History Shared on Black History Holiday
Posted: Monday, February 08, 2010
by Ronyae
Writings by Ronyae
When I'm exiled to Writer's Block Bay, I generally find myself with more time for research. I want to share a part of the history behind Black History Month, found on factmonster website:
"Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as 'Negro History Week' and later as 'Black History Month'. What you might not know is that black history had barely begun to be studied - or even documented - when the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they gained a respectable presence in the history books.
We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson ... The scholar was disturbed to find in his (Harvard) 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 iniative 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."
That has been the longest quote in MY history (smile). I am in hopes that this info was just as informative, and awakening for you, as it was for me. There will be another installment to this submission. But, it will not be under my column, so stay tuned!
Hug a black person today (smile); I love hugs, all kinds (hint-hint).
"Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as 'Negro History Week' and later as 'Black History Month'. What you might not know is that black history had barely begun to be studied - or even documented - when the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they gained a respectable presence in the history books.
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 iniative 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."
That has been the longest quote in MY history (smile). I am in hopes that this info was just as informative, and awakening for you, as it was for me. There will be another installment to this submission. But, it will not be under my column, so stay tuned!
Hug a black person today (smile); I love hugs, all kinds (hint-hint).
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Good article Royae, thanks for sharing.
Hi Ronyae, I really appreciated your article.I leave in Europe, but in World War II we had experienced the same things.Nowadays we are more integrated here in Italy.Thanks and Goodbye,Alessandro
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