Black History Month is an annual celebration where we recognize African Americans’ resilience, contributions, and achievements, despite adversity. It is a month to appreciate all the progress the Black community has made.
In the 1960s educators and students of Kent State University proposed the idea of expanding a week-long celebration, Negro History Week, which inspired schools and communities nationwide to hold celebrations, and some even established history clubs.
The movement was so powerful that eventually, in 1976, President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month as a national tribute. He encouraged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Carter G. Woodson, a scholar, was dedicated to celebrating black people’s contributions to history. His dedication led to the creation of Black History Month.
Carter G. Woodson chose February to celebrate black history because of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass, an African American rights advocate, and our 17th President Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Emancipation Proclamation stated, “All persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof…shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” This document laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights movement, successfully redirecting the emphasis of the Civil War to eliminate slavery and enabling African Americans to advocate for their rights and ultimately attain complete citizenship.
Cassidy Moore, a freshman, was asked what Black History Month represents and why it is special and should be celebrated.
Moore shared,“Black History Month highlights the black community, and it’s special because African- Americans fought for their freedom.”
Today, Black History Month is a month to honor the legacy of African Americans in United States history– from Civil Rights leaders to activists. Leaders such as Martin Luther King, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks all had a major effect on politics, science, culture, and the overall atmosphere across the nation.
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