What Black History Month Means to Me

Article Written by Chinweze Ahaghotu , Head of R&D Portfolio Management Operations

Lift every voice and sing 'til earth and heaven ring!" As a child growing up in Washington, D.C., we would sing this beautiful anthem every morning in public school during Black History Month. The song reminds me of the importance of celebrating and amplifying all of our voices.?That is why Black History Month is so essential. Celebrated in the U.S. every February since 1976, Black History Month is a time for Black Americans to celebrate our heritage and for all Americans to commemorate the historic achievements of Black people in this country. Yes, we should celebrate our history throughout the year, but it is vital that we have a month when we intentionally center and celebrate Black stories that are often overlooked.?

We all owe a great deal to the Black heroes and heroines who have gone before us and on whose shoulders we stand. Heroes like Benjamin Banneker, a self-educated surveyor, mathematician, and astronomer, who helped map out our nation's capital. Heroines like Fannie Lou Hamer, who faced and overcame repeated brutal attacks to become a pioneering civil and voting rights leader. I am grateful that black history was an integral part of my childhood education and that I learned about the contributions and sacrifices of these giants and countless others. When Carter Woodson conceived of a Black History celebration in 1925, he was concerned that the contributions of Black Americans were being "suppressed by the writers of history textbooks and the teachers who use them."?As the saying goes, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

I am proud that we celebrate Black History Month at Galderma. I am delighted to work at a company that is committed to a culture where every employee can thrive, and we all experience a sense of inclusion and belonging.?At Galderma, we celebrate and amplify all voices because that helps us advance dermatology for every skin story.