Global Celebrations and Awareness: Black History Month

This is part of a series of articles we will share to help our audience become better informed about diverse holidays and celebrations happening across the globe throughout the year.

February 1st launches the month-long celebration of Black History, and it is a time to reflect on the history of not only the holiday, but also the triumphs and struggles of Black people in the United States.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson is widely regarded as the father of Black History Month, and his story began in Chicago in the summer of 1915 where a celebration was being held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of emancipation sponsored by the state of Illinois. The three-week celebration hosted exhibits highlighting 50 years of Black progress since emancipation and the end of slavery and drew a crowd of six to twelve thousand people. Woodson was inspired by the celebration and decided to form an organization “to promote the scientific study of black life and history”.

Woodson, A.L. Jackson, and three others formed the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, ASALH) during a meeting at the YMCA on September 9, 1915. ASALH describes Dr. Woodson’s vision for the organization, and their continued mission to “represent a living testimony to the year-round and year-after-year study of African American history.” In 1916, Dr. Woodson launched The Journal of Negro History (now The Journal of African American History), one of the earliest scholarly journals publishing African American research, history, and book reviews.

Dr. Carter G Woodson sought to further expand and popularize the study of Black History and in 1926 established what he called “Negro History Week” which would take place during the second week of February. Woodson chose this specific week because it encompasses the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, whom Dr. Woodson viewed as American symbols of freedom. Additionally, by building this celebration around traditional days of celebrating Black History, his goal was not to create new traditions, but to expand upon and extend the study of Black History.

Throughout the 1920s Negro History Week became more mainstream in schools across the US but was mainly limited to Black neighborhoods and communities. As the demand grew for more education around Black history, culture, and literature, Black communities started to establish Negro History Clubs and new ASALH branches. By the 1960s, the broader public and more white communities became more engaged in these celebrations as well. In 1976, President Gerald Ford expanded the holiday to a full month aimed at honoring the contributions of Black Americans.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson always imagined that Black History would not be taught or celebrated in a one-week, or even one-month period. He urged for schools and community organizations to teach and celebrate throughout the entire year, and to use Negro History Week as a time to demonstrate learnings from the past year. He even established a Black studies extension program for adults that would allow them to learn continuously throughout the year. In this same vein, actor and director Morgan Freeman has criticized the concept of Black History Month noting, "I don't want a Black history month. Black history is American history."

The push for Black History to be full ingrained in American history has been a long and winding road. Much of Black History has been ignored or erased, and Black achievements and progress have been purposefully thwarted for centuries. The Black experience in America is unique and important and deserves attention.

Currently, an AP Program on African American Studies is being developed and is set pilot in select U.S. high schools through 2024. According to the program, “the interdisciplinary course reaches into a variety of fields—literature, the arts and humanities, political science, geography, and science—to explore the vital contributions and experiences of African Americans."

There has been push back from some lawmakers on this course of study, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis leading the dissent, and students firing back with the threat of a lawsuit. You can examine the proposed syllabus for the course here.

Why is this AP course being developed? It is in part because the textbooks we grew up using have largely excluded or fabricated African American experiences in the United States. In an analysis of 220 history textbooks from 1832 to today, Harvard University Researcher Donald Yacovone notes that the “overwhelming majority” of textbooks “treated the introduction of African Americans in American society as a “problem.” The further you go into the 20th century, this almost Evangelical theme of “the problem of a Negro” and how much he needed to be controlled because he was so inept and ignorant became the guiding theme of American history textbooks.”

The formalized study of African American history is not something to fear or oppose; it is an incredible opportunity to rediscover our history through an inclusive lens. “A solid understanding of how African Americans have shaped America, its history, laws, institutions, culture and arts, and even the current practice of American democracy, sharpens all knowledge about our nation," says Dr. Nikki Taylor, Chair of the Howard University History Department.

With this knowledge, it is our responsibility to seek out inclusive histories and resources that recognize and give due attention to Black history. We are faced with the difficult tasks of acknowledging that we were taught a biased and inaccurate history in school, unlearning what we were taught to be the objective truth of the time and of America’s history, and making space for a true history that includes all people. The importance of teaching our kids the true history of how America was built cannot be overstated. Race, slavery, oppression, segregation, and the continued disenfranchisement of BIPOC Americans should not be uncomfortable topics. It is necessary for all of us to learn if we want a brighter future, free of hate and racism, and with equal opportunity for all.

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Learn about Black History and the numerous and significant contributions of Black Americans

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Bring in speakers to facilitate discussion and create safe spaces*

This could be a lecture-style discussion with a subject matter expert sharing their knowledge, it could be a workshop series designed to engage employees in productive discussions, or something entirely different. The important part is bringing in outside perspectives and giving everyone the opportunity to learn and grow in this space. You could even consider a recurring speaker series where the organization brings in someone quarterly to lead discussions on important topics.

Practice inclusion and belonging daily in your organization*

Talk about Black History Month at home

Attend events celebrating Black History Month

*Level D&I offers solutions for learning and development (including training and workshops), ERG programming and support, diversity-and focused hiring. Reach out today for more information on how we can support and supplement your organizational culture.