The history of the United States is a tapestry embroidered with many cultures. One of the most vivid and complicated historical threads is those belonging to Black Americans. The accomplishments of many individuals, named and unnamed, impress themselves upon American history; it is for them that Black History Month is celebrated. A short message like this cannot hope to mark the scope of these accomplishments fully. But, from the works of thinkers and jurists of times past, such as Frederick Douglass and Thurgood Marshall, to those who fought and spoke for freedom like Harriet Tubman and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to the educators and pioneers of today, like Neil de Grasse Tyson and Mae Jemison, the thread of Black History continues to weave new stories and will continue to do so in the future. I hope you'll join me in reflecting on the triumphs of Black Americans this month, celebrating the courage of leaders, thinkers, and achievers. This year's theme is Black Resistance. As the poet Maya Angelou said: "Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently." |
