Since 1976, February has been celebrated as Black History Month. Created by Carter G. Woodson, it started as a week to highlight Black Americans’ contributions and continues on today. Though this month has existed for so long, there have been those who don’t understand why we celebrate it–those who wonder why this certain group of people are given a month dedicated to their history.
In 1915, Carter G. Woodson, the second Black American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University (after W.E.B. Du Bois) founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization with a mission to “promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.” Throughout his life, Woodson was devoted to showcasing the contributions of Black Americans and eventually launched Negro History Week in 1926. This second week of the month was chosen because it coincided with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on the 12th and Frederick Douglass’s on the 14th. After Woodson’s death, his ideas inspired Black Americans, who moved to add Black history in schools throughout the country.
In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially declared February as Black History Month, prompting the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Every year since then, February has been declared as Black History Month. ASNLH, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), names a specific theme every year to provide focus for the public. This year, the official theme is “African Americans and the Arts,” exploring Black Americans’ influence in fields of music, literature, and film.
Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans in America, despite the long history of racism and oppression that they have endured. It is important to take this time to reflect on the history of our country and the growth that we have seen over the years. During this month we honor African Americans who set the precedent for advocating for change and achieving great offices in history. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, fought peacefully for equal rights. Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to be appointed as a United States Supreme Court justice. Harriet Tubman fought to abolish slavery by leading slaves through the Underground Railroad. Maya Angelou used her voice through literature to inspire African Americans to recognize their worth and power. And let's not forget Barack Obama, who was the first African American president of the United States. These people are just a few examples of how far African Americans have come since slavery. Is that not something worth celebrating?
Black History Month is not meant to limit the celebration of Black culture to 28 (sometimes 29) days. It is a set time to remind us to focus on Black contributions and to not forget where we have come from. Black History Month is not meant to only empower Black people. Everyone can learn from Black History whether it is being able to learn and emphasize with others, becoming more open-minded about other cultures, or just being knowledgeable and appreciative of diversity. We have celebrated it this long because the growth and achievements of African Americans throughout history continues to grow. And it will continue to grow through our recognition and understanding of just how blessed we are to be in the place in history we are now.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.