Celebrate black history month

February is Black History Month, and America is celebrating the achievements of black leaders. If you haven't heard yet and have been living under a rock for the past four months, America has its first black president, Barack Obama.

The University has come a long way since it first admitted black students and hired black employees, and it has had its fair share of successful black graduates, faculty and staff. The University, formerly N.C. State College, admitted the first black students, two graduate students, in 1953, but they were not even allowed to eat in the same facilities. Now, there is a building named after a black faculty member, Stephen Latimer, the first black person to receive a doctoral degree from the University, which houses the African-American Cultural Center.

But Black History Month isn't just about recognizing and remembering prominent African-Americans in America's history. According to Toni Harris-Thorpe, program coordinator of the African-American Cultural Center, Black History Month serves as a way to debunk myths and do away with stereotypes, because the only way to fight ignorance is to learn the truth.

Black History Month's purpose is to combat the prejudice and racism black people have had to face by focusing on positive influences in the black community and unifying people by recognizing that all people are created equal and are entitled to the same rights.

Black History Month symbolizes how far America has gotten, and this does not only apply to black people. Civil Rights leaders and people who fought for black rights also fought for the rights of all people, including other minorities and even those with alternative lifestyles.

America has accomplished so much, but it is still a work in progress.

Barack Obama is our president and the nation's first black leader, but his presidency does not solve all race problems. His election into office has knocked down barriers, but this does not make all instances of racism disappear. We must continue to spread the message that all people are entitled to the same opportunities and are created equal.

Black History Month is a time to think of what black Americans have had to suffer through to get equal rights and respect those who bravely fought for them.