Throughout the year, there are many things we celebrate: President’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, the New Year, and many more. However, there are times when we celebrate different kinds of events such as Black History Month. As many people are aware, Black History Month runs throughout February. Famous people are recognized during this month such as Harriet Tubman, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and more modern people such as Thurgood Marshall. Today, we recognize many of these people as leaders and role models in our society and this article will go into the three previously listed people and recognize their great service to America!
Our first topic is about Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman was born in 1820 into slavery in Maryland. Tubman escaped to go to the North when she was only 29 years old, and in return, helped hundreds of families in slavery escape to the North. Tubman is also known for her work as a spy for the Union Army to gather information from the Confederate Army. Even after the Civil War, Harriet Tubman didn’t stop working with newly freed slaves and even began work with the elderly. Harriet Tubman suffered many injuries in her early childhood, but it just shows her powerful background and shows her rightful of being a leader. Tubman was even buried with military honor due to all her bravery in her service with the Underground Railroad and the Union Army. Tubman is still considered one of the most influential women of all time and is still a major leader in our society today.
Moving forward about one-hundred years to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Everyone was taught about him in school and he’s known for his famous quote and speech, “I have a dream!” Dr. King was a famous activist who also followed the rules of a pacifist, meaning he created no violence but protested peacefully. Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, he led the most powerful movement of his time, The Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. Dr. King was very passionate about creating a world that was equal for all and his wish came true. Dr. King was a natural-born leader and, of course, he still holds a high influence in our society today as many people still thank him for his work today.
Now, we are still constantly changing today, and we still have high influences in our modern society that help us with that movement such as Thurgood Marshall. For those who aren’t completely aware, Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American Justice to serve in the Supreme Court. Born on July 2nd, 1908, he became a Justice in 1967 and served until 1991. He went to Harvard University to get a degree in Law. Marshall passed away from Congestive Heart Failure in 1993. Now being a justice, this makes him an obvious choice for great leadership material, but he also came to be a major influence for children, showing them that they can do anything.
So many great leaders have popped up in great moments of history. As we go through this month, let us not forget those who have worked hard to change our society to make it the way it is today. We must try to keep those in mind, not just at this time of year, but all year round.
Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
