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Salsabeel Mahfod

Mrs. Roe

ENG 1DI-11

19 May 2021

All Year better Than One Month

Close your eyes and ask yourself, " What if light bulbs simply didn't exist?

Take a moment to think about how people would fulfill regular everyday routines without them?

The light bulb is perhaps one of the most essential inventions of all time. With the light bulb,

people are able to have a source of light after dark, which enables them to enjoy sundown to its

fullest. Without this invention, day-to-day life would have been significantly different and much

more challenging. African American inventor, Lewis Latimer, has made major contributions and

discoveries that eventually led to the discovery of the lightbulb. Not many people know who

Lewis Latimer even is, and this is most likely because of the lack of knowledge and awareness

towards African American history. Lewis Latimer is only one of the several African American

inventors that contributed to inventions that have drastically improved life today but are hardly

recognized and acknowledged for their work. Therefore, celebrating Black history all year is

critical because, without African American inventors such as Lewis Latimer, many of today's

inventions would simply not exist. Secondly, African American history has a great impact on

societal views today. Events such as the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, the Jim Crow Era,

and the Civil Rights movements have all changed history and impacted life today. In most cases,

the perspectives, experiences, and discoveries of Black Americans are not an integral part of our

school education. In addition to this, only a few people know about the work of Fannie Lou

Hamer to secure Voting Rights for African Americans, or about Ida B. Wells’ leadership in the
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Women’s Suffrage Movement. An inadequate number of people have learned about the efforts of

labor leader Asa Philip Randolph who worked alongside Bayard Rustin to organize the March on

Washington. These individuals have contributed to providing the rights people have today and

promoting equality. Unfortunately, they are not recognized enough for their contributions.

Therefore, celebrating black history all year is critical because, throughout history, African

Americans have created movements, fighting for their rights and for people today’s rights,

overall changing societal views and fighting inequality. Ultimately, Black History month should

definitely be acknowledged for more than just a month and deserves recognition in our everyday

lives. Without Black history, life would be significantly different, from inventions that we use

daily, to individuals’ rights and freedoms. Acknowledging and recognizing others at work does

more to boost self-esteem for black people and morale than even a raise, as an incentive. Being

acknowledged also makes people feel like they matter. Which in fact Black people should be as

much acknowledged as everyone else in this world. A heartwarming thoughtful, as well as

meaningful quote Frederick Douglass, states, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” This

actively demonstrates that people in Black history have gone through several struggles to achieve

what we have today. This actively proves that their stories should be heard and what they have

faced needs more recognition for more than just one month.
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Works Cited

BlackPast. (1857) Frederick Douglass, "If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress" •, 8

Aug. 2019. Web.15 May 2021

DeWitt, Peter. “Moving Beyond Black History Month (Opinion).” Education Week,

Education Week, 30 Apr. 2021. Web.15 May 2021

Morgan, Thad. “8 Black Inventors Who Made Daily Life Easier.” History.com, A&E

Television Networks, 20 Feb. 2019. Web.15 May 2021

Shinault, Brenda et al. “Black History Month Is for Everyone • FamilySearch.”

FamilySearch Blog, 18 Nov. 2020. Web.15 May 2021