Why Black History Month is Important

In what began as a week of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora, Black History Month was first honored in February 1970.

By 1976, when President Gerald Ford officially recognized the month, Black History Month was being celebrated all across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture, and community centers.

Throughout the past several years, Makpar has honored and spotlighted Black History Month through our annual blog posts to help educate and highlight the importance of this special month.

For example, we have showcased some of the most influential African American government leaders throughout our U.S. history. These include Wentworth Cheswell, known as the first African American to be elected to public office in the United States, as well as Condoleezza Rice, the first African American woman to be the National Security Advisor and Secretary of State of the United States.

We also honored the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces. Garnering three Distinguished Units Citations, the Tuskegee Airmen are well known for their excellent combat record earned while protecting American bombers from enemy fighters.

In addition, we highlighted how a wide-range of government agencies honor this special month through various programs and efforts – from NASA to FEMA, USDA, DHS and more. 

This year, several Black History Month activities are being scaled back by the federal government. However, according to a recent USA Today article, many history and education organizations are ramping up efforts to fill the void.

Makpar proudly celebrates the legacy and influence that African Americans had and will continue to have in our country.  We also prioritize our workforce, and continually aims to give back to the community.

To learn more about how Makpar creates an environment that allows happy people to do great work, please click here.