Black History Month

Why is February Black History Month and not March or April?

Historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson initially called Black History Month “Negro History Week.” The son of former slaves, Woodson was one of the first African-Americans to receive a doctorate degree from Harvard University. Woodson made it his life’s work to make sure Black History was taught in schools and studied by scholars.

In 1926 Woodson chose the second week of February as Black History Week to honor the birthdays of two historically supportive figures of the Black cause—Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. The purpose of the week was to make early 20^thCentury Americans aware of the important contributions made by Black Americans throughout US history.

For example, Sojourner Truth was a noted speaker for the abolitionist and women’s rights movements. George Washington Carver was a plant scientist who persuaded farmers to rotate their cotton crops with replenishing legume family plants, like peanuts and soybeans, to help restore the soil. And Bessie Coleman was the first black licensed pilot in the world.

Thanks to the Civil Rights movement during the 1950s and 60s, deepening understanding of the contribution to American society by African-Americans began to crystalize. Negro History Week morphed into Black History Month. At first this began on college campuses until things changed with President Gerald Ford. President Ford said, “Seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Such endeavors include the work of Marian Anderson, an opera and concert singer. Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. As a lawyer, he represented and won more cases before the United States Supreme Court than any other American.And Dr. Jane C. Wright was a pioneering oncologist who helped elevate chemotherapy from a last resort for cancer patients to an often-viable treatment option.

Since President Ford’s proclamation, every US president has officially designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a theme. President Trump has declared this year’s theme “Black Migrations” This theme “highlights the challenges and successes of African Americans as they moved from farms in the agricultural South to centers of industry in the North, Midwest, and West — especially the migrations that occurred in the twentieth century,” Trump’s statement read.

By studying history we learn about change and how our society came to be. An important part of our society is the contribution made to it by our black brothers and sisters. If we understand the issues of their past we can begin to understand our present and perhaps see our future. Happy Black American Month.