It’s February once again, and you know what that means. That’s right, Black History Month is upon us once again. For yet another year, we as U.S. citizens take a month to celebrate the contributions the African-American race have made to help make this country great. From Malcolm X to Martin Luther King Jr. to Nelson Mandela, we join together to celebrate black excellence and prosperity. It’s all about recognizing those who have made an impact.

Like most American schools in 2017, Greater Johnstown is no stranger to honoring the racially-charged month. On February 3, the normal academic schedule was cut an hour short in order to hold an assembly, speaking upon the importance of diversity and even had guest speakers enter and speak to the students. 

“I can honestly say out of all the schools I’ve been to, none have had more diversity than this one and I mean that,” said coach Smith. Alongside coach Smith, two guest speakers were also present, with one even being a GJSD alumnus. Speaking on the importance of black excellence, they enthralled the students in attendance for over an hour, sharing personal stories and giving advice to the audience.

History is made everyday, and will continue on forever. It’s important to never forget those of the past, who worked so hard to shape today’s future. The same goes for the history of all races, not just African-Americans. February is a firm reminder of just that. After being slaves for over 300 years, people came together to put an end to slavery and become a valued part of the America. That right there, is history, and shouldn’t ever be forgotten.