About Black History Month
Every February in the United States, Black History Month is celebrated. The month-long holiday focuses on celebrating the achievements of Black Americans and the vitality of Black culture. Black History Month is a community-wide celebration, observed in schools, churches, homes and workplaces.
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Origins
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The initial incarnation of Black History Month began in 1915 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Rev. Jesse E. Moorland established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Woodson was one of the first Black Americans to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Dismayed by the lack of Black history in American history textbooks, lectures and curricula, Woodson dedicated his life to developing nonfiction books, publishing houses, magazines, newspapers and other media to record and publicize the achievements of Black Americans.
Black History Month
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In 1920, Woodson and the Omega Psi Phi fraternity established Negro History and Literature Week. The month of February was selected because it was the birth month of two men whose lives changed the course of Black American history forever: Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist and politician was born on February 14th; and President Abraham Lincoln, creator of the Emancipation Proclamation, was born on February 12th. In 1926, the title of the celebration was shortened to Negro History Week. Woodson and other black activists distributed educational materials to black community organizations, black history groups, and black teachers. Although Woodson died in 1950, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History continued his work, and Negro History Week became an important part of the Civil Rights Movement during the 50s and 60s. This was the era in which Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and countless others of all races began the legal and cultural fight for equal rights. During the 1970s, when the Black Power movement gained prominence, Negro History Week became Black History Week. In 1976, the week-long observance was extended to a month.
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Education
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During the month of February, schools across the country celebrate Black History Month. In elementary grades, students make art and craft projects that relate to prominent leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and Black culture. In middle schools, students are introduced to profiles and biographies of prominent Black Americans, and begin to study pivotal texts in Black history such as Alex Haley's "Roots." In high school, students are presented with more information about slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, and begin to look at the ways that contributions by Black Americans influence their everyday lives.
Activities
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Black History Month can be celebrated in many ways. For kids, crafts and artistic projects are a great way to introduce them to pioneers in Black culture, and give them information about Black history. For teenagers and young adults, books about Black history and Black culture will give them information and keep their interests if they relate to a subject they're interested in. Take trips to museums that focus on Black history and culture, as well as visit local historical sites that relate to Black history. Resources for these museums and locations are provided in the Resources section below.
Controversies
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While Black History Month is generally recognized as a necessary celebration of Black culture, some critics think the holiday assumes that the entirety of Black history is so sparse it can be compressed into the shortest month of the year. Other critics argue that the holiday is bereft of any real significance, and has become just another commercialized holiday. Despite these criticisms, the holiday raises awareness of race related issues. Awareness (whether positive or negative) can provide fertile ground for much needed conversation and discussion about Black culture and diversity.
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