Black History Month is a very respected month here in Chicago. It is a time for our community to remind ourselves what our Black friends, neighbors, and family went through and have accomplished. For many of us, this month is important and it is a great time to advocate for them. We all know about this month and all it means but do we all know how it began?
Carter G. Woodson
Black History Month began in 1923 with educator Carter G. Woodson. He was the son of formerly enslaved people. He was born in 1875 and he would work on the farm his parents had. When he was younger, he had his also formerly enslaved uncles be his first educators. By the age of just twenty years old, Woodson was working in the coal mines with other Black men but they were all illiterate. This was because the law prohibited black people to be taught to read and write. Woodson did not have great education when he was younger, but he never gave up. He did not wish to be illiterate like the men he worked with.
How It Started
Woodson, at that time, was the second African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. When he graduated from college, he proposed to dedicate one week out of the year to teach the history of Black people in America.
This is how Black History Month was born. It first started as only a week, but in 1976 it moved up to the full month of February that we know today. Before he did this, however, in 1915 he also created what is now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
This association is responsible for choosing a theme every month. The theme for this year 2023, is named “Black Resistance.” They chose this because they wanted to remind people that even though they went through torture in the past, they never gave up. They always kept going and nothing could bring them down.
Why February?
In 1926 when Woodson decided to make a Black history week, it makes people wonder, why February? Out of all twelve months, why choose cold rainy February instead of warm sunny July?
Well, there is a reason behind this. Woodson decided to make Black history in the month of February because before it was the whole month, it was a week, and he wanted it to coincide with the birthdates of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Black History Today
“Black history is of great importance to non-Blacks, those who need to understand and know the contributions that African Americans have made here, often times under great duress,” stated Michael Bennett, a sociology professor at DePaul University.
This annual celebration is very important to the African American Community because it makes them feel seen and heard. So far this celebration is only happening in the United States, but thankfully other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom have stated that they will also be willing to participate in this celebration.
If you pay attention to your community you will see that racism and discrimination against African Americans happen more than one can imagine. Unfortunately, a lot of this hatred can end up harming the Black community.
Despite that African Americans will never back down and will continue to thrive despite what certain people think of them. That is something truly admirable which is why they deserve this month of appreciation more than anything.
Written By Erika Cano
Sources:
WTTW News: How Did Black History Month Begin? A Look at its Origins and the Contributions of Black Chicagoans
History: Black History Month
The Harvard Gazette: Celebrating the founder of Black History Month
Top and Featured image Courtesy of CityOfStPete Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of David Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
