Pras Michel on Black History Month
1,050 views · Published 24 February 2014 · 1:41 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: ShareAmerica · 2014 · Education
This video was produced by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs in February 2014. It features Grammy Award--winning rap artist Pras Michel. 00:00:00.625,00:00:06.292 [TEXT: Why is it important for people to celebrate Black History Month?] 00:00:06.292,00:00:07.667 [TEXT: Pras Michel, Grammy-winning rap artist] 00:00:07.667,00:00:20.625 Pras Michel: Black History Month, you know, obviously it's important, because the history of what we've done and what we've been through, 00:00:20.625,00:00:32.542 from Africans being brought here as slaves to Haitians being the first black republic to win its independence in 1804, 00:00:32.542,00:00:43.042 to the first black elected president in 2008. His home town, Chicago, was discovered by a Haitian guy. 00:00:43.042,00:00:49.792 When you look from the Frederick Douglass to the James Baldwins to Marcus Garvey 00:00:49.792,00:00:58.792 to the first secretary of state, Colin Powell, to the first female secretary — black female secretary of state, Condolezza Rice, 00:00:58.792,00:01:04.250 and, by the way, I want to also say when we think of Black History Month people like to think of African Americans, 00:01:04.250,00:01:10.375 but black people, we are not a monolithic group. It is the most diverse group. 00:01:10.375,00:01:21.583 You know, it ranges from Africans to African Americans — blacks — to Caribbean Americans. I mean, it's a whole gamut. 00:01:21.583,00:01:31.042 And so that's why I think Black History Month is very important, because of our contribution, to not just America but to the world. 00:01:31.042,00:01:33.958 [TEXT: Connect with us: Facebook.com/ejournalusa] 00:01:33.958,00:01:36.458 [TEXT: @ejournal_usa] 00:01:36.458,00:01:39.500 [TEXT: Produced by the U.S. Department of State]
