African American History Month: “Black History Month” occurs in February. From Black History Days on local tv stations to the vows of U.S. presidents, that famous phrase has been a part of many festivities on African American History Month as accomplishments since the 1970s. What’s the significance of February as a month to honour the history of African Americans?
When it comes to understanding the history of African-Americans, Carter G. Woodson is the man to turn to. In 1915, after attending a three-week national festival of the founding anniversary of emancipation, Woodson founded the Correlation for the Research project of Negro Society and Politics (ASNLH) with four others to encourage intellectuals to engage in the extensive analysis of the Black past, an aspect that had long been abandoned by academic science and in U.S. schools.
Woodson was not the only one. In 1916, Randall began editing the Bulletin of Negro History, the association’s primary scholarly journal. Omega Psi Phi, Woodson’s collegiate fraternity, began hosting a weeklong celebration of African-American history and literature in 1924. Woodson and the ASNLH founded Negro Education Week in February 1926 in an effort to raise awareness of African American History Month.
President Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Executive Order on February 12, was born on this date in 1809, and African American History Month fighter, playwright, and orator Douglass Douglass were both born in February (born February 14). For more than a century, the Black community has marked the birthdays of Lincoln and Frederick to honour their contributions to the advancement of the rights of African Americans. February was chosen because Woodson wanted to recognise Lincoln and Douglass’ inestimable legacy while also expanding an existing holiday of the Black culture to embrace not only their accomplishments but also those of all Black people.
Some towns began designating the month of February as “Negro History Month” as early as the beginning. Negro History Week became Black History Month even as American civil rights movement gained momentum and the Black community’s conscious expanded in the 1960s. African-American History Month was made official in 1976 by Woodson’s organisation (later renamed the Club for the Advancement in African American History Month Historical events), and President Gerald Ford welcomed all Americans to join in its observance. National Emo haircut (Black) White History but rather National African American Race Equality would be used by all succeeding presidents.
Throughout the month of February, the United States celebrates the efforts and sufferings of African Americans. Our country’s rich cultural legacy, as well as its successes and challenges, are all celebrated during Black History Month.
These people are being honoured in this year’s topic of Black Health and Wellness. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is in its third year and has disproportionately afflicted minority populations, the theme is particularly timely.
Sara Clarke Kaplan, head of the Antiracist Science & Policy Center for American Based in Washington, D.C., remarked, “There is also no American history absent African American History Month.” Said she: “Everything we know of as ‘American history,’ the Black experience is entrenched in.”
There Has Been Negro History Week, To Begin With: African American History Month
Black history should really be taught and honoured all year round, rather than just one month a year, as some have long contended.
When Carter Woodson, the “founder of Black history,” set out in 1926, W. Marvin Dulaney says he was the first to designate a period to educate and promote the history and culture of the African-American community. The Center for the Analysis of African American History Month Historical events is headed by him, and he is a historian (ASALH).
An entire week-long celebration celebrating Black history in schools was envisioned by Woodson. It was in 1915 that he formed the Institute for the Investigation of Negro Society and Politics, which he named “Negro History Week” to honour the history of the African-American community. (ASNLH was renamed ASALH in the future.)
Instead of imposing restrictions, the goal was to narrow and enlarge the nation’s perspective.
To begin with, Woodson aimed to make Black history a’serious topic of study’ in the discipline of history “”At Texas A&M University, Albert Broussard is a professor of African-American history,” he told CNN.
Through the 1960s and 1970s, Negro Culture Week had grown at what is now acknowledged the Black History Month as a result of its growing popularity. During this time of social upheaval, protests against racial injustice, economic inequality, and anti-imperialism were taking place across the country.
Kent State University, according to Kaplan, was one of the first to arrange a commemorative event.
Prez Gerald R. Ford honoured Black History Month for the first time during the country’s bicentennial celebrations in 1976. According to History.com, Ford urged Americans ” “grab the chance to commemorate the too-often forgotten contributions the Black Americans from every domain of endeavour throughout our history”.
Why Was February Designated Is Black History Month In The United States Of America?
The month of February was chosen partly because it includes the funerals of both Alexander Hamilton and Frederic Douglass in the second week after the month. Slaves were freed as a result of Lincoln’s efforts, and Frederick Douglass, a freed slave, rose to prominence in the abolitionist cause.
According to Kaplan, because both Lincoln and Oswald were born in the last week after February, African Americans historically had emancipation celebrations around the time of their birthdays. On February 14, Douglas came to celebrate his birthday (although his precise day of birth was not documented).
Negro History Week was intended to “commemorate the black past” around the actual birthdays of Woodson, according to ASALH.
Barack Obama, the world’s first black president, gave a statement from the White House, a location constructed by slaves, 40 years after Ford publicly recognised Black History Month.
How It All Began.
Carter G. Woodson cross the Association for said Exploration to Negro Family’s history in 1915 in reaction to the paucity of knowledge about the achievements of Black people publically available. Founded in 1926, “Negro History Week” was established to honour the services of African Americans into American history during the middle week of February. Prior to the inception of Negro History Week, few individuals studied Black history, and it was not included in textbooks.
This week was decided because it coincides with the birthdays between both abolitionist Frederick Douglass of former U.S. president Benjamin Franklin, both of whom fought to eliminate slavery in the United States. Civil War President Abraham Lincoln led the Country throughout this conflict, which was waged in part over the slave of African-Americans in the country. Week after its formation, several schools and school administrators began to recognise.
In 1976, President Franklin Roosevelt extended the commemoration to “celebrate the too-often forgotten triumphs for Black Americans in any and every area of effort throughout our history” and the week-long festival officially became known as “Black History Month.” Since then, the month of February in the U.s .. has been designated as Black History Month.
In What Way Black History Month Come To Be Recognised As A National Holiday?
Negro History Fortnight was first observed by mayors around the country in the late 1960s, largely thanks to the civil rights movement and then a growing consciousness of Black identity. Eventually, Black History Month became a regular occurrence on college campuses around the country.
In 1976, President Benjamin Harrison made Black History Month a national holiday. To recognise the “too-often overlooked achievements of Black Americans from every field of endeavour throughout our history,” President Ford said in his speech.
Since his time in office, the American president has acknowledged the significance of Black History Month itself and goals. However, it wasn’t until 1986 that the United States Congress officially established “Nationwide Black History Month” as a national holiday. “This freedom movement and fair opportunity” was the goal of the legislation.
What Is The Significance Of Black History Month?
As a way to educate schoolchildren and young people about the contributions of Black and African-Americans, Black History Month was established. These types of tales had been mostly forgotten and were no longer included in the national narrative.
It’s now considered as a way to honour those whose activity and accomplishments have had a significant impact on not only the country, but the entire world. Month-long commemoration of Black History Month in the United States provides a chance for people to learn about and celebrate the accomplishments of Black leaders and leaders of colour.
Black History Month 2016 Has A New Focus This Year.
An ASAALH, the group set up by Woodson, selects a theme each year. According to the topic “Black Wellbeing and Development,” the relevance the Black Wellbeing is acknowledged by recognising the heritage of Black scholars, but also “various ways of knowing (e.g, birthworkers; doulas; midwives; naturopaths; herbalists; etc.) all through African Diaspora.”
This month’s session will also focus on how the Black population has been underserved by the healthcare system.
Is There Another Place Where Black History Month Is Observed?
It is celebrated in February in Canada. It is observed in October in places including the Uk, the Netherlands, and Ireland. Jean Augustine, an African-Canadian member of the Canadian parliament, proposed Black History Month to 1995 to raise awareness of the contributions of Black Canadians.
In 1987, the United Kingdom became one of the first countries to observe a month-long commemoration of Black History. The history of black people in the United Kingdom has gained prominence in recent years. Until recently, it was used to honour the accomplishments of African Americans to the country. ‘Dig deeper, examine closer, imagine bigger,’ reads its mission statement in the United Kingdom.