Caribbean native Ravi Sankar says African American history is a big part of his life.

He says, "I think that it can help to integrate different cultures as well as different nationalities."

In 1926, Carter G. Woodson began Negro History Week to educate Americans about African-American history, focusing on African Americans' cultural backgrounds and achievements.

In 1976, it became Black History Month, observed the full month of February.

Tallahassee resident Jenna Drancsak says, "It's just good to celebrate all the brave people that made a difference for black people back with the Civil Rights Movement and everything, so I think it's good that there's Black History Month every year."

Many say Black History Month is just as relevant today as ever before. But, the message doesn't seem to resonate as much with today's high schoolers.

Amion Carridine is an 11th grader at Rickards High School. He says, "I don't even hear Black History Month being talked about. Our generation kind of slacked off on thinking about all the hard work that our ancestors have done and they don't realize what all they've done to give us the freedom that we have today."

Carridine classmate, Robert Seniors, says, "Some are more educated on the subject, so they tend to care about it more and have more emotion towards it. But, those who have kind of just left it out or forgot about it, they don't really pay attention to it. They kind of just don't care at all."

Some High school teachers say American and World History textbooks don't have much on Black History.

Dexter Hogan teaches World History at Rickards. He says, "They might cover the Civil Rights movement in about two and three pages. Everybody always knows about Rosa Parks, Dr. King, but it's so many other people in history that they have no idea of."

Other people such as the inventors FAMU Professor Will Guzman lists: "Garrett A. Morgan, he not only invented the traffic light, but also the gas mask, which would save thousands of people during World War I. Charles Drew, who created blood plasma, which would ultimately save thousands of lives during World War II. Fred Jones, who allowed the mechanization of the air conditioning on transportation on mobile units."

Richards High African American History teacher Bryan Freeman tries to enlighten students.

He says, "They're often shocked at the history. When we're talking about Middle Passage with slavery with African American history and some of the things the African Americans went through, they're often shocked because they don't know the history. So, I think it's more to them of a wow, it's a wow moment."

Black History Month often sparks debate about the usefulness of a month dedicated to the history of one race.

Guzman is a professor of African American Studies. He says, "Africans gave not only humanity to the world, but, they also gave civilization to the world. That for some may be controversial because some people don't view as black people having been here first, and having given birth or civilization to the world."

Guzman adds, "The African American History is the history of America."

Friday, February 10th, WCTV will continue its tribute to Black History Month with another special report. Eyewitness News Reporter Garin Flowers will profile black athletes who made a difference in the big bend area.