Letter: Black History Month Deserves to Be Celebrated Every Day

To the Editor:

My name is Jack Callahan. I am a 14-year-old, white, American boy, and I believe that no matter who you are, where you are, and what you believe in, we the people have an obligation to celebrate the beauty of the people and cultures around us.

Some people will ask why we should care about Black history and if we, as Americans, are all equal, why do Black people deserve a month of recognition when we, non-Black Americans, don't. The truth is that we are not equal.

As the world advances, our built-in white superiority complex should not advance with us. Data presented by "The Hill" states that as of 2021, there are 18 states that have created bans and restrictions on the education of racial topics. This indicates that the American government is trying to reinstate the concept of Black people not mattering to our society. Yet we know, every race and ethnicity brings countless benefits. Black culture and history continue to flourish but we as a society have decided to push it to the shortest month of our year when it should constantly be admired throughout our calendar year.

It is essential to shed light upon the people whom white people have discriminated against over so many years in so many different ways. Even though America has done their best to wash Black culture down the drain, there are visionaries that have combatted and made an admirable stand. Most people will look to someone like Rosa Parks or Dr. Martin Luther King, but I would like to use some of the words from one of today's biggest names, Kendrick Lamar.

In "Alright," Lamar claims, "we hate po-po, wanna kill us dead in the street fo' sho,'" pointing out the issue of police brutality which is only one of many harmful aggression against people of color. This further urges all races and ethnicities to unite and acknowledge that all minorities deserve to be safe and have a voice; I believe the best way to do this is to celebrate the history of Black people every month because it is nothing but what they deserve.

Black history should be celebrated every month of the year. To ignore Black history is to ignore part of ourselves. To become a strong and healthy nation, America needs to empower every one of its people. This is best done through celebrating everybody everyday.

Jackson Callahan
North Adams, Mass. 

McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 

 

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 

 

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

 

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 

 

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

 

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

 

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.