It is one of my favorite times of the year! It is the time of year when we get to celebrate Black History Month. It is only February, and it has been a very busy year already. Just this month we have seen Usher’s electrifying Superbowl halftime show performance, Beyoncé releasing a country album, and The Lakers unveiling a bronze statue at Star Plaza outside of Crypto.com Arena in honor of Kobe Bryant. I absolutely adore Usher as well as his music and have had the pleasure of seeing him perform live. I can connect with Beyoncé’s because she is undeniably talented at telling her story through music. Although I haven’t been a Laker’s fan since Shaquille O’Neal retired, I must acknowledge Kobe Bryant’s contributions to the game of basketball and the impact of his career on an entire generation of people.
These are all exciting events and have certainly found their way into the headlines of many news publications. It is easy to celebrate the achievements of those already in the limelight; those that would be making news, it seems, no matter what they do. I feel that we do not take nearly enough time to celebrate the notable academic and entrepreneurial achievements of African American folks. This year, for Black History Month, instead of celebrating the folks that entertain us, I would like to take a moment to celebrate the achievements of folks that have made contributions in areas that make our lives better each day.