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We live in a time now in which questions abound — large, serious, consequential — questions in most every area of life.
This morning my fraternity brother Mark Pearson, songwriter, musician and longtime member of The Brothers Four, shares one.
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Will we celebrate a 50th Black History Month in 2026?
Forty-nine years ago, the President of the United States, Gerald Ford, proclaimed the month of February to be Black History Month. The idea was to bring attention to the many unnoticed, unreported, and too often unrecorded contributions that African Americans have made to our country.
It never crossed my mind that there might not be a 50th anniversary celebration of Black History Month in 2026, one that would correspond with our country’s 250th birthday party. Then again, I never thought that after forty-nine years we would as a country choose to make abortions illegal once again. Or that any president would choose to use executive orders in their first days in office in what appear to be cruel, calculated and spiteful ways.
It also never occurred to me that those who invaded the Capitol on January 6th would be seen by some as historically patriotic and those who threatened and attacked the police that day would be given Presidential pardons for their actions.
At the same time the idea that we are a nation of immigrants made stronger by our diversity where all are created equal, free to worship as we please, or not at all, is under attack by some now powerful forces who continue to insist we are a “white, Christian nation.”
So, no, I do not take it for granted the United States of America will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Black History Month in 2026.
Just a thought…
Mark Pearson
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Check out this heartwarming moment on the New York subway.