Black students talk Black History Month.

Interview by Donella Lalas | Photos by Christa Yaranon

Since 1976, the United States has recognized February as Black History Month to pay tribute to and promote the achievements of people of African descent. But what does it really mean for the stakeholders of this history? And how can those who consider themselves allies really be, well, allies?

On a recent Tuesday evening, I met with Western Washington University students Myele Johnson, Chante Lee and Jana Obune to talk to them about what Black History Month means to them.

The responses from this conversation have been condensed for clarity.

What is the significance of Black History Month, and what does it mean to you?

Johnson: To me, personally, the significance of Black History Month is that it’s basically the only month of the year in which anything about the amazing stuff Black people have done in history is supposedly celebrated. It’s really the only month in which I can look at my identity as a Black person and actually be happy about all the accomplishments we’ve had. It’s a month when I can look at the history of Black people and be amazed.

Lee: Mine goes for the same reasons, but it also kind of makes me sad because it’s only once a year we get to talk about this stuff. Shouldn’t it be talked about all the time?

Obune: I look at it as remembering leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama and even people like Jackie Robinson.

How have you and/or how do you celebrate Black History Month?

Johnson: That’s an interesting question because when I was growing up, all we had was maybe an assembly at the start of Black History Month and that was it, and this was in a predominantly Black elementary school. But when I got older, and I moved to a different neighborhood and went to a predominantly white school, there was nothing that happened, so I was never really able to celebrate it. And now, moving on to Western, Western does the very bare minimum, so there isn’t anything to celebrate. I know last year, and I hope this year, I have gone to different events by Black students who enjoy my blackness and all that comes with it.

Obune: To me, personally, I live every day like any other day. I feel like I don’t need a month dedicated to celebrating Black history. I celebrate my history any day of the year. I just be me every single day, and I don’t let anyone stop that, and I don’t let my appearance get in the way.

Lee: For me, in the past, I never thought much of it. I’m mixed and grew up with my mom being white, so she didn’t stress the importance of Black History Month as much as I think other people would have. I still knew it was important, but in elementary school, you got the whitewashed version of Black History Month. It was either an assembly for Black History Month or one for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Now, I try to learn about my culture as much as I can every day, not just this month.

What are your hopes for Black History Month? What type of support are you looking for?

Obune: Overall, I just want everyone to be kind to each other. I say respect and let everyone do them whether it’s showing up to an event or doing something else.

Johnson: For me, my hope is for Black people to come together in unity and to enjoy this month together, at least up here at Western.

Lee: What I look for is not only that but the recognition from the school itself that there is institutional racism and the dialogue of what antiblackness looks like and how to combat it correctly in a way that benefits other people. And a continuation of the conversation, not just for Black History Month. Black lives and Black Excellence should always be celebrated, not just this one month.

Is there anything else we should know about Black History Month?

Johnson: I would just like to add to those who call themselves allies, to keep that same energy for the rest of the year instead of just going all out for Black History Month and completely disappearing the other 11 months of the year because that has been a common case in history and even here at Western. Despite our differences we have with one another in the Black community, this shouldn’t be a time in which we attack other people in the community — it should be a time when we all enjoy each other and celebrate each other as a people.

Lee: We are here and we should be seen and celebrated all the time.

Johnson: And to Western specifically as an institution, stop doing the bare minimum and do something more.

Myele Johnson is a third-year political science major from Seattle. He is also the current president of the African Caribbean Club on campus.

Chante Lee is a third-year urban planning and sustainable development major from Marysville, Washington and is co-chair for the Mixed Identity Student Organization on campus.

Jana Obune is a fourth-year Fairhaven College sports and representation major, a journalism pre-major and a philosophy minor. She is from Redmond, Washington and is a former ACC president. She currently works as an office assistant at the Ethnic Student Center on campus.