Black History Month
February 22, 2021 2021-08-05 21:35Black History Month
Every February, a holiday is not only celebrated but has the whole month dedicated to it. Black History Month is the nation’s way to show appreciation and respect for the sacrifices and hard work people of color had to make for their rights and freedom. It was recognized in multiple states before it became a national and month-long holiday in 1976.
In honor of Black History Month, the Equity team at DBHS prepared a presentation that should be shown during study hall throughout the month. The presentation doesn’t just recognize African American inventors who changed the world, but it educates students about them.
Every day of the month has an inventor with information on who they were and how they contributed to the world we live in today. There are 26 names on the list, and each of the men and women played an impactful role in history.
Black History was first started by Carter G. Woodson, an African American scholar, historian, educator, and publisher. He created it in 1926 and called it “Negro History Week”. The first “Negro week” was held on February 7th, 1926. The month was chosen since Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s birthdays occurred in February as well.
This month is not only to celebrate and honor the important African-American that contributed to U.S. history but the events in black history past and present now more than ever. Though it originated in the U.S. Black history month is recognized and celebrated in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany through the UK celebrates in October.
The main goal when starting “Negro Week” was so that public school teachers in African-American communities would teach about black history in classes. Unfortunately, out of the whole United States, only 3 states adopted the curriculum emphasized by the week. This however did not stop Woodson from continuing with this week each year and by 1930 nearly every state was celebrating and teaching black history in the second week of February.
The week gained more attention and 50 years later was officially declared a national holiday and made a week long. The original purpose was to educate and shed light on the trials and tribulations African-Americans had to go through and to the present day continues to serve its purpose.
