Why Honor a White Man During Black History Month?

James Gillespie Birney was born during black history month (February) 1792. He was a white man who deserves to be honored with African-Americans this month. He was a lawyer who early in life owned a cotton plantation with slaves. He eventually became the most vocal abolitionist who also believed in equal rights under the law for blacks, unheard of at that time. He died before seeing slaves freed and becoming equal with whites under the law.