Updated: 2/11/2013 8:58 am
In celebration of Black History Month the Black History Month Steering Committee hosted a parade and festival Saturday in downtown Victoria. James Murphy, chairman of the committee, says it's important for the younger generations to know the sacrifices and fight that many black Americans faced.
According to africanamericanhistory.gov, in the early 20th century there were almost no mentions of the contributions of African-Americans in U.S. history textbooks. This inspired historian and educator Dr. Carter Woodson to start "egro history week.” Woodson then choose the month of February for this focus because it was the birth month of two leaders who fought to end slavery: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It was not until 1976 that President Gerald Ford officially recognized the expanded observance as "Black History Month." Alba Sanchez was born in Africa but says seeing how others have dealt with racism is such a beautiful thing.