Video Of The Week - February Is Black History Month
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Every February, Americans celebrate Black History Month. It was established in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a historian who wanted to ensure that significant contributions made by African American men and women throughout history, would never be forgotten.
Woodson picked the second week of February for what he called Negro History Week because it coincides with the birthdays of two US leaders that helped African Americans gain equality - President Abraham Lincoln (Feb 12) and human rights activist, Frederick Douglass (Feb 14). He encouraged schools and communities across the country to celebrate the week by organizing local events, establishing history clubs and staging performances and lectures. His idea resonated with both African Americans and the progressive white population. By the late 1960's, many college campuses began dedicating the entire month of February to this endeavor and Black History Month was born.
In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford endorsed the celebration, asking the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of African Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Since then, Black History Month has been a fixture on the American calendar. Every year the Association for the Study of African American Life & History assigns a unique theme. For 2016 they selected Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories.
It was picked to highlight the centennial celebration of the National Park Service and the more than twenty-five sites and the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom that are part of America’s hallowed grounds. Among them is the home of Dr. Carter G, Woodson, the mastermind of this celebration. Canada also celebrates the month in February, while the United Kingdom commemorates the event in October.
Resources: history.com
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418 Comments
- mormor 690over 8 yearssome people do not know what they have been though.
- mormor 690over 8 yearsi agree with jas33189 you guys just comment with one word. i would not be able to go to school with people that are not my color i am glad that martin luther king .jr was born and i am glad that rosa parks and everbody that made a diffrence were born .
- hbyhvfc over 8 yearsyou tried your best...
- jas33189over 8 yearsThis article was obviously made with people's thought and love. Their passion and courtesy lies within it as well. After people put so much time and effort into this, all you guys can say is "amazing, yay, cool!?" What is wrong with you people!!!!!!!!! Black history month is so important and what if the future generations think this is some other silly holiday that is just lame!? We have to treasure these last moments we have with this month and it will not be wasted by people commenting with only one word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So what if i am not black! i know what it is like to be mistreated and separated from a group so if you were treated the same way, you would stand up against it to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!so thank you for reading this passage and spread the word.
- VALENTINE 101over 8 yearsblack history month rules
- VALENTINE 101over 8 yearscool
- cimmieover 8 yearsyas my peoples <3
- amazingover 8 yearsamazing
- flinchover 8 yearsyay
- maxover 8 yearscool