Black history is American history. Black stories are essential to the ongoing story of America—our faults, struggles, progress, and aspirations. This is why it is imperative that we take time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans, honor the legacies and achievements of generations past, reckon with centuries of injustice, and confront those still alive and well today. The long shadows of slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, and so much more all point to the systemic racism that still underpins America, essentially holding back all of us from reaching our full promise and potential, individually and collectively.