Now You'll Know: The History of Black History!

   The majority of the American population grew up hearing about and studying Black History Month. When I was in school, we devoted a whole month to learning the importance of Black History Month, and its purpose. As I've grown, and been out of school, I do not see/hear/discuss this topic near as much as I would like to during Black History Month! Today, I want to discuss a little bit of history, as well as what this holiday means to all of us, just to jog the memory of those of us who don't have it brought to our attention each year by history teachers. :) Black History dates far back into the 1600's. In 1619 The first African slaves arrived in Virginia. Let me be the FIRST to say, how PROUD I am that times are different! We, as a country, have come so unbelievable far! I don't know about you guys, but I am proud to call this place home!

     "We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents who were former slaves, he spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at age twenty. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. The scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population-and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time.

     Woodson, always one to act on his ambitions, decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history.

     Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. However, February has much more than Douglass and Lincoln to show for its significance in black American history. For example:

• 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."
 

     As you can see, Black History Month is one of the most inspirational Holidays in America. It teaches and inspires children and adults of all nationalities. Not only can we establish a more peaceful nation, but by educating the future generations, we're allowing a much easier life for our kids, and grand kids. I'll wrap this up with a few inspiring words from an intelligent man, Mr.Martin Luther King. Until next time, keep it clean!