Post by sudan on Feb 19, 2007 13:16:53 GMT -5
Black History Month
by
Susan Robinson
Americans (and Canadians, too) celebrate Black History Month in February. During Black History Month, schools, libraries, museums, and public television stations highlight the contributions Black people have made throughout history. In North America, cultural events commemorating Black History are often held during this month.
Carter G. Woodson has been called "The Father of Black History." Born in New Canton, Virginia, in 1875, the child of former slaves James and Anne Eliza Woodson, Carter Woodson was so poor that as a child he had to work in the coal mines instead of attending school. He learned as much as he could on his own, and at the age of twenty, enrolled in high school. He completed the four-year course of study in two years and went on to attend Berea College in Kentucky. He became a school teacher and principal and continued his education by correspondence courses and summer classes at the University of Chicago. He traveled extensively throughout the world studying and earned his master's degree in 1908. He taught English, French, Spanish, and History at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., for nine years, and in 1912 earned a Ph.D., from Harvard University.
While continuing his studies and working as an educator, Dr. Woodson became concerned that the accomplishments and history of Black people were completely ignored in classes and history books. This silence on the part of mainstream educators regarding Black History left the door open for the unchallenged belittlement of African and African American cultures by many non-Blacks. (Historian and teacher Asa Hilliard said that, "No groups other than Native Americans, in the history of the United States, have undergone more defamation of character through distortion, omission, suppression of information, and genocide, than African Americans.) While teaching at Dunbar High School Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and began to publish the Journal of Negro History, which he continued to edit for forty years.
Dr. Woodson wrote, "We have a wonderful history behind us...If you are unable to demonstrate to the world that you have this record, the world will say to you, 'You are not worthy to enjoy the blessings of democracy or anything else.' They will say to you, 'Who are you, anyway? Your ancestors have never controlled empires or kingdoms and most of your race have contributed little or nothing to science and philosophy and mathematics. So far as you know, they have not; but if you will read the history of Africa, the history of your ancestors' people of whom you should feel proud, you will realize that they have a history that is worthwhile. They have traditions...of which you can boast and upon which you can base a claim for a right to share in the blessings...."
Dr. Woodson was particularly concerned about the future of African American youths who were growing up learning nothing that would allow them to understand who they are and where they came from. Using his spare time and his own funds, Dr. Woodson worked tirelessly to promote knowledge of Black History in the United States. In 1926, he was able to institute "Negro History Week" in February, which later evolved into Black History Month.
There is an African saying that sums up the philosophy behind the importance of learning about our African American history, during February, and every other month: "Know your history and you will always be wise."