The
month of February is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of
African-Americans. Initially what is now
referred to as “Black History Month” was celebrated for only a week. Then, it was known as “Negro History Week”
and was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson.
It was celebrated the second week of the month in conjunction with the
birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12th) and Fredrick Douglas
(February 14th); two men who played major and influential parts in
the African-American community.
It
wasn’t until 1929 that the week began to be met with greater enthusiasm. This interest also prompted the creation of
black history clubs. This new wave of
African-American celebration garnered interest from school teachers as well as
progressive whites.
Students
of the Black United group at Kent State University proposed the expansion of
African-American History Month in 1969.
The college was the first to celebrate Black History Month the next year;
however it wasn’t until the bicentennial of the United States in 1976 that
Black History Month became a recognized by the government. President Gerald Ford gave a speech about
this change, saying that American’s need to "seize the opportunity to
honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area
of endeavor throughout our history.”
This is the main focus of Black History Month; to draw awareness to the
culture’s endeavors.
Black
History Month continues to be acknowledged in schools, libraries, and
communities. The local library is a
great place to visit to learn more about significant dates and important
individuals that have shaped the history of Africa-Americans.
Their
influence has left a mark on today’s society.
Throughout the month of February we will take a look at key dates in the
history; as well as the men and women whose legacy continues to impact us in
2015.
information acquired from:
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_History_Month
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