Tuesday, February 08, 2005
The Color of February
Black History Week - - now Black History Month -- began in 1926 as an annual celebration of African-American history, culture, survival and triumph during the month of Feburary. Elissa Haney wrote an excellent article entitled The History of Black History the describes the background and genesis of the holiday.
According to Ms. Haney, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a renowned African-American scholar born to former slaves, became disturbed to learn history books pretty much ignored the black American experience and contributions to the country's historical record. The only time blacks were mentioned, the remarks appeared derogatory, branding blacks or colored people, as a sub-rate, sub-culture of the larger American mainstream. To bring about attention, and in large part respect, to black tradition and culture, Dr. Woodson launched Negro History Week in 1926.
Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Even after Dr. Woodson's original decision, other events in the month made February the natural choice to celebrate African-Anerican history and culture. The timeline:
February 23, 1868:W. E. B. DuBois, important civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP, was born.
February 3, 1870:The 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote.
February 25, 1870:The first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels (1822-1901), took his oath of office.
February 12, 1909:The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City.
February 1, 1960:In what would become a civil-rights movement milestone, a group of black Greensboro, N.C., college students began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter.
February 21, 1965:Malcolm X, the militant leader who promoted Black Nationalism, was shot to death by three Black Muslims.
According to Ms. Haney, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a renowned African-American scholar born to former slaves, became disturbed to learn history books pretty much ignored the black American experience and contributions to the country's historical record. The only time blacks were mentioned, the remarks appeared derogatory, branding blacks or colored people, as a sub-rate, sub-culture of the larger American mainstream. To bring about attention, and in large part respect, to black tradition and culture, Dr. Woodson launched Negro History Week in 1926.
Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Even after Dr. Woodson's original decision, other events in the month made February the natural choice to celebrate African-Anerican history and culture. The timeline:
February 23, 1868:W. E. B. DuBois, important civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP, was born.
February 3, 1870:The 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote.
February 25, 1870:The first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels (1822-1901), took his oath of office.
February 12, 1909:The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City.
February 1, 1960:In what would become a civil-rights movement milestone, a group of black Greensboro, N.C., college students began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter.
February 21, 1965:Malcolm X, the militant leader who promoted Black Nationalism, was shot to death by three Black Muslims.
