Since President Gerald Ford’s recognition in 1976, the month of February has been designated as Black History Month. The commemorative month is meant to be a time to celebrate and recognize the achievements of African-Americans throughout United States history.

From celebrities advocating for more representation of African-Americans and their culture to having the first African-American president and Black vice president, it may seem like the country has made great progress. It was not long ago, after all, that they had to fight for their rights during the Civil Rights movement.

Recently, the Pixar movie Soul came out with the studio’s first Black lead and majority Black cast. This shows progress not only in the animation and film industry, but also in the country.

However, there is still much to be done in order to enlighten and represent the African-American community. Especially in history books, many crucial African-Americans are often left out. They have as much history in the country as many other Americans, but not the same representation, still feeling prejudice and oppression.

Today, we bear the responsibility of bringing awareness, respect, and love to the way we treat African-Americans. We have to do our best to understand their places in the lives of marginalized groups and listen to their experiences. There shouldn’t be any name-calling or use of stereotypes, instead, a key step is to spreading awareness to get their voices heard.

The first step is understanding their past and recognizing their accomplishments and contributions to society, which is the reason to celebrate Black History not just in February but year-round. Read about some of them in the latest Armijo Signal stories, such as the significant, yet unrecognized, inventors and contributors to society, as well as movies and colleges that focus on the African-American experience. Once you do, you’ll be one step closer to bridging the gap between cultures and people.