Why Black History Month Still Matters
Black History IS American History. Period. Full Stop,
Issue #796 The Choice, Tuesday, January 28, 2025
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The current occupant of the White House, an avowed racist whose father was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, has “declared” that Black History Month will no longer be celebrated or even acknowledged by federal agencies. The last time he was in office, he tried to change the name of “Black History Month” to “African American History Month.”
He “won” the last election with far less than 50% of the vote and by only 1.5%. He does not have a mandate, nor do most Americans agree with his policies.
Nevertheless, he stated that all ethnic celebrations are now banned at the federal level. Does that also mean the Lunar New Year, Paczki Day (the day before the start of Lent celebrated with Polish donuts called Paczki), St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Octoberfest (a German holiday and his ancestry is German), and Denali, among many others?
These decisions show that he does not understand the background of Black History Month, nor does he care about or recognize the motto of the United States: e pluribus unum, or from many one.
Of course, he does not want to concur with either of these foundations of America since he desires to build a country controlled by white supremacy and oligarchs.
America has people from virtually every country and culture worldwide:
E Pluribus Unum. THAT is what actually Makes America Great.
The United States of America was built by immigrants who arrived here by choice or by force and incorporated the varied cultures of their countries of origin. His declarations and executive orders cannot erase America’s history, and Black History IS American History.
When I scheduled this weekly “The Choice” post a little while ago, I wanted to discuss why Black History Month is still relevant, even though many Black people say that Black History should be recognized 24/7/365 and not limited to just one month a year.
That, too, is a misunderstanding of the history and significance of Black History Month.
Think of it like this: hopefully, you recognize and celebrate yourself every day of the year, but on your birthday, you have a special celebration of yourself. You may have a festive dinner or party, receive gifts, and blow out candles on a cake. You do this once a year, but that does not diminish you all of the other days of the year.
Having a designated month to highlight the people and events of Black people does not exclude studying or acknowledging the same the other days of the year.
We can and should do both.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Development of Black History Month
Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, often called the "Father" of Black History Month, was born in New Canton, Virginia, on December 19, 1875. The son of illiterate former slaves, he worked in the coal mines of West Virginia to help support his family’s income. As a teen, he was largely self-taught and had mastered common school subjects by the age of 17. Woodson finally entered high school at the age of 20 and completed his diploma in less than two years.
Woodson obtained a bachelor's degree from Berea College in Kentucky and a master's degree in history from the University of Chicago. In 1912, he became only the second African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University (after Dr. W.E.B. DuBois), focusing his research on African American history and the importance of acknowledging the contributions of Black people to American society. As a graduate student, Dr. Woodson joined the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO).
After being barred from attending American Historical Association conferences despite being a dues-paying member, Dr. Woodson believed that the white-dominated historical profession had little interest in Black history.
So in 1915, Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History), an organization dedicated to promoting the study of African American history and culture. Through this organization, Dr. Woodson published the Journal of Negro History, providing a platform for scholars to share groundbreaking research on African American history.
Realizing the importance of creating awareness and recognition of African American contributions, in 1926, Dr. Woodson initiated "Negro History Week," which served as the precursor to Black History Month. This annual event aimed to highlight the achievements of African Americans and combat the prevailing racist narratives that were prevalent at the time.
Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February to commemorate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two prominent figures in the fight against slavery and for African American rights.
In the late 1960s, Black students at several colleges led the movement to expand Negro History Week to Black History Month, and President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Although Black History and the accomplishments of Black people should be acknowledged and taught year-round, Black History Month is intended to focus on and to teach ourselves and others during February.
A reminder that “they didn’t give us the shortest month of the year,” Dr. Carter G. Woodson chose the 2nd week of February for the celebrations, and so it was expanded by Black people to encompass the entire month.
Black History is American History, every day of every year, but it is especially highlighted in February during Black History Month for the education and edification of all of us.
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I imagine you're preaching to the choir, here, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Getting the government to declare a Black History Month was, I'm certain, a lot of heavy lifting. I didn't know about Dr. Woodson. He wasn't just smart, he was one of the most determined people I've ever heard of.