Each year, February is dedicated as Black History Month, a time to remember and appreciate the contributions that African Americans have made to this country. Many schools and communities use this time to celebrate Black Americans, but pay little attention to the origins of this month of commemoration.
In order to fully understand the meaning of this month, one should first explore the life of its founder, Carter G. Woodson.
Woodson was born in New Canton, Va., on Dec. 19, 1875. Woodson spent his early years working many jobs to help support his large family. Despite starting high school late, he graduated in less than two years. In 1912, he then became the second African American ever to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
In September 1915, Woodson and the Rev. Jesse E. Moorland created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). This organization was meant to raise awareness of the many achievements by African Americans. Woodson wanted young African Americans to be able to learn more about their heritage, their history and the successes of their ancestors.
After initially starting a Negro History and Literature Week with his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, in 1924, Woodson realized that the ASNLH could make it a wider celebration. The first press release officially announcing Negro History Week was issued in February 1926, a month he chose because President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass both have birthdays during it. Woodson wanted to honor them because Frederick Douglass helped pioneer the abolitionist movement, and Abraham Lincoln famously emancipated the slaves.
Throughout his life, Woodson ended up working in education, writing over 20 books. He died of a heart attack on April 3, 1950, before the celebrations of Negro History Week were able to expand further.
Within the following decades of its creation, many were celebrating and helping to promote Negro History Week. The Civil Rights movement helped bring even more awareness, and by the late 1960s some college campuses had expanded it to a month-long celebration. Younger members of the ASNLH advocated for the shift of the week to become a month long commemoration. During the 50 year anniversary of Negro History Week, in 1976, the organization declared that Februrary would become Black History Month. On Feb. 10, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially declared the celebration of Black History Month as we know it today.
Ford wanted people to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Since then, each Black History Month has a specific theme endorsed by the president. This year’s theme is, “A Century of Black History Commemorations.” This year’s celebrations are meant to honor the 100 year anniversary of the first Negro History Week.
Manual is one of the many schools taking the time to recognize the meaning of Black History Month this year. On Feb. 26, the annual Black History Month Program will take place for the students of Manual. The showcase will consist of dances, speeches, poems and more, all meant to honor what it means to be a person of color in America. The program’s theme is “Black to the Future: Honoring the Legacy, Embracing our Destiny.”
Manual RedEye will also spend this time to celebrate Black History Month by creating pieces to honor African American public figures and athletes, important moments in history, Black owned businesses and major contributions African Americans have made to America. At least one piece will be published every day of February.
