Black History Continues Into Today´s World

Although Black History Month honors African-American leaders and racial breakthroughs throughout American history, few stop to consider that black history continues to be made each day by today's African-American leaders.

However, not every day brings a racial breakthrough. Even today, discrimination exists in some workplaces, governments and schools. Although the inequality is only a fraction of what it was 35 years ago, it still constitutes as just that: inequality.

The event that perhaps impacted black history most profoundly in recent memory was the Rodney King court case in Los Angeles in 1991. Many in the African-American community were outraged when the police officers who were accused of beating black motorist Rodney King were found not guilty in 1992. The riots that erupted following the ruling were the worst since the Civil Rights Movement -- or perhaps worst in the history of America.

However, African-Americans continue to push to the forefront of American society. Leaders such as Louis Farrakhan, Toni Morrison, Al Sharpton and Colin Powell continue to fight for equal standing in culture and politics, as well as in the eyes of the general public.

The black community has led the rest of America in many areas, such as athletics, music, entertainment and literature. They have also maintained a strong presence in the federal government and the military.

The African-American community, led by the NAACP, is still working toward equality in several arenas.

Education

The percentage of black students who complete high school and college continues to lag behind the percentage of whites. But educators, along with the NAACP and other civil rights organizations, are working to attract more African-American students to school. Through recruitment, workshops and tutorials, the groups are working to reverse the low test scores and high dropout rates.

Labor

The unemployment rate of blacks has historically been higher than that of whites. The NAACP Labor Division is working toward eliminate discrimination in the workplace, promote community-based job fairs, implementing job readiness programs, and promoting and studying equal employment opportunity programs.

Health Care

Government agencies and civil rights groups are working to eliminate the economic and social barriers to health care, which affects a growing number of African-Americans. Recent epidemics of AIDS and drug abuse have also infiltrated the black community, and the NAACP's health division is working to educate and inform its constituents about health care cost, quality and access; disease prevention; health care professions training; and youth and elderly health issues.