Black History Month has brought the usual influx of documentaries, movies and special programming designed to showcase the legacy of African American culture. A people who have been stripped of so much of its history are deserving of this opportunity to celebrate its contributions to the world this month and all year long.

The push by some to deemphasize Black History on the road to a so called color blind society will only lead to further dilution and minimization of the contributions of African Americans. The month should serve not just as a history lesson, but an opportunity to celebrate, evaluate and define our future history. What achievements of our generation will be included in the history books of future generations? How will we be judged on our efforts to bridge the racial and economic disparities of our times? 

The legacy of Black History Month established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson should continue and be used as a tool to advance and evolve to not only highlight how far we have come, but serve as a road map to where we are headed as a people.