Black History is American History, and that fact alone makes it worth learning about. From music to science, athletics to the arts, African-Americans have made huge and invaluable contributions to the U.S. and the world. Those accomplishments, and the stories and culture of the people and places that helped shape so much of American culture, creates a huge library of reference. To better celebrate the contributions of African-Americans to the overall story of America, consider these suggestions.

With the exception of certain major U.S. holidays, it’s not necessary to wait until the month of celebration to recognize and engage in the event. In other words, don’t just wait until February to learn about Black History.

Think of it like this: nobody has to wait until Valentine’s Day to be romantic with their partner, and certainly nobody waits until St. Patrick’s Day to wear green or engage in social interactions at a bar and grill. The big exception to this idea would be Christmas, which already gets too much attention and doesn’t need to be acknowledged any sooner than October. And even that is too soon.

If you’re even the slightest bit curious to learn more about Black History and its role in the creation and formation of modern-day American life, you don’t have to wait until February to go out and learn more about it.

Certain figures in African-American – Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali – have the distinction of iconic remembrance in America. Those figures get cited and spoken of on a constant basis for their words and deeds. But they alone do not represent the beginning, middle, and end of Black History.

One of the most basic steps a person can take during Black History Month would be to learn more about the figures and stories of other notable individuals. A quick trip to the library or the internet will produce a list of other notable contributors to black history, whether it be Maya Angelou or Arthur Ashe.

It’s impossible to properly consider the roles of historical figures and events without understanding the context of why those events happened and why those figures made the decisions and took the actions that they did. And to do that, one has to embrace all of the history.

Because African-Americans have played such a large role in the formation and maintenance of American culture and history, Black History has a rich and diverse offering of stories and truths for anyone willing to learn about them.

By definition, history refers to the study of past events with a particular emphasis on human affairs. History includes a totality of humanity’s experience, both the good and the bad. The hardest challenges about learning history comes from multiple fronts: the inclusion of the bad with the good, the consideration of other points of view, and the reconsideration of long-held understandings of events and the people involved.