February should not be set aside just to point out the contributions of African Americans. Those contributions should be woven into history lessons from the beginning of a child's education -- at school and home.

Unfortunately, that isn't always done.

Textbooks may not mention that one of the first men to die for American independence was a black man.

Parents may not know the story of John Mercer Langston, a former slave who became the first black man elected to office in 1855.

Students may never learn of the heroism of black soldiers at Fort Pillow, Tenn., during the Civil War, or of the contributions of the Buffalo Soldiers or the black cowboys in the Old West.

In an area where the shoe industry dominates local history, how many of its citizens know about the revolutionary invention of Jan Ernst Matzeliger?

He patented a machine that shaped the upper parts of shoes in 1883 and made quality shoes quicker to produce.

How many of us remember the role George Washington Carver played in the agricultural renewal of the depleted South early last century?

His experiments with potatoes and peanuts gave farmers across the southern part of the country an alternative method of farming.

Without the influence of African Americans, music, dance, fiction, poetry, painting -- all kinds of art -- would be completely different.

Where would modern dance be without Alvin Ailey?

Where would music be without the contributions of Scott Joplin, a ragtime composer and pianist, or the expansion of soul music by Ray Charles?

How about acting without the brilliance of Sidney Poitier? Where would Hollywood be if Poitier hadn't broken some color barriers?

Where would literature be without the genius of James Baldwin? Fiction without the raw pain of Toni Morrison? Poetry without the passion of Langston Hughes?

Would sports be anywhere near as exciting without the inclusion of an entire segment of the population?

We couldn't marvel over Jesse Owens' accomplishments, which include four gold medals from the 1936 Olympics and the debunking of Adolf Hitler's theory of Aryan superiority.

We wouldn't be able to use two hands to count up Wilt Chamberlain's basketball records.

We couldn't remember Hank Aaron's 715th home run for the Atlanta Braves in 1974, the one that broke Babe Ruth's record, which had stood for almost 40 years.

We wouldn't be able to admire the dedication and perseverance of boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, who continued to fight into his 40s.

People complain that Black History Month segregates part of our national history. Setting aside a month pulls black history out of regular teaching, making it seem separate and not equal.

But just as it has taken generations of pointing it out to show the people of this country that African Americans are equal, it will take decades of special attention to show that black history is integral.

Eventually, our grandchildren won't need Black History Month. When they learn about the importance of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it won't be in February.

It may not even be in the classroom.

They'll learn it from us.