First Day Of Black History Month: The month of February is celebrated as “Black History Month.” Since the 1970s, the well-known declaration has served as the impetus for many celebrations of the history and achievements of African Americans, ranging from “Black History Minutes” on local TV stations to proclamations made by presidents of the United States.
But why exactly is February the month in which we celebrate and remember the history of African Americans? The solution can be found in the work of Carter G. Woodson, an outstanding American historian who was a pioneer in field of African American study in the early 20th century. Woodson was motivated to found the Association for the Analysis of Negro Life & History (ASNLH) after participating in a three-week national celebration commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation in 1915.
First Day Of Black History Month: The purpose of the organisation was to encourage academics to participate inside the intensive study of Black past, a topic that had been sorely neglected by academia & in U.S. schools for a long time. Woodson was one of four people who founded the ASNLH. In 1916, Woodson assumed editorial control of The Journal of Black History, the most important scholarly magazine produced by the group.
First Day Of Black History Month: Woodson was the driving force behind the establishment of Negro History & Literature Week in 1924 by Woodson’s collegiate fraternity, Omega Psi Phi. Two years later, in February 1926, Negro History Week was established by Woodson & the ASNLH in an effort to attract more attention to the history of African Americans.
Frederick Douglass, an African American abolitionist, author, & orator; and Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, who was born on February 12 and is best known for signing the Emancipation Proclamation; both were born in the month of February. Both men are significant figures in the history of black Americans (born February 14). Since Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass passed away (in 1865 & 1895, respectively), the African American community has commemorated their birthdays by honouring the contributions they made to the cause of African American liberation & civil rights.
Woodson’s goal in establishing Black History Month in February was twofold: first, he wanted to pay tribute to the immeasurably valuable legacies of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass; second, he wanted to broaden the scope of a celebration of the Black past that was already underway so that it encompassed not only the achievements of these two remarkable individual but also the history & accomplishments of Black people in general.
In some areas of the country, the month of February had already been designated as “Negro History Month” by the 1940s. Negro History Week transitioned into Black History Month in a growing number of communities during the 1960s as a direct result of the success of American civil rights movement & the emergence of black consciousness during that decade. In 1976, the association that Carter G. Woodson had founded and which was later renamed the Organization for Studies of African American Life & History was instrumental in the widespread institutionalisation of Feb as Black History Month.
President Gerald Ford of the United States also encouraged citizens of the United States to take part in the celebration of this month. All of the presidents who followed George Washington did the same thing, and some of them referred to February as National African American History Month or National Afro-American (Black) History Month.
Is There A Holiday To Celebrate The Beginning Of Black History Month?
Is there a holiday observed on the 1st day of Black History Month? This day is not recognised as a national holiday. The government, public offices, businesses, & schools will not be closed in observance of this holiday; rather, they may undertake outreach programmes and special events to honour the beginning of the month-long holiday that is observed annually.
The Struggle For Civil Rights And The Development Of Black History Month
First Day Of Black History Month: People of African Descent battled for their legal equality in the United States of America throughout the Civil Rights Act, that took place in the 1950s & 1960s. In spite of the fact that slavery has been banned in 19th century, African Americans continued to suffer from severe marginalisation and were forced to endure harmful racism. This was especially true in the American South, where segregationist laws such as Jim Crow were in effect. This sparked the beginning of a campaign for equality that would persist for the better part of two decades.
First Day Of Black History Month: It was during this time period that Negro History Week transitioned into what is now known as Black History Month as part of a celebrations of black identity. In the beginning, Black History Month was only acknowledged as a month of celebrations in certain localities and by a few mayors. In 1976, however, President Gerald Ford made it an official national observance by proclaiming it to be Black History Month.
Themes For The Month Of Black History
First Day Of Black History Month: Since it was made official, the president who is currently in office will, in addition to announcing the commencement of Black History Month, also announce the topic of the month that will be observed during that particular year. The intention is for the theme to serve as the basis for the discussions and presentations that take place during the month.
The topics are all related to the history of African Americans and have spanned from civil rights in the United States in 2014 to black migration in 2019. The topic that was selected for the year 2020 has African Americans & the vote. This theme is intended to place emphasis on the 19th amendment, that granted all women the right to vote, as well as the 15th amendment, that gave the right to vote to black men.
Celebrations For The Month Of Black History
First Day Of Black History Month: It should come as no surprise that schools are the primary locations where Black History Month is observed, given that its primary objective has always been to educate people about the accomplishments of African Americans.
Students will read work by African American authors including such Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison as part of the activities, and the poem “I, too, sing America” written by Langston Hughes will frequently be covered in the classroom. The significant legacy left by black Americans is frequently brought up, such as the famous court decision Brown v.
Board of Education, which resulted in the outlawing of racial segregation in public schools and is considered a major victory in the annals of African American history. Additionally, it has become a custom for lecturers and pupils alike to adorn the doors of their classrooms with photographs and inspirational sayings in recognition of well-known and significant African American historical personalities.