Black History Month Information
Americans celebrate Black history month every February. Led by the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), this project aims to recognize and honor the achievements of African-Americans throughout U.S. history. Aside from celebrating these accomplishments, the goal of Black history month is to increase racial awareness among Americans.
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Founding
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In 1915, Harvard historian and African-American Carter G. Woodson established the ASNLH as a means of fighting prejudice and working toward equal citizenship. In 1925, he developed negro history week, planning its first celebration for a week in February of the following year. This week was symbolic in that it encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Woodson's creation expanded into a month in 1976, the year of the U.S. Bicentennial, under president Gerald R. Ford, and became a nationally recognized celebration.
Current Organizers
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The head organizer of black history month today is still the ASALH (the word Negro has been substituted for African-American due to racial sensibilities). ASALH sets the annual theme for black history month and hosts an annual convention, workshops, luncheons and lectures. ASALH also promotes products and publishes journals related to black history. The organization is active year-round.
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Themes
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Each year, black history month has a different theme. The theme of February 2009 was “The Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas” and celebrated the centennial of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an interracial group that formed in resistance to the violence and discrimination that prevented blacks from attaining equal citizenship. In highlighting this history, Americans were encouraged to celebrate former civil rights achievements and reflect on issues of race and citizenship that still exist today.
Benefits
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Black history month educates the nation as a whole about racial awareness and overall knowledge about African-Americans. It provides blacks with a source of pride and unity. In addition, by increasing knowledge of important African-Americans in history, black history month increases the number of positive role models for youth in black communities.
Controversy
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Although black history month serves as a source of African-American pride for many people, some people are opposed to this national celebration. Controversial topics include: What are the implications of nationally celebrating a “race”? If there is a black history month, why isn't there a month for all other minorities? Which material is the most important to highlight? By focusing too much on events such as Dr. King's dream, does the month overshadow other important aspects of black history? The controversy has become a heated debate in which these questions play only a part.
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