February is considered as Black History Month to commemorate the important achievements of many African Americans throughout the history of the US.
We bring you the five most important facts about the Black History month:
1.How did Black History month start?
In 1915, Minister Jesse Moorland and Harvard Historian Carter Woodson founded an Association for the Study of African American life and their History. The same organization established Negro History Week in 1926, the precursor of Black History Month Local communities organized performances and lectures pivoted around that week annually.
2.Who was “The Father of Black History Month”?
Carter Godwin Woodson (1875-1950), was an American author, journalist, and historian. Carter was the son of former slaves. In his early life, he had to work in coal mines in West Virginia. Later he became the second African American to attain a PhD from Harvard University. Carter came to be known as the father of black history” in 1916 after he founded the Journal of Negro History.
3.Why was the month of February chosen?
The Negro History week was celebrated in the second week of February each year. This was to coincide with Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s birthday. Abraham Lincoln who was the sixteenth president of America abolished slavery through his Emancipation Proclamation. Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave who later became a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement to end the slavery.
4. How did a Week become a month?
American was witnessing a decade long struggle to end institutionalized racial discrimination, racial segregation and disenfranchisement. The civil rights movement that took place in the US (1954-1968) helped to elevate the Negro History week to a national prominence and was thus turned into a month-long celebration when president Gerald Ford made things official.
5. To Honor the achievements of Black men & Women
Black History Month commemorates the fantastic achievements of black African Americans in the field of politics. Law, sports, entertainment, science, and many others.
Here are some of the most notable names celebrated this month:
- Martin Luther King Jr- social activist
- Alice Ball- A Chemist
- Harriet Tubman- Civil Rights activist
- Josephine Baker- Singer, Dancer, Civil Rights Activist
- Rosa Parks- Civil rights activist
- May Jackson- Mathematician, NASA’s first Black female engineer
- Maya Angelou – Civil Rights Activist, Author, Poet
- Joycelyn Elders – First African-American U.S. Surgeon General
- Colin Powell – U.S. Secretary of State, Four-Star General (U.S. Army)
- Barack Obama – U.S. President, U.S. Senator, Lawyer
Throughout history, we have learned that acknowledging systemic racism isn’t just the job of those who are affected by it. It is the job of the world leaders; it is the job of you and me. So, in this Black History Month, let us hold ourselves accountable to ensure Black justice is a part of our present and future.
