It seems trite or matter-of-fact to honor the history, culture and contributions of an entire people in just one packaged, convenient month or day, when all of our histories have been so instrumental in building a nation based on freedom and equality.

Squeezing black history into one month implies that it is not important enough to talk about all year and labeling it “black” means that it isn’t “white” — the assumed American history.

But black history is American history. Black history belongs to and should be recognized by everyone.

Too often, however, we all get caught up in our own months or days. Black History Month will always resonate more with me personally, as I assume Asian Pacific American Heritage Month will with Asian Americans. During February, I am inspired by the students at the college I work for who are in a frenzy to set up events and programs for Black History Month. They are impassioned about making sure our contributions are acknowledged, honored and celebrated, and it makes me incredibly proud.

While our allotted month is problematic, I do want to take advantage of a moment that calls our nation to task to recognize and remember that black people first stepped foot on this land literally in shackles. That they were denied freedom in a land founded on the virtue of freedom. I would hope that those outside of the black community, especially people of color, would acknowledge Black History Month because our struggles — fighting to be considered for the right to be free in America, fighting for the right to vote, to own property, to attend school, to be considered a human being — benefited everyone.

At the same time, I know I have more to learn about the struggles and contributions of other communities and how they have touched my life. Until recently, I never even knew Korean American Day existed. Despite having a degree in ethnic studies and currently working in the field of diversity, I am always humbled to find that I have more to learn, and that I must continue to widen my scope and make more connections.

Having worked at a college for more than five years, I’ve seen how the younger generation understands this. My students share and learn about each other’s culture and history every day with much intention. They understand that our freedom and histories are connected. It is not rare to see the United Latino Association hosting an event during the college’s Martin Luther King, Jr. week. Or students from the Asian Pacific Islander club attending events hosted by the Black Student Union.