Black history is not just the history of African-Americans; it is the history of all Americans. I know that may sound corny to some, yet it is undeniably true. Guilford College has strong ties to the Underground Railroad and was one of the first schools in the south to de-segregate. Its existence has contributed to the rich history of black America. It seems a no-brainer that Guilford would have many events planned to celebrate Black History month right? Wrong!

From what I could gather, Guilford has dropped the ball this February. I could not find any definite events scheduled to celebrate Black History Month. I polled every source I could find: Buzz, Beacon, Bulletin boards, faculty, and other students.

The blank stares I received from students and faculty were priceless. The responses I received to my inquiry included, “No clue,” “Good question” and “It seems as though we should have something planned.” I became frustrated, but I could not blame the responders because, well, there isn’t anything planned.

I was upset. Not because I had an article to write about what Guilford was doing to celebrate Black History Month and found no celebrations to report on, but because I, like many others, just took for granted that the college had events scheduled. And if there was or is an event, would someone please fill me in?

Many of you may be saying to yourself that the Blacks Unifying Society (BUS) should have organized activities. And they do. Nevertheless, at the writing of this article, those activities are tentative. They include a historical event dedicated to the Underground Railroad, a community meeting, movie nights and a hip-hop series.

BUS is not the only organization or department that should commemorate Black History Month. Of course, they are the obvious go-to simply because of the organization’s purpose. But what about other leadership on campus that focuses on “diversity” and enriching the Guilford experience through events? For instance, I believe the history, English, music, and theater departments should have orchestrated inspiring events.

Black History Month is a time designated to commemorate the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout America’s history. It began as a week long celebration which was established by Carter G. Woodson, who intended for the celebration to appeal to both whites and blacks and ultimately to improve race relations. The week began on Feb. 12 to commemorate the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Black History Week was extended to a month in 1976 as a part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration.

I am not saying that every single department, club, committee etc. should do something (though, it would be cool), but clearly someone could. If there was something that took place or is going to take place, I apologize. But where the heck was it publicized? To a lot of people this may not seem like a big deal, and that mindset in itself is a major problem. When we allow ourselves to forget to remember things like Black History Month, we are in essence forgetting a part of history and ourselves.