Black History Month
Black History Month Origins
Black History Month began officially in 1976 during America’s 200-year celebration by President Ford. However, its origins began as far back as 1912 by Carter G. Woodson, the co-founder of The Association for the Study of Negro Life (now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History). This organization focused on researching and studying Black life and achievements throughout history. Woodson’s initiative was sparked by his attendance at the 50th anniversary of emancipation in 1912. This celebration brought African-Americans out by the thousands to witness exhibits that focused on the Black progression since the abolishment of slavery. By September 1912, he and four others formed the organization focused on the study of Black life and progression. By 1916, he and the others in the organization developed The Journal of Negro History, a compilation of findings from himself and other Black intellectuals. In 1924, Woodson became adamant about promoting their conclusions on a larger scale; he and other members of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, took up the work by creating Negro History and Literature Week (which was renamed Negro Achievement Week this became the Association’s responsibility in the same year). Negro Achievement Week in February was designed to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12th) and Fredrick Douglass (February 14th). Woodson chose this week to coincide with days already celebrated by the Black community and used it as an invitation to learn more about Black History. While it was a significant movement that many experienced, particularly those in HBCU’s and other progressive forms of academia, Negro Achievement Week began to gain significant traction during the civil rights era in the 1960s. (Read more thoroughly about the origins of Black History Month here)
Where We are Today
When we talk about Black history, we are essentially talking about history PERIOT! We who are a part of the African diaspora, particularly those in the United States, are surrounded by and descended from some of the most influential humans. Without us, where would music be (Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Chuck Berry, DJ Kool Herc)? The medical field (Henrietta Lacks, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, Dr. Charles Drew)? Athletics (Gabby Douglas, LeBron James, Serena Williams)? We’ll wait. While many are still catching up, most know Blackness has been the blueprint for many things throughout American history and current popular culture. With this in mind, there has been a cyclical process that we have seen over time which is yes, we thrive, but it is combated by the constant awareness to survive. Institutionalized racism is entrenched in our judicial, educational, and even social systems. Within the past ten years, the rose-colored glasses we collectively had on were snatched off. Trayvon. Eric. Alton. Philando. Sandra. Atiana. Breona. Amaud. A seemingly endless list of names whose lives were much more than lists to be used for social advancement. They were people who were killed by weaponized hypervigilance that remains almost 50 years after Black History Month’s inception. For many African Americans, America has to be the home of the brave because we have to perform Blackness acceptably to actively increase our chances of survival. Unless we are just driving like Sandra? Or maybe walking like Trayvon? Even sleeping like Breona? – Black History is more than informing the collective about our greatness and beyond convincing others that our lives matter. Being exceptional despite horrific collective traumas should not be the make-up of Black history. Black people do not have to be exceptional for us to matter, even if it is the truth.
“Loyalty got royalty inside my DNA” - Kendrick Lamar
Refrences:
Scott, D. (2011). Origins of Black History Month. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History.