Black History Month – remembrance and reflection
Black History Month was officially recognized by proclamation of President Gerald Ford in 1976 but the road to recognition actually began in 1915. It was at the national celebration of the 50th anniversary of emancipation that Harvard-trained Carter G. Woodson became inspired “to do more in the spirit of celebrating black history and heritage.”
With the help of Jesse E. Moorland, Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and began his Journal of Negro History, compiling the achievements of black Americans. In 1926 Woodson announced the first Black History Week, choosing February because it coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Nationwide, schools and other organizations embraced the concept and the demand for course materials was high. During Woodson’s career he wrote more than 20 books but died suddenly in 1950. His vision of an expanded event found support during the civil rights movement and the awakening of a generation to the “historic dimension of their experience.”
What does Black History Month mean to you?
As February and this time for reflection draw to a close, a few individuals agreed to share with the Examiner their personal perspectives of what Black History Month means to them.
“I went to school when they actually taught black history. I went to a predominantly black school and they taught us our history, plus I bought books and taught my children black history because I wanted them to know that our people contributed to the nation. It (Black History Month radio spots) reminds me of people I’ve forgotten about. I believe it’s important that new generations should know the history of their ancestors. We were brought over as slaves, but we contributed to the building of this great nation. I think that’s very important. This generation unless they are taught, Black History Month brings it to the forefront that yes your ancestors contributed to the creation of this nation.” – Bobbie B., Navasota
“Black history is my history. It’s America’s history. It’s the blood that runs through my veins and the spirit that stirs my soul. I celebrate Black History not just one month a year but every day. To know your history is to know yourself.” – Carolyn B., Navasota
“I think that when we get to where we should be, there doesn’t need to be a Black History Month. I think it should be just history, part of everybody’s history - you can’t have a separate white history and you can’t have a separate black history. I do think however, they have left many of the accomplishments of African Americans out of American history so it’s good to showcase and remind people that it exists. But I think in the best of both worlds, there will no longer be a need for black history.” – Deborah R., Navasota
“Having Black History Month to me means that we can somewhat reminisce about our forefathers and what they have laid to wait for us to be where we’re at today. I just thought about this the other day looking at Facebook and seeing some of the minority creators, what they’ve created and what they’ve done in the past. Also, voting is going on right now - and what some of them had to go through just to vote. Most of us are not using that right today. We want to talk a whole lot, but we don’t want to go to the polls to voice our opinion by voting. I think that is really key for my history, what our forefathers had to go through just to have the right to vote.” – James H., Navasota
“It gives us an opportunity to share a lot of things with our kids, what our country is going through right now, the opportunities my kids have now that myself personally, I didn’t have.” – Christopher R., Dallas
“Black History Month gives me inspiring moments about people who paved the way for us so that we can be equal with everyone else, and to show our founders that we are continuing to work together with others as blacks and just be proud of it, and to show our children that you can be anything you want to be. And because of the people who lived before us, it gives us great gratitude. – Brenda W., Navasota
“For me, Black History Month means informing the younger children, making people aware of the accomplishments blacks have made in the USA. That’s what it means to me.” – Loretta W., Navasota