As you know, February is Black History Month. Last week, someone asked posted on Twitter: “Why is Black History month celebrated in the shortest month of the year.” Dr. Carter G. Woodson (I love this man!) selected February for Black Negro History Week in 1926 because it is the birth month of two people he admired, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
Ok, I’m about to jump on my soapbox for a minute. People are concerned about the wrong things. Instead of worrying about why the shortest month was chosen for this celebration, they need to concern themselves with preserving the heritage of black people through educating the current and future generations, which has very little knowledge of ANY history. They also need to go back to understand the origins of this celebration. I’m done now.
Black History Month started as a week in 1926. Certainly, it was a challenge for Dr. Woodson to even get that going with the post-slavery racism that shadowed black people despite their accomplishments since the full emancipation of slaves in 1865. Dr. Woodson wanted the world to know about the progress of his people during those years, which is why he created the first ever record of these accomplishments of the race. His efforts were fruitful. The interest in black people increased as the word and instruction spread across the United States. It wasn’t until 1976, 50 years after the beginning of Black History Week, that it grew into Black History Month.
To honor this month, I will be reading The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson. If you care to join me, it’s an open offer.
Other February Observances
Monthly
- Library Lovers’ Month (I should be awarded for this one)
Weekly
- Freelance Writer’s Appreciation Week – 2nd Week
- Friendship Week – 3rd Week
- Random Act of Kindness Week – 3rd Week
Daily
- Pay a compliment day – 6th
- Clean out your computer – 11th
- Inventor’s day – 11th
- Read to your child day – 13th
- Valentine’s Day – 14th
Are you attending any Black History Month events? If so, be sure to let us know which events and where they are by leaving comments below.
Thanks for the update on Black History Month. In addition to remembering and honoring our past black leaders, I will be honoring my own relatives who sacrificed and contributed so much. This also is a great time to share stories with children about their ancestors. Pull out the recipe book and share some of grandma’s recipes. Family memories should be a part of Black History Month.
Gloria, honoring your own relatives and sharing stories with your children is a great idea. This is a great way to start collecting and writing your family history. Create scrapbooks, photo books and oral histories. I love it!