In late August 1619, 20 to 30 enslaved Africans arrived in Hampton, Virginia. These Africans were the first of many to arrive in America and build the foundation of a new country.

Today’s society simply cannot discuss America’s history without acknowledging the contributions of African Americans. From 1619 to the present day, African Americans have continuously dedicated their strength, resilience, and contributions to a country that fails to do the same for them. Until 1865, African Americans were legally considered property, which is striking given that the Declaration of Independence, adopted in1776, supposedly declared freedom for all Americans. However, what Thomas Jefferson failed to articulate was that this so-called “freedom” applied exclusively to white male landowners, liberating them from English rule while still allowing the continued oppression of Africans. 

America is recognized as one of the richest countries in the world, but why? It’s because America was built on the backs of unpaid African American laborers. The country generated so much profit exploiting enslaved people, having them work tirelessly as agricultural workers, household workers, industrial laborers, and more. All of these jobs were crucial in building the foundation of our nation and would have been extremely costly, but America had a shortcut: oppression. 

Not only did America oppress African Americans through the act of chattel slavery, it also systematically disadvantaged them. America built systems that would place colored people at the bottom of the hierarchy, preventing equality. Systems like policing are rooted in slave patrol. Financial institutions insured enslaved people as properties and invested in industries that were dependent on slave labor, increasing the demand for slavery. The government caused generational distrust for the health care system within the Black community because of historical and systemic injustices, such as unethical medical experiments like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, unequal treatment, and lack of representation in medical research and care. This is just the start of it.

With the knowledge of slavery in the US, it’s undeniable that Black History is a part of American History, but Black History is not solely rooted in America because Black does not equal African American. “Black” is an umbrella term for the African diaspora, which refers to African descendants across the world. Many African descendants reject the idea that “Black History is American History” because it limits cultural inclusion. African diasporic history spans every continent, from the enslaved Africans shaping US culture and economies in North America to the development of capoeira in Brazil and the contributions of African soldiers like the Senegalese Tirailleurs in Europe. Similarly, the Siddis of India have preserved African traditions in Asia, the Haitian Revolution inspired anti-colonial movements in Africa, and African American soldiers influenced race relations in Australia during World War II. Given the countless and geographically-varied contributions of Black people around the world, Black History is world history. 

Students mostly receive a eurocentric education that follows a shallow curriculum of African Americans. In general history, we often learn a narrow perspective of Black History, focusing on figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman—influential figures who helped pave the way for progress. Yet young scholars aren’t informed of the concealed patriots of America, like Maria W. Stewart, who was the first Black woman to publicly speak against slavery and advocate for women’s rights. Or Fannie Lou Hamer, a voting rights activist who endured violence for her efforts and helped establish the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. The first Black woman to serve on the US Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson, is a trailblazer who has broken barriers in the federal judicial branch, bringing a perspective to the nation’s highest court that demands fairness, justice, and equality. 

While curriculums do touch on the Civil Rights Movement, they fail to include the deeper complexities of the monumental movement. The Jim Crow laws weren’t just about segregated bathrooms and fountains; they represented violence and the harsh realities of systemic racism that made daily life hell, but Black Americans used the faith that their dark past taught them and the hope that the presence brought them to keep fighting until justice was won. 

History repeats itself, and our justice system continuously attempts to turn a blind eye to the systemic racism embedded into our country’s culture. Woodrow Wilson believed in re-segregating federal agencies and held racist views, including screening the pro-Ku Klux Klan film The Birth of a Nation at the White House. Today, Donald Trump believes in dividing our country and “Making America Great Again,” which really means giving power back to white supremacists. Similarly to Wilson’s honoring of the Klu Klux Klan, Trump glorifies the January 6 “hostages,” who took the nation by storm in their violent retaliation to the 2020 election results. On January 20, 2025, Trump announced he strives for a “society that is color-blind and merit-based.” What’s the issue with a color-blind nation, you may ask? A color-blind approach to society ignores the systemic inequalities and historical contexts that have shaped racial disparities. Pretending race doesn’t exist overlooks the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities, stopping efforts that address discrimination and achieve true equality.

Black History is deeply embedded in America’s rich culture today and deserves to be recognized as prominently as any other part of American History. It’s time for us to take initiative and bridge the gaps caused by years of undervalued history. We must educate ourselves and inform those around us about the complexities of our nation and our world. It’s important to remember that Black History is not just American History, Black History encompasses the entire African diaspora. By acknowledging the full narrative of Black History, we honor the contributions and resilience of countless individuals who shaped the world we live in today.