By Lonnie Ross Mississippi Tribune As Black history month comes to a close, I have something to say: Black history is history. You cannot have history without Black history. When I was growing up in the 1960’s, history was more about “his story” then it was about true and accurate history. History was told mostly from the white perspective. It was mostly “white history” and the story about Black people was often relegated to slavery or not highlighted at all. Thank God for change.

American history for Black people and white people has been very different. But, we also have a lot of shared history. A common history. An American history. Indeed, Black history is American history. I believe that it is something that we all should study and celebrate. The reason why we have a month set aside to recognize our history in this country is a result of centuries of neglect and distortion of our history. Too often positive historical facts about Blacks in this country had been suppressed or ignored. Black history month is one of the official ways of correcting this wrong. Of course, history is the factual story of a person, a people, a nation, even a world. And, my history, like so many of us, is wrapped up in Black history.

Yes, right here in southwest Mississippi. Pike County has a rich history. Full of so many events and happenings. But it is not all good. Indeed, McComb was once called the “bombing capital of the world” because of the bombing of churches, businesses and homes by racist white people during the civil rights movement. Blacks were treated as second class citizens in Pike County for the majority of the 1900’s. We had little or limited access to local government and the positions, power and monies that came with it. But, that all began to change since the 70’s: first Black sheriff, first Black selectman, and eventually the first Black mayor. First, in McComb, then Summit and finally Magnolia. We’ve now had Black fire chiefs, city attorney, city administrator, tourism director, and more. And, now, a Black President.

This did not happen without sacrifice, loss and great effort. Not that long ago, Blacks had to ride on the back of the bus, drink from separate water fountains, attend separate schools and walk with our heads down in the presence of white people. No more! A lot of people, Black and white suffered and endured a lot for all of us today to enjoy the fruit of their labor. To be free. They were the history makers. That’s what history is all about. What we do. What we say. We make history. Just like they did.

Yes, Black history to me today is about the history we made yesterday, the history we make today, and the history we will make tomorrow. Will we go down in history as the people who stood by and allowed the rights and positions gained by Black people be lost or taken from us?

We should support our Black president and help him as much as we can. We should support our Black mayor (Magnolia, Summit and McComb) and help him as much as we can. We should support and work with our Black leaders and officials to improve the condition of our community. We should make our own Black history personal and positive.

We all should have something to say about Black history.