Never actually delved into the origins of Black History Month but National Geographic did it for me... so in case any of you wanna check it out.
www.nationalgeographic.com
Apparently the origins are from the early 20th century with Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard educated historian who was the son of illiterate farmer slaves who worked farms and mines in Virginia and West Virginia. He devoted a great deal of his life towards promoting a better understanding of African-American history in part due to counter the racist perceptions of Black Americans by illustrating their oft overlooked contributions to American society and history.
Or as he says it:
One of his most prominent books The Mis-Education of the Negro goes into his overall issues with education of African-Americans in general.
So that's a bit on the main founder of Black History Month in America which IIRC was the forebear of similar events in other countries.
Now of course there is an ongoing discourse of the usefulness of dedicated a month to focus on a single races history and how that compares to the concerns of suppression that Carter Woodson originally brought up. Morgan Freeman made the comment after all that "Black History is American History" and others expressed similar sentiments. But for a long time, especially in Carter Woodson's era... that facet of American history and the contributions of that particular race were marginalized and suppressed.
With all that said any of you have any particularly interesting observations to share in regards to Black American contributions to history or the subject in general?
Why February is Black History Month
In the early 1900s, historian Carter G. Woodson led the fight for a holiday that would promote Black achievements—and counter racist stereotypes.
www.nationalgeographic.com
Apparently the origins are from the early 20th century with Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard educated historian who was the son of illiterate farmer slaves who worked farms and mines in Virginia and West Virginia. He devoted a great deal of his life towards promoting a better understanding of African-American history in part due to counter the racist perceptions of Black Americans by illustrating their oft overlooked contributions to American society and history.
Or as he says it:
Carter Woodson said:
One of his most prominent books The Mis-Education of the Negro goes into his overall issues with education of African-Americans in general.
The Mis-Education of the Negro said:
The Mis-Education of the Negro said:
So that's a bit on the main founder of Black History Month in America which IIRC was the forebear of similar events in other countries.
Now of course there is an ongoing discourse of the usefulness of dedicated a month to focus on a single races history and how that compares to the concerns of suppression that Carter Woodson originally brought up. Morgan Freeman made the comment after all that "Black History is American History" and others expressed similar sentiments. But for a long time, especially in Carter Woodson's era... that facet of American history and the contributions of that particular race were marginalized and suppressed.
With all that said any of you have any particularly interesting observations to share in regards to Black American contributions to history or the subject in general?
