The Importance of Black History

My name is Javae Valentine and I am an African American. Ever since the first grade I have always wanted to be a lawyer. I have no doubt that I will be a lawyer, but I would not have that opportunity if it were not for the African Americans that came before me. Becoming a lawyer will be a hard road to travel, but it is possible because of those wonderful people in Black History. If they had not done what they did, this is what my life would have been like...

April 5th 2004. I am 10 years old. My world is not the place you would want to live in. White people still don’t give us strong African Americans the respect we deserve. I have dreams of being a successful lawyer but it’s never going to happen if no one stands up to the whites. I can’t do anything to save people from being beaten, terrorized and most of all…degraded. It hurts to know that people would treat people of a different race like animals. The Constitution says we are supposed to be free, but this is not free. This is wrong. We are people too. But we are treated badly because of the color of our skin. God made us dark but that’s not a reason to be treated badly. Right now no one can help us. I wish…someone needs to stand-up for us, but it won’t happen.

When I grow up I will have a nice job as a maid.

This is what my life would have been like if all the brave people had not fought for what they believed in. I believe Black History is important because it shows that anyone can overcome adversities. People like Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and others made this world a better place to live in. Even though everyone in Black History was not famous, there are people who helped make other people’s dreams possible. But if those people had not existed, this is what my life would have been like...

I want to be a lawyer! I do not want to have to clean up behind people who could easily clean up their own house. I cannot live like this. I do not want my kids to be maids because no one thinks we are smart enough to have a job that does not involve cleaning somebody’s house. I do not want be treated as if I am nothing.

April 8th 2005. It is my 11th birthday. Yesterday the police hosed down some teens who were protesting. I want to be able to speak my mind and not be punished for it. My mom says I will soon have a better life, but what does she know. She has been telling me that for years now. She works on a plantation like some kind of animal. Policemen killed my dad last week but I’m not sad. He was protesting. He was being brave. Police are not supposed to kill people for no reason. I wish he could be here on my birthday. I told my friend what happened. She was upset too because she is like my sister but she was also excited about me turning 11. I am not that excited. It’s not like I’m doing something special. My family has no money and my dad is gone. My brother was arrested last weekend for looking at a white girl. He never came back. Now my mom is more interested in his safety than in my birthday. I’m not saying I do not care, but I want my mom to care about me too.

November 12th 2007. I’m 13 years old. My brother came back home last year. He told us what happened. It was really bad I am just happy he is back...

That is what my life would have been like if all of the people who believed we were being mistreated did not fight for us. But thanks to them, here is what my life is really like. I want to be a lawyer and I will be one. I am smart, devoted and I will not be told I cannot do something. I have been getting A’s and B’s so I can get a scholarship to NYU. I will be successful. It is great to know if I put my mind to doing something, I can do it. There is a world of opportunity out there. I am a plane that can fly everywhere and do anything. My mom is a court reporter and she is successful…all because she worked hard. In the past, many people talked about how African American people were not smart but we proved them wrong. African Americans are smart and determined and so am I.

I know you can tell the difference between what life would be like if people did not stand-up and be counted and life after we were really free. Black History means a lot. I think Black History is important and everyone needs to know about it because it has had a great impact on African American society.

Ever since I was in the first grade, I have always wanted to be a lawyer. I have no doubt that I will be a lawyer and because of the strong African Americans in my past, I have a chance to achieve my goal.

“Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail