Thought I would blog about something to get off the stale back pages so Black History Month came to mind. History has never been one of my strong subjects but for a month that started out as a Day, Week and Now a Month for some years now is something to look at in terms of history and the many African-Americans that has contributed to those pages in our struggle to be citizens of these United States of America.

When we look at black history heritage we find many names and historical facts that reminds us freedom is never given, it is won. Lives are lost, families are separated and struggle is a big part of acceptance of those not willing to see change in any form.

My father and mother were born in the 1800's and my great and great-great grand parents were born in America long before then so I have heard many stories from my parents of their struggles and the struggles of their parents. All of those generations has produced preachers and people of faith who believed in God as their strength and salvation. So as I have stated many time my faith in God is very strong believing my true friend is Jesus. One of the first songs I learned was "What a friend we have in Jesus."

There are to many names of pioneers in the archives of black history to mention here but the beginnings can be traced back to slavery times and religion had a large part of that era. The ancient African Christians who laid the foundations for much of modern Africa is said to have started the christian movement. Thus the "old Negro spirituals" was sung by many slaves and generations since.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. known to many of us as a civil rights movement leader and devoted christian struggled to change the way America thought about African-Americans. There were also educators like Booker T Washington, and scores of others who helped to educate the blacks and form the alliance of predominant black colleges across America.