Isn't African-American History Just American History?

The pages of history though printed in black ink have few black faces. Our American story is not only black and white, but red and yellow and brown, olive, and tan. It is a story of people who always came here looking for more. More space. More freedom. More opportunity. While some Africans came here free men and women, my African ancestors came here, not of their own free will, but as slaves. They did the hard labor, alongside redskinned captives and white indentured servants and; later as share croppers, they labored alongside yellow and brown migrants and white immigrants.

Our story is a story of commonfolk who worked hard and made fortunes or just had ordinary lives rearing children and leaving a legacy of independence and
defiance in the face of many obstacles. African-American History Month
celebrates the achievements of those edited out of history or who're listed as a
footnote. While it includes the accomplishments of a few celebrated people of
darker hue, e.g., Dr. Martin Luther, Jr., King, Rosa Parks, President Obama; it is
the story of the inventors, educators, scientists, musicians, athletes, soldiers,
ministers, statesmen and common men and women who did uncommon things
and are only recognized once a year during this month. Their names should be in
the history books along with the names of Native Americans, Asian Americans,
Hispanic Americans, Jewish Americans,  Polish Americans, Italian Americans,
Greek Americans, Irish Americans, ALL Americans who've made a contribution to
this nation. Not to be identified by ethnicity, these Americans should be noted for
their achievements and recognized as Americans with their ethnic origins only
mentioned as part of their biography.

Only then will American History tell the complete story of this great nation and the
people who made it so. When every American knows the name of the African-American who was the first American killed in the American Revolution, then African-American History will just be American History. ©gjc, 2/20/2011,  http//: www.gjchitchat.blogspot.com. All rights reserved.