One of the great beauties about the CSUN community is that it is very diverse, with 37,000 students. Which is why we should always celebrate the history of different heritages—Not just Black History Month.

In fact, our university is ranked number 94 for best college diversity nationwide. Students come from different ethnic backgrounds, ranging from Hispanic, White, Asian, African American, Native American, Middle Eastern and many others. Seeing that we are such a unique university, it is only right that we celebrate each other’s history.

In order to remember the people who fought for our rights and helped shape America into what it is today, we celebrate holidays like Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day and Memorial Day.

Not only do we have certain days of memorial but we also have months dedicated to the history of America’s people.

One of the most prominent months that is easy to remember and celebrated around the United States is Black History Month. Having a month to learn about the struggles and to highlight the accomplishments of people is a beautiful thing. Although Black History Month isn’t the only month dedicated to such a diverse nation, I fear other minority groups lack the proper representation to have their history widely known.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t celebrate Black History Month. In fact, it is very important that we do. Out of the 37,000 students who attend CSUN, 7.8 percent are black. Other students on campus should be aware of how Black History Month has helped in shaping our society.

The struggles that African Americans went through should never be forgotten. They fought for equal rights and continued fighting for their freedom until they finally received it. That is in and of itself inspiring, and should be motivational for all. People need to learn about their history because it is one of the foundations in which America was built.

Sure, there may be some of us who are aware that October is Hispanic Heritage Month or know that November is known as Native American Heritage Month. We have months dedicated to Women’s History, Gay and Lesbian Pride, Asian Pacific, Jewish American and even a month dedicated to older Americans and the disabled.

Months like these remind us that different minority groups are represented as well. Even though there are months dedicated on the calendar to these minority groups, they are still underrepresented.

For Black History Month, we hear stories about the individuals who defended equal rights of all while trying to improve the fate of African Americans.There was Martin Luther King who fought for equal rights and led the Civil Rights Movement up until his death. We hear stories about Nat Turner and her attempt to lead a slave rebellion in 1831, and Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat on a bus. Today, the 44th president of the United States is African American. By having Barack Obama lead our nation, it is proof that change is among us.

Students and other people have heard about individuals like these because they are people who are still talked about. As a nation, we still talk about slavery even if we ourselves didn’t experience it. Black History Month is so prominent in our society that we celebrate it year after year.

People who aren’t African American learn to understand the importance of February. But what about the other minority groups and the struggles they went through? Those hardships aren’t talked about as much in the months dedicated to other groups.

Sure, we’ve dabbled in some of the struggles others went through, but you don’t see much media coverage on people from other backgrounds—at least not as much as we should. We don’t hear many stories about fleeing refugees or about the Japanese Internment camps.

History is complicated but no one month or group of people should be widely known more than the other. We all have a past and they should all be given the same recognition. I am Mexican American and I appreciate the fact that there is a heritage month celebrating Latino’s and Hispanics. I only wish there was more representation to discuss the struggles of the Hispanic people.

We also don’t hear much about Gay Pride Month and the struggles that homosexuals have to face on a daily basis. Some are frowned upon just because of their sexual preferences.

Matthew Shepard was a homosexual man who was tied to a fence and killed just because he was gay. Examples like these show how other groups are underrepresented.

Celebrating the history of all would allow for people to get a better understanding of one another and how we all came to be. We should have equal representation and learn to grow from one another. If we are more knowledgeable we can make society better as a whole.