| Bringing Black History Month Into the Future By: Stephanie Howson February is federally recognized as “Black History Month,” a time intended to bring attention to the contributions of black people throughout US history. However, the history of black people in the US is vast and is comprised of many topics. This often leads many of us to question what this month all about and why it is important. What are some ways that we celebrate Black History Month in our own lives? AMG spoke with some students at a Massachusetts high school about the celebration. Shauna, a teen from Chicago says, “I think it is important to take time to realize how racism was a big problem and to understand all the work that has been done to change things.” Many of the students voiced that they felt the celebration was relevant and important as it calls attention to America’s past and the fact that the accomplishments and contributions of black people have not always been recognized. In fact, segregation was legal in some US states up into the 1960s. “It used to be really difficult to be black in America, and I’ve heard stories about the trials faced by various members of my family,” says Kate, a teen from Massachusetts. “Though things have changed and we’ve come a long way since the days of slavery and segregation, there is still a lot of work to be done. That’s why this holiday is so important- it calls attention to issues of racism in America’s past and encourages people to keep moving forward toward a more egalitarian society.” Though all the students interviewed agreed that Black History Month is an important celebration that raises awareness of issues of race and racism, many also said that during Black History Month, all the talk of the past makes it difficult for them to relate to the historical issues faced by black Americans over the centuries. 14 year-old Caitlin wishes that her classes would explore more of the experiences of black Americans in different historical eras. “I want Black History Month to deal more with contemporary issues,” she says. “I like learning about the past more if I can see how it relates to the present. ” Jane echoes this sentiment. She talks about how her school has an assembly and that her history teachers spend a good deal of class time discussing the meaning of the celebration as it relates to the past, but she wishes they would bring the discussion of black history into current times. Perhaps it would be helpful to reflect back on the hopes for the national recognition of black history held by the credited founder of Black History Month, Carter G. Woodson. A pioneer in the study of black history and the son of former slaves, Dr. Woodson excelled academically, graduating high school in two years and going on to receive a Masters degree from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. A supporter of the scientific study of black history, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) in 1915 and established the Journal of Negro History in 1916. In a 1926 press release he called for the recognition of a Negro History Week in the second week of February to promote the achievements of black Americans. He chose this date because it contained the birthdays of two men notable in African American history: 1) Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist, women’s suffragist, statesperson and reformer and 2) Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States and the issuer of the Emancipation Proclamation. Furthermore, both Douglass’ and Lincoln’s birthdays traditionally were celebrated by the black community, and Woodson wanted to commemorate this tradition by choosing Negro History Week to encompass these two birthdays. As Negro History Week gained popularity in US society, people demanded discussions of the contributions of blacks in American History courses, black history clubs were founded, and black literature and culture came into high demand. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History worked to establish public proclamations of Negro History Week across the nation. Becoming a social movement in itself, Negro History Week began to permeate many sections of society. As early as the 1940s, blacks in West Virginia began celebrating February as Negro History Month. Different states began adopting Negro History Month at different times and since the mid 1970s, the celebration has become federally recognized. The name of the celebration also shifted from Negro History Month to what we know today as Black History Month. As the teens interviewed recognize, Black History Month is celebrated in various ways all over the nation with lectures, plays, concerts, and art workshops. And though it may feel to some as though this celebration is stuck in the past, it is important to remember that history is just as much the present as it is the past. “The past informs the present,” says Hee-Jin, a teen from Korea. “History is not just about the past, but about our present and future.” So as individuals, let’s dedicate ourselves to engaging Black History Month in a way with which its founder, Woodson, would agree. Let’s bring the celebration of Black History Month into the present and ask our teachers, friends, and family to relate these past experiences to today. Then we can focus on bringing the celebration of Black History Month in February with us into the future. To Find Out More About Black History Month: The History Channel: http://www.history. com/content/blackhistorymonth The Biography Channel: http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/index. jsp |
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