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By SUSAN C. BENTLEY

Black History Month

Today is February first which kicks off National Black History Month. You probably won't find any activities in Lewis County that recognize it but there are many to choose from if you go to Morgantown, Clarksburg or Charleston.
I asked my co-workers on Martin Luther King's birthday if there were any events in Lewis County commemorating the event and they laughed and said no.
There are not too many black people in Lewis County but I think it is important to recognize these things for several reasons.
When I was in college I learned there was very little African American literature because blacks were not allowed to read and write in this country until after the Civil War. There were a few blacks who were writers such as Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown before the Civil War but it wasn't until the 20th Century that authors of African American heritage were recognized. Just because they were black.
Lewis County built a school for the black children in 1882 as they were not allowed to go to school with white children. The Colored School is still here and located on Center Ave. The school closed in 1954 and is now home to the Mountaineer Military Museum. Over the years, the black population in Lewis County has ranged from a handful of blacks to well over 300 and now there are less than 50.
You might think it is not important to recognize Black History Month but it is and this is the reason why. The government and its people tried for many years to keep blacks, Indians, and anyone else who was not white from participating in the American way of life.
Many brave people made the government recognize that these people are humans too that deserve freedom just like white people do.
It is important to remember that as long as that prejudice is allowed anyone is in danger of persecution. It is important to know that everyone white, black, yellow or red are people who deserve to be treated fairly regardless of their skin color.
Martin Luther King Jr. talked of a day when his children would be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin and we are still quite a distance from that statement.
There are still those that bully, beat up and kill just because of their religion, sexual orientation and yes, even skin color.
Can you imagine if your children were not allowed to attend school because they were fat, skinny, wore glasses or any reason for that matter? Or if you were not allowed to eat in a restaurant or drive a car just because someone didn't like the way you looked.
That is why we have organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and many others whose purpose is to make sure we are all treated fairly. I know some of the things these organizations do seem a little extreme such as not allowing prayer in schools, or government paying for religious activities and on and on.
I, for one don't see what is wrong with having a little religion in our schools, but who decides which religion?
Everyone has the choice and freedom to choose their way of life and that is the way it should be as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.
So when you think of Black History Month think of all the freedoms you enjoy because there are those who fight to keep all people free.
Have a great week!