History of Black History Month

By Cameron Davis:

One month after ringing in the New Year, the month of February is dedicated to Black people - Black people who have faced centuries of oppression, Black people who have fought in every war for this country and Black people who also fought for the freedom we now have today. Black History Month, celebrated for almost 100 years, is a time for acknowledgement and appreciation of Black achievements and their central role in American History. But knowing the origins of Black History Month is just as important.

The history of Black History Month first started with Carter G. Woodson. Despite being a descendant of slaves, Woodson worked to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy in history from Harvard University and is known as the “Father of Black History”. According to the New York Times on Feb. 25, 2021, Woodson was passionate and dedicated to teaching about accomplishments of people of African descent. A quote from him found in The Journal of Negro History, the first scholarly journal that records achievements made by Black historical figures.

“If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated,” said Woodson in the article.

On Sep. 9, 1915, Woodson established the organization Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Today, it remains better known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) . On Feb. 7, 1926, Woodson initiated the first “Negro History Week” to raise awareness about important Black people throught history that had often been ignored. February was the chosen month for this week-long celebration as it was the month that other important historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass were born. Lincoln’s birthday, on Feb. 12, and Douglass Day, on Feb. 14, were already celebrated, so Woodson thought of no better time than the second week of February to expand the celebration to become Negro History Week.

From the 1940s to the 1960s, there was a demand for more Black history education from Black college students, more so after Woodson died in 1950. Then, in 1969 at Kent State University, students and teachers worked to expand the celebration from one week to an entire month of Black History. In 1970, ASALH proposed the idea to the federal government and requested that the United States regard February as a month for official observance for African Americans who were overlooked although they contributed towards the nation’s history. Then, in 1976 President Gerald Ford gave homage to Black History Month and called for February to be designated as Black History Month.

The United Kingdom and Ireland also celebrate Black History Month but it is held during the month of October. And in 1987, as part of the African Jubilee Year, Black History Month was first celebrated in London.

A fact that might not be known by many is that every year since 1928, Black History Month has had a theme. The first-ever theme was Civilization: A World Achievement and past themes have been The Crisis in Black Education. This year’s theme is Black Health and Wellness, prioritizing the presence of Black people in the medical industry. The discriminatory treatment towards African American’s in the hospitals and the healthcare system in the United States is also a topic that will be adressed.

Make sure to check out some of these events and activities happening across Southern California this Black History Month.

- LACMA displays the African American Portraits Chronicles, which shows how Black people viewed themselves through their own eyes by creating self portraits.

- At the "Happiest Place on Earth" you can participate in a celebration called Soulfully only at Disneyland. This includes amazing food, music, and art that you can find around the park. In Downtown Disney, there are murals dedicated to Black History Month and soul food served at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen.

- On February 26th at Brookside Park, there will be a free drive in movie screening that is family friendly. The first 100 cars will be provided with free individually wrapped snacks. The event will start at 5 PM with live music and end at 10 PM.