Black History Month Still Matters!

Authored by Alethea Dumas

Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week in Washington DC in February 1926. He was the second Black American to receive a Ph.D. in history from Harvard. Carter G. Woodson's goal was first to use history to prove to White America that Black folks had played essential roles in creating America and thereby deserve to be treated equally as citizens. By celebrating heroic black figures such as Inventors, Educators, Entertainers, Entrepreneurs, or Soldiers – he hoped by proving our worth that equality would soon follow. At a time when few newspapers, books, and universities took notice of the Black community except to dehumanize, criminalize, and invalidate the black experience, Woodson's goal was to increase the visibility of Black life and history. Woodson believed Negro History Week, which became Black History Month in 1976, would forever help foster racial transformation.

"If you teach the Negro that he has accomplished as much good as any other race he will aspire to equality and justice without regard to race. Such an effort would upset the program of the oppressor in Africa and America." - Carter Godwin Woodson, The Mis-Education of the Negro

Black History Month was first created in February 1986 when Congress passed Public Law No. 99-244, 100 Stat.6. It is an annual celebration of African Americans' achievements and a time for recognizing the central role of Black Americans in U.S. History. For far too long, the common narrative of Black History I hear repeated is "Black folks were slaves, Martin Luther King Jr. came and fought for their civil rights, and Obama became the first Black President of the U.S." Black History Month is about so much more. It is complicated, joyful, and a time to reflect! It is impossible to tell the story of the U.S. without telling the true story of Black people in the U.S.

The observance of Black History Month may be set aside for the shortest month of February, but we should celebrate African and African American culture and our legacy of contributions to the world all year long. Black history is happening daily!

Don't wait until next February to learn more about African & African American culture and history!

Educate and re-educate yourself about Black History. Don't just stop there; also, educate yourself on the many ways African Americans have been, and still are, left out of the American historical narrative. Let this month challenge you to learn more and do more to acknowledging the humanity in Black people and dismantling every system of injustice and oppression.