February is National Black History Month.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “From slavery to freedom: Africans in the Americas.”

Why February? It is recorded that Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a born slave, started Negro History Week in February.

This week was established to inform the world of the contributions of black people. He chose February because it marked the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population. The two men were Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

From history, we know that Douglass was a black man and Lincoln was a white man. We must understand that although this celebration is geared for black people, we must not leave out or ignore the white people who contributed to our struggle to obtain freedom. After years of obtaining information from my forefathers and living in this world, I am still at little pessimistic concerning being free.

I say this because as I look back at some of the contributions that were made by blacks, I wonder if it was all in vain. Although we have made great contributions as a people, I have to wonder why equality hasn’t quite caught up with our achievements. When I look back, I see Harriett Tubman gathering our people in the Underground Railroad saying “we’s got to go now,” and today we are still running for our lives to obtain that same justice and equality.

Then I can see Rosa Parks sitting on the bus saying, “I’m tired, I will not give up my seat,” and today, we sell ourselves cheap by not standing up for what is right. And let’s not forget the blood, sweat and tears that were shed as Martin Luther King Jr. walked the streets of Birmingham and every other city, small or large, saying, “I have a dream that one day,” and today, that dream is a reality. We see families of little black boys and white girls, or vice versa, trying to survive in the streets of a prejudiced world. And now, it’s 2007 and I still see our lawmakers and board members get nowhere because of split votes.

I also see Barak Obama trying to run for president with a lot of controversy in his path. And I must wonder if the controversy is really geared toward his religious background or because of the color of his skin.

With that, I’ll have to say, are we there yet? Even as we fought for the right to vote by guessing how many pennies were in a jar, taking a literacy test or answering some hypothetical question; again our right to vote is in jeopardy. Why, because the 25-year extension President Reagan signed in 1982 is up, and again, I have to wonder, are we there yet?

We are Africans by origin that live in the Americas, but still we do not share the same benefits. The benefit of getting a better job because we too sought better education; the benefit of not being exposed in the paper as a negative people every time a crime is committed and we know for a fact that others commit crimes, too.

Yet, I must wonder, are we there yet?

Sometimes I feel like Cinderella and think, am I really an American or am I just a step-child. But despite all that, I am free. I am free because I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. With that as my No. 1 principle, I am not limited to anything. All I have to do is ask and my father who is in heaven hears me and through faith, I believe he will do what is best for me. With God on my side, I must say I am there. So, when your children ask, “are we there yet?” You say “almost.” Celebrate.

Beverly Gibson is a Ferriday resident.