If you were grabbed and asked to explain what Black History Month means and what it represents, what would you say? This month is a special one but throughout the years, the history and meaning have almost been forgotten.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, son of a former slave and graduate of Harvard, first started “Negro History Week” in 1926. The week was chosen because it marked the birthdays of two men who significantly impacted the African American population.
The purpose of the “Negro History Week” was for people to recognize how black history has became essential to American history. Though African Americans were recognized for years, it wasn’t until the after the 1930s they earned a respectable place in the history books.
In 1976, the federal government recognized the expansion of “Negro History Week” into “Black History Month.”
Though “Negro History Week” may have marked the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, the expansion of it marked more significant dates.
Feb. 3 is the date that the 15th Amendment was passed, the amendment that granted blacks to vote. Hiram R. Revels, the first black senator, took his oath of office during February. The Greensboro, N.C. Civil Rights Movement milestone also took place during “Black History Month.” The list of meaningful events that happened on this month continues to grow.
How many of us actually knew the history of the month that we so proudly celebrate?
“Black History Month” is a special month but it seems like the true meaning has been lost throughout the years. Too often it feels as though some people use this month as an excuse to blame and focus on the oppression.
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