February is Black History Month

Starting today and throughout the month of February will be the celebration of Black History Month. Black History month is celebrated in the media, the academia, and in numerous black organizations. The purpose of Black History Month is to celebrate the achievements of the black race in America ever since blacks first set foot in America as slaves in 1619. However, most black achievements occurred following the abolishment of slavery in 1865. I've taken an interest in black history for several years. I believe it's imperative that America as a nation study and learn the numerous achievements many blacks have made as a race. If anybody needs to know about their heritage, it's the black youth of today. Many live in single parent homes with no fatherly influence. The black youth of today need to see that they can aspire to be what they want if they're willing to pay the price, study, and work diligently. They need to be aware of some blacks that defied the odds and became successful in a society that was blantantly racist. There have been some myths that have floated around throughout the history of America that blacks weren't very intelligent or smart. Some people in the past have thought that blacks were inferior intellectually for a number of reasons; one of them being in the genes. However, blacks have proven over the last couple of centuries they can aspire to be anything they desire when they put their mind toward it. One thing that really inspires me about black history is there were blacks during the age of Reconstruction and afterwards that made great achievements when there was blatant racism directed towards blacks. There were no civil rights laws or affirmative actions laws to lend blacks a helping hand which is in contrast to today. In spite of the racial prejudice that persisted against blacks, there were some that defied the odds and achieved great things. Men such as George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington, Hiram Revels, and others paved the way for future blacks later on in history. They are inspiring because they show what a person can do when they set their mind to it. Blacks owe a debt of gratitude to those kinds of people.

The celebration of black history officially began as Negro History Week in February 1926. Carter G. Woodson, a graduate who received his Ph.D. at Harvard, began the celebration. Blacks in those days were noted by the term "negroes". Back in 1915, Woodson, an alumnus of the University of Chicago, went with some friends from Washington, D.C. to Chicago at a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the emancipation of blacks. There were exhibits that black people brought denoting the achievements many made since slavery ended in 1865. Woodson, along with A.L. Jackson and three others formed the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Woodson had a desire to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. Woodson chose the second week of February to celebrate Negro History Week because it marks the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator on February 12, and Frederick Douglass, a black abolitionist on February 14. Even though Woodson admired both men, he didn't enjoy the celebrations that were held in their honor because Woodson felt that black history should be about the study of the achievements of the black race as a whole; not just a select few great men.

Negro History Week started out on the second week of February. This was the era of the "New Negro" defined by the black writer Alain Locke as an African American proud of black accomplishments. Woodson was born in West Virginia to former slaves and went to high school when he was nineteen and later went to Harvard and obtained a Ph.D. in 1912. Woodson was disturbed that many history textbooks didn't mention much about the achievements of black people. When blacks were figured into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position blacks were assigned at that time. He wanted to raise awareness of black achievements throughout American history. In addition to his establishing the Association for the study of Negro Life and History in 1915, he also established the Journal of Negro History as well. Historians Charles H. Wesley, Luther Porter Jackson, Lorenzo J. Greene, and L.H. Reddick were among the first black scholars to publish in this journal. When Negro History Week first started in February 1926, it was celebrated first almost exclusively in black schools and churches. This one week observance introduced black history into school curriculum. It encouraged the publication of work dealing with blacks and stimulated the black press and a few white newspapers to run related stories. In the 1960's, many college campuses starting making Negro History Week a monthlong celebration. In 1976, Negro History Week was changed to Black History Month and it's been officially a monthlong celebration since that time.

Throughout this month, I'll be featuring blogposts of different events in America that have shaped black history. I'll be mentioning about the 50th anniversary of the famous sit-in by a group of black men at Woolworth's. I'll also be featuring blogposts about famous black people that have shaped U.S. history and have achievement many things. I'll also be mentioning about some famous cases such as Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 which stated that forced segregation in the schools was "inherently unequal." We'll have an enjoyable time learning about the various accomplishments of black people throughout American history. It thrills me to read about blacks that had chosen not to be a slave to victimhood and rise above the odds and make their life count. Black people can aspire to be what they desire if they will study and work diligently.