History in the Making

History is defined as the study of past events especially dealing with human affairs. It doesn't mention anything about a certain time frame for these events. So why is it that we seem to put a time frame on them ourselves?

Every year February rolls around and everyone knows that's Black History Month. So that's when we talk about them. That's when teachers give out those Black History projects. Every year we celebrate the same way. We also celebrate the same people.

Throughout my entire childhood every February I learned about Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcom X, Marian Anderson, George Washington Carver just to name a few.

Not to say that they aren't wonderful people to learn about but I believe that there are plenty more black people making History and all of them aren't dead.

I believe that there are black people making history in this world every day and aren't being praised enough. Yeah, you hear about them because most of them are famous, but we never talk about them in terms of history.

This isn't a story about some kind of conspiracy theory. This isn't a rant about celebrating black history more than one month a year. This is just one man's opinion. An opinion that says that people don't have to be old or dead to celebrate the history they've made in the world.

Let's just take Maya Moore for instance. She was a WNBA player at the top of her game. She could be praised for her basketball accomplishments alone, but she's went above and beyond just being a basketball player.

She had become an advocate for prosecutorial injustice. In doing that she took a break from her illustrious career to help make a difference. That difference was made in July of 2020 when her efforts to get Jonathan Irons released from prison was a success. Jonathan Irons, a man wrongfully convicted and serving a fifty-year sentence was released mostly due to the efforts of Moore. Shortly after his release Maya and him were married.

There's also Daryl Davis. Daryl is a man that dedicated part of his life to befriending members of the Klu Klux Klan. Now I know that might sound crazy, but his efforts had a good outcome. He gave quite a few white people a different opinion of black people. He also convinced over two hundred Klan members to leave the racist organization.

You also have Nipsey Hussle who unfortunately was murdered in 2019. Before his death he helped the African American community by telling young black men of his time in the streets and how he made it out through music. He used his music to denounce gun violence. He also used his influence and work in the community to provide inspiration and solutions to young black men. He even had conversations with the LAPD to try to address gun violence in Los Angeles.

Stephen A. Smith a sports journalist that has become a staple of the ESPN sports network. A very successful black man that has used his voice to speak out against the injustices that exist in this country. Time after time he's spoken out about the race relations in this country. He's been an advocate for more diversity in the hiring of head coaches and general managers in sports. He's also been very outspoken about wanting black people to gain ownership of some of these sports franchises. He takes his stances and does not back down from them even in the face of cancel culture.

Jemele Hill and Michael Smith made history during their time working at ESPN. Becoming not one but two African American Sportscenter hosts. Both of them also taking a stand against the injustices that have plagued black people over the years. Even after her time at ESPN Jemele continues with her success. She hosts a podcast in which she constantly interviews and promotes positive black people who are doing great things in their fields and their communities. She has also remained an advocate for justice for black people.

Simone Biles one of the greatest gymnasts in American history. She's won 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. In the 2020 Olympics she had the courage to withdraw herself and bring attention to mental health. She was suffering from the "twisties" which is a loss of air balance awareness. She also acknowledged that she wasn't mentally there. Her courage to withdraw herself and honestly admit to having mental health issues have made a difference. The Olympic committee has now agreed to have mental health professionals available to the athletes.

There are countless other Black people making history today. Candace Parker winning an WNBA championship in her hometown. Also off the court being a successful NBA analyst for TNT. She also made the cover for NBA 2k 22 which is a huge accomplishment for a woman in sports.

The Andrews sisters Malika and Kendra are both making strides at ESPN. Malika at one time was the only black female NBA analyst. She was also the youngest NBA correspondent during her time covering the league from inside the bubble. She is now the host of the NBA Today show. Her younger sister Kendra recently joined the company and currently covers the Golden State Warriors.

Nick Cannon has turned an acting and music career into small empire. He now produces, hosts and works on a variety of shows. One of them being Wild N Out a very popular show on the MTV network. That show has helped forward the careers of plenty young black comedians including DC Young Fly, B. Simone and Jess Hilarious. He also was a part of Do Something a youth movement organization that encourages young people to do things to help their communities.

So, why we celebrate, learn about and praise the great black people that have made history in the past let's not forget that it's still going on. That it's black people right now doing things to help provide a better future. That things didn't stop with Dr. King. That black people right now are still making History.