What it means to you: Black History Month
Racquel, Hickory Street. "Black History Month teaches kids about their ancestors. It teaches them about opportunity and hope. There's enough fiction on television promoting things like fashion and money when we need to focus on humanity. No division, no separation, let's all just come together."
Monica, East 9th Street. "If I cut you, you'll bleed red. If you cut me, I'll bleed red. We're the same and that's all there is to it."
Jimmy, FM 1397. "This is just a normal month for me. I can't relate to the problems of the past. I acknowledge what happened and what was done for everyone, but all I know is peace and harmony."
Bree & Chris Jr., Park Place Street. "I just want Black History Month to help educate and stop the violence going on. My brother was murdered last November, it was senseless. My son keeps asking where his uncle is and I can't find a way to help him understand he's not going to be around anymore."
Joseph, Lee Street. "I remember the first day of classes after we integrated the black and white high schools on the Texas side of town in 1968...It wasn't easy going."
Louella, Goree Street. "The racism is just Satan. He's real and you have to keep him under your foot and stay kicking him. If everyone would just come to sweet Jesus this would all be gone in an instant and we'd all get along. God is love."
James, FM 1397. "I was young growing up in the south and there were two types of people then. I saw some bad things, but in my twenties I started working for the Mussellman family on their cotton and soy bean farm...I believe in 1950. They paid me an honest wage, treated me with respect, and pretty much gave me the house I still live in today. I can't keep from tearing up remembering they always gave me a car to drive my family to church in on Sunday....I could never repay them for that. They're proof there was light in a dark time, there's good in everybody somewhere."
Kémon, Leopard Drive. "Black History Month is a celebration of all races being able to come together, nobody's different. We can all get along."
Orris, West 4th Street. "It's really a shame that we as black people, especially the young culture of all races of people of color have to take the courses of black history to get the full understanding about how blacks were treated in slavery and were not considered humans by the same racist beliefs and stereotypes that still exist today. American history should be totally inclusive of the negro struggle and the struggle of all immigrants. I believe there should be no need for a Black History Month for blacks to celebrate the contributions that blacks have made to this country's well being. The history of black people in this country is American history."
Robert, Olive Street. "I say the month doesn't mean anything to me with the idea that every month should celebrate black history. We must look back and appreciate what was done for us."
Dan, Smelser Street. "Everyone fears the unknown, but after you get to know each other we all get along just fine."
Sammie, Whitaker Street. "Dr. King gave his life for us....for peace. This month is a lesson."
Mike, Main Street. "I think I'm living in the thick of black history. We have a black man in the top spot of this country so I don't really feel there's anything I can't achieve, the undoable has been done."
Antqunette, Fannin Street. "We can chill at the corner store now. We can use the front door instead of having to use the back just to go shop."
Charles, Ferguson Street. "Black History Month is a big one, the fellas and I roll out on our motorcycles for the parade and try to get the kids involved. Try to teach em positivity, but it's tough with all the killing lately. It's a different world these days. I didn't serve in Vietnam to come back here and be killed so maybe a positive message can help."
Braylen, West 13th Street. "Learning about Black History Month at church helps me think about the past. It makes me happy about today."
Charles & Micah, Wade Lane. "It's important my son learns about black history. He needs to know about the struggle that came during the civil rights movement as well as in the biblical times. You have to know your past so you don't make the same mistakes."
Tanisha, Fannin Street. "To be beautiful....Black History Month is about where I began and where I end. It expresses me."
Maurice, West 15th Street. "Black History Month is always a good punch in the gut. It's good we know how bad it used to be."
Courtney & Alex, FM 1397. "I wonder if my children will naturally care about Black History Month as much as me when they grow up as the generation gap widens from the civil rights movement."
Walter-John & William, Broad Street. "Black history month is about Perseverance and tradition. It's about uplifting my community and the opportunity for anyone to be what they want in this nation."
Rhonda, Robison Road. "We need to celebrate our local black heroes just as much as the national figures like Dr. King. It gives the children hope and enriches their lives knowing these important men and women are right here in their community."