Celebrating Black History by Conrad Schupay

When I attended St. Peter Claver elementary school in the 80s, I found myself in an environment that exposed me to an often overlooked or misplaced history - American Black History.  The teachers and staff at St. Peter Claver not only taught about being a Christian but, in February, focused deeply on Black History, which at a young age educated me on great heroes like Harriet Tubman and the Tuskegee Airmen, and historic figures, like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., who pushed for equality, stood for justice, and promoted civil and human rights. That education continued during my time at the United States Military Academy where I learned about Henry O Flipper and Benjamin O Davis Jr – graduates whose stories of struggle and perseverance embody the ethos of Duty, Honor and Country.

The foundation laid decades ago during Black History month at St Peter Claver and by my parents enabled me to look past differences, respect others, and judge individuals based on merit and not the way they look or where they come from. The United States of America is one of the most diverse and undoubtedly the greatest country in the world, and the success of this country can be attributed to the diversity of its people and the continued education of their journey.  We cannot overlook or forget that the fabric of our nation is woven with Black History and the celebration of its story should not be highlighted one month of the year, but every day.