A new spin on Black History Month

Every February since 1976, North Americans have observed Black History Month, a month dedicated to honouring and educating youth about key figures in black history. This year, a group of Fanshawe students have put a different spin on things, creating their own campaign to promote black history.

The N.E.G.R.O. (Naturally, Eternally, Gaining, Rising and Obtaining) Project is an educational campaign organized by black youth for the purpose of reaching out to other youth to promote social equality and diversity. "In a nutshell, what we're trying to do with the N.E.G.R.O. Project, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel, we're just taking Black History Month and looking at it from a different vantage point," said Ahmed Himmat, Director of Sales and Research for the N.E.G.R.O. Project.

"Whenever you look at Black History Month, they're always celebrating the same people ... Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcom X, but since their time, the world that we live in changed drastically," explained Himmat. "You don't find a lot of black people struggling for simple things like freedoms (and being) respected. You find a lot of people fighting to just genuinely be good people. They do things, whether it's in science, art, literature, sports, just like normal people; just people trying to make the best for humanity," he continued.

For the entire month of February, the N.E.G.R.O. Project will dedicate each day to a different black hero or heroine on their website (thenegroproject.ca) in order to expand on the current perception of black history. "It's about teaching our youth about ourselves and also giving somebody who doesn't know any better a chance or an opportunity to look into something without being offended or feeling like they're overwhelmed by it," said Himmat.

Ultimately, the N.E.G.R.O Project hopes to alleviate racism through the inception of positive ideals and awareness, instilling the idea of a better, more knowledgeable future through understanding black history.

Himmat encouraged any students or groups who want to hold an event on behalf of the N.E.G.R.O. Project to contact him at ahmed.himmat1@gmail.com.