Black History Month
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Other than February being the coldest and shortest month, it’s the month that the “government allows us to celebrate Black History.” I want to be very clear in saying Black History IS American History and we celebrate it everyday, whether we realize it or not. But thinking about the history of Black History Month, I wanted to make a post encouraging people of all races, not just black people, to really celebrate it. Once you learn more, you’ll realize how important black people are to U.S. History and culture and how important we remain to be, despite this State of Hate the country seems to be in today. We will discuss the history of the month of February being recognized, the importance of Black History, and ways you and your children can celebrate!
History
In 1926, Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week. It was celebrated the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Abraham Lincoln, of course is the 16th president of the United States that issued the Emancipation Proclamation that legally freed millions of slaves. And Frederick Douglass was a run away slave who became a National Leader in the abolitionist movement. So you can see why they would be held in high regard to an early 20th century African American historian and author. The primary goal of Negro History Week was to encourage the coordinated teachings of Black American History in public schools. This was 1926. I’m not sure if public schools have changed, but some 15 years ago, the extent of Black American history I received was slavery, some Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, Brown v. Board of Education, Martin Luther King, and the civil rights act. That’s it. So from 1926 to 2006, not much changed. Negro History Week was met with enthusiastic responses from other black Americans and some progressive White folks. This led to the creation of Black History clubs and an increase in interests from teachers.
In 1969, black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University proposed the whole month of February be recognized as Black History Month. And so they began the next year, but it took another 6 years before it was celebrated across the country. And still then, it was primarily in centers of Black Culture and community centers, as well as some educational institutions. The same year during the country’s Bicentennial celebration, President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month. In his speech, he urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Now this was a quote I found and I have not heard the speech, so when he said “our history,” was he including black Americans or just saying recognize their history as it pertains to the [white] U.S.? But, I guess we have to give points for the sentiment, huh?
“seize the opportunity to honor the too often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
It’s baffling though, to think that Black History’s acknowledgment from a President is only 10 years my senior.
Importance
There’s always criticism surrounding Black History Month, questioning the purpose and why there’s no white history month. That’s because it’s white history year. As you’ve just read the history, the intent behind the months celebration is to honor and acknowledge the achievements of African Americans, especially in public schools. It’s like the country still will not acknowledge what black people did to contribute to the success of the country. As Angela Rye often says, “We built this joint for free!” It’s important to celebrate this month and to make Black history, American history because each generation gets taught the same bullshit. Black people were slaves, black people were counted as 3/5 person, black people are dumb, black people are lazy. That continues to stigmatize black people and that’s why racism has not died yet.
“WE BUILT THIS JOINT FOR FREE!”
When we’re taught about the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War, there’s usually no mention of the black soldiers. At a time when they were still enslaved, they still fought for the country that kept them in shackles. Kind of like the prisoners who are forced to fight wild fires in California, with no way of becoming firefighters upon release. This is important for everyone to learn and it truly takes longer than a month. How many of you know that during the attack at Pearl Harbor, it was a black mess man that helped shoot down some Japanese planes and offered assistance in aid wounded soldiers. He had no formal weaponry training. Because of the color of his skin, he could only cook and do laundry on the ship. Think about if the results of World War 2 would have been the same without the Tuskegee Airmen. And still they were only allowed to be escorts to their white counterparts.
Inventions by Black People!!!
Honorable Mention:
Super Soaker by Lonnie Johnson in 1982!
Black people are not credited enough when it comes to the arts and sciences. Just about every genre of music is derived from music founded by black people. Rock and roll was evolved from Gospel, Blues, and Jazz. Pop music comes from Soul, Doo Wop, and R&B. Country music derives from Folk and Blues. I would give white people folk music, but if we’re being honest, that comes from Negro spirituals sung by the slaves. Today, the most streamed genre of music is Hip Hop, but we’ve been discriminated for that since it’s inception, yet it has created generational wealth for so many white record label owners. Black people are also great inventors! Aside from peanut butter, black people have invented so many things that everyone uses on a daily basis.
All of that information might have seemed vague, but I really want to encourage you to do your own research. That way you’ll understand it better to help teach your children or students, rather than trying to regurgitate some information you saw in a blog that you probably skimmed over.
Ways to Celebrate
I’m not a teacher, so I’m most definitely not aware of all the methods of learning. But I know I like learning in ways that are relatable and digestible. I was trying to think of ways you and your children could celebrate Black History Month. So I did come up with a few.
Make a playlist of music from different genres of music founded by Black People. Listen to the words and how expressive it is. Listen for the pain, but also the hope. From early Negro spirituals to hip hop today, we tamale about the struggles we face from being black in America. But we also talk about the pride we have. We love our heritage and our skin! Also, when you listen, you can hear the stylings of your favorite music. If your not sure where to start, Tidal has some great playlists for Black History Month. If you don’t have Tidal, click the link for a free 60 day trial and check it out!
Find a list of common items that were invented by black people. See if you can go through the day without using some black inventions. Are you able to make it through the day without using a baby stroller, traffic lights, elevators, or air conditioning? Again, we’ve made great contributions to this country. So much so, that you can have a challenge to make it through a day, without using an invention by a black person. And some days depending on what you do, you might make it. But no way you can make it through the month!
Another way to celebrate Black History Month is to choose a period in history and really research it from the perspective of a black person during that time period. Really try to think how they must have thought. So if you choose slavery, don’t worry about the country building it’s independence through their profitable plantations, focus on the horrible conditions for the enslaved Africans who were beaten, raped, and sold like they weren’t Kings, Queens, Doctors, or Engineers in their home country. Or choose Jim Crow. Blacks were supposed to be free, but read in depth how they were treated. A specific area you can read about is the Greenwood area in Tulsa, Oklahoma also known as Black Wall Street. In each time period you decide to research, you’ll most likely find that blacks endured unnecessary racism, but also despite that fact did extraordinary things to contribute to the betterment of this country.
Today’s administration ran under the slogan of Make America Great Again. America has never been great for black people. But even still, black people are what made this country to be as good as it is since that first ship landed in Jamestown in the 1600s. So to deduce our achievements and contributions to one months celebration is downright disrespectful. Black History is American History. So when you’re telling your children of these many great things, also tell them about all the stereotypes about black people that the media likes to portray. And inform them that it’s all the result of hundreds of years of systemic racism. All caused due to the fact that our skin is darker. Teach your kids now, so maybe future generations will break free of this country’s racist history and maybe, just maybe the equality Dr. King dreamed about will finally become a reality in the next 50 years. It starts with you!
Thanks for reading and remember to Always Love Live Life!
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