This is *** vlog editorial. Every February we celebrate Black History Month. During this month we pause and make intentional time to reflect on the contributions of Black Americans that history and time may have forgotten or overlooked, and this is important. Our country continues to struggle with racial division, and the divisions we face many times can be rooted in racism, but the division can also just as easily be rooted in *** lack of knowledge and understanding. Take for instance our understanding of the unique black history here in our state. Up the road at Iowa State University, George Washington Carver, the son of slaves, found *** college who would accept him, and with this education, he went on to develop 325 products from peanuts and many more agricultural innovations. Or take the former town of Buxton, Iowa. This Iowa community has literally disappeared off the map. But it was once *** thriving coal mining town that produced black leaders who went on to form the NAACP and the National Bar Association. And then there's Fort Des Moines. This Army base became the first training facility for African American officers to serve in the US Army, but for Black History Month to be meaningful in our daily lives, it can't simply be *** study of history and some series of facts we learn through preserving and sharing these stories, hopefully it inspires all of us to increase our collective effort to create more inclusive communities. All month long here at vlog we will be reporting on black Iowans who are making *** positive impact on our community and state and it's all part of our project Community Black History Month special reports. I believe these reports will educate and inspire you. I hope you watch and I hope together we can all work on building *** world where black history is simply thought of as American history. vlog welcomes responsible replies to this editorial.
Editorial: Celebrating history, impact of Black Iowans during Black History Month
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Updated: 5:25 PM CST Feb 7, 2025
Every February, we celebrate Black History Month. During this month, we pause and make intentional time to reflect on the contributions of Black Americans that history and time may have forgotten or overlooked. This is important. Our country continues to struggle with racial division. The divisions we face many times can be rooted in racism. But the division can also just as easily be rooted in a lack of knowledge and understanding. Take for instance our understanding of the unique Black history here in our state. Up the road at Iowa State University, George Washington Carver, the son of slaves, found a college who would accept him. With this education, he went on to develop 325 products from peanuts, and many more agricultural innovations. Or take the former town of Buxton, Iowa. This Iowa community has literally disappeared off the map. But it was once a thriving coal mining town that produced Black leaders who went on to form the NAACP and the National Bar Association. And then there's Fort Des Moines. This Army base became the first training facility for African American officers to serve in the US Army. But for Black History Month to be meaningful in our daily lives, it can't simply be a study of history and some series of facts we learn. Through preserving and sharing these stories, hopefully, it inspires all of us to increase our collective effort to create more inclusive communities. All month long, vlog will be reporting on Black Iowans who are making a positive impact on our community and state. It's all part of our Project CommUNITY Black History Month special reports. I believe these reports will educate and inspire you. I hope you watch. And I hope together, we can all work on building a world where Black History is simply thought of as American history.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Every February, we celebrate . During this month, we pause and make intentional time to reflect on the contributions of Black Americans that history and time may have forgotten or overlooked. This is important. Our country continues to struggle with racial division. The divisions we face many times can be rooted in racism. But the division can also just as easily be rooted in a lack of knowledge and understanding.
Take for instance our understanding of the unique Black history here in our state. Up the road at Iowa State University, George Washington Carver, the son of slaves, found a college who would accept him. With this education, he went on to develop 325 products from peanuts, and many more agricultural innovations. Or take the former town of Buxton, Iowa. This Iowa community has literally disappeared off the map. But it was once a thriving coal mining town that produced Black leaders who went on to form the NAACP and the National Bar Association. And then there's Fort Des Moines. This Army base became the first training facility for African American officers to serve in the US Army. But for Black History Month to be meaningful in our daily lives, it can't simply be a study of history and some series of facts we learn. Through preserving and sharing these stories, hopefully, it inspires all of us to increase our collective effort to create more inclusive communities.
All month long, vlog will be reporting on Black Iowans who are making a positive impact on our community and state. It's all part of our Project CommUNITY Black History Month special reports. I believe these reports will educate and inspire you. I hope you watch. And I hope together, we can all work on building a world where Black History is simply thought of as American history.
