A Harvard Law scholar is encouraging young people in Stratford to see Black history as American history.

Donald Smart is the first Black American to graduate Harvard College, Harvard Law School and Harvard Business.

"One of the most important lessons that you can learn from observing Black History Month is that times will always be difficult," said Smart. "There will always be challenges – but life moves forward, and we need to hold on and move past the midnight hour into a better day."

"Black History Week" was started by a Harvard graduate in 1921, according to Smart. The week turned into Black History Month.