THE EVOLUTION AND INSPIRATION BEHIND BLACK HISTORY

In 1976, President Gerald Ford declared February as Black History Month, calling on the public to honor the neglected achievements of all Black Americans.  Since then, America has celebrated Black History Month each year in February to focus attention on African American contributions, honoring them from all periods of United States History—from the early 17th century (the time when the country brought over the enslaved from Africa) to the Blacks living in the United States today (www.kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/black-history-month). Before Black History Month, Negro History Week came into existence.  

 

How did Nego History Week start? In 1915, in Chicago, Illinois, an African American historian named Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) for Black scholars to study and preserve black history. In the next year (1916), Woodson published a journal titled “Journey of Negro History,” now under the name “Journal of African American History.” Ten years later (1926), Woodson established Negro History Week, which is on the second week of February, to focus attention on Black Americans. He had two purposes for organizing Negro History Week to put a spotlight on African Americans—a belief that Black people should be proud of their heritage and a desire for America to acknowledge how the country overlooked the achievements of most Blacks. Woodson chose the second week of February to observe Negro History Week because he wanted it to co-exist with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. 

 

Here are reasons for Woodson’s idea for Negro History Week to coincide with Lincoln’s and Douglas’ birthdays: Lincoln was the U.S. president who signed the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery for Black Americans, and Douglas, who was an African American abolitionist, was the most important leader of the civil rights movement for Black Americans in the 19th century. Woodson represented President Lincoln and Frederick Douglas as significant figures who contributed to equal rights and racial justice for Black people (www.naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/carter-g-woodson and www.wikipedia.org). 

 

Woodson’s legacy lives on every February when schools nationwide started studying Black American History, empowering Blacks, and educating others on Black achievements.  Later, in February of 1976, Woodson’s idea of celebrating Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month with the inspiration of President Gerald Ford, who proclaimed America to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of Black Americans.

 

Black History Month allows our nation to recognize, celebrate, and pay homage to countless contributions and achievements of African Americans. By acknowledging the importance of  African Americans’ accomplishments throughout our nation’s history, we citizens can honor their legacy and create a more just society for everyone. Recognizing African Americans’ success is crucial in helping our country eliminate racism and prejudice in our society. 

 

  Overall, Black History Month is now centered around celebrating Black culture and recognizing the ongoing struggle for racial equity in our society today. It serves as an opportunity to honor the past while working towards a fairer future for all. Celebrating Black History Month is an important reminder that America should celebrate diversity instead of fearing or ignoring it. By acknowledging diversity, our nation can nurture mutual respect among members of society. Through Black History education, we, the people of America, can work together towards greater equity and justice for all (www.allthingsdiverse.com/the-importance-of-black-history-month/).

 

As a Black race,  we have come a long way in society, fighting against prejudice and discrimination. Countless numbers of Blacks who endured the cruel oppression of slavery found a pathway to freedom. Myriad numbers of civil rights activists worked diligently marching, protesting, and advocating for the Black race to obtain equal rights to employment, education, healthcare, affordable housing, wealth, and voting.  And I thank God for giving the enslaved Blacks and the civil rights activists the gifts of perseverance, faith, and grace to sacrifice their energy, time, and life so we, the Black people living today, can embrace equal rights like other races in America and the blessings of liberty from servitude—Kenneth Sullivan.

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