Black History Month
Carter G. Woodson earned his PhD from Harvard
University in 1912. As the son of former slaves, Woodson understood the value of
education in making the most of one’s divine right of freedom.
He worked in the Kentucky
coalmines to put himself through high school, and earned his bachelor and
master’s degrees from the University of Chicago before going on to Harvard.
During the course of his studies,
it troubled Woodson to find that black Americans were rarely mentioned in
American history books, and when they were, it was never in a way that reflected
their positive impact on the social, political and economic development of the
country.
He determined to do something
about that. In 1915, Woodson established what is today the Association for the
Study of Afro-American Life and History. In 1916, he founded the
Journal of Negro History and later the Negro History Bulletin. And in 1926, Dr. Woodson
initiated the celebration of Negro History Week during the second week of
February. In 1976 Negro History Week became
Black History Month.
Woodson chose February for
several reasons. It marked the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and
abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The 15th Amendment, which declared that the
right to vote could not be denied on account of race, was ratified in
February of 1870.
Writer and educator W.E.B. DuBois
was born in February 1868. The first black U.S. senator, Hiram Revels, took his
oath of office in February 1870. And the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People was founded in February 1909.
Many Americans, even many black
Americans, have false stereotypes in their minds about the role that blacks have
played in American history. These negative ideas create barriers to good
relationships and to the true potential that all Americans have for working
together toward our common goals for freedom, peace and achievement.
Black History Month focuses on
the positive history, achievements and contributions to American ideals that
blacks have made throughout our history. And that helps to dispel the negative
concepts and stereotypes that are bound to take root when the truth is
not given the light of day.
Young blacks need to know about
the many positive achievements of black men and women in every field of
endeavor. Indeed, all young people of every race and ethnic background need
positive role models to inspire and encourage them, and to spur them on.
Knowing what others have done
inspires confidence in young people to know that they can achieve
worthwhile things too.
All Americans benefit from better
understanding the positive contributions of other ethnic groups. When we
understand one another better, we are that much closer to having positive
relationships with one another. The experience of black Americans
in our history is a further inspiration to all Americans that no matter how
difficult the struggle, no matter what the odds, when we don’t give up, when we
stand together firmly for the right and the truth, great things
can happen. And there’s nothing more American
than that.
The U.S. civil rights movement
was born in Christian faith and values. The early leaders of the movement
were Christian ministers, black and white alike, who saw injustice, and worked
in nonviolent ways to bring the love of Jesus Christ to bear on a system that
was reflecting neither the gospel nor the deepest values of the U.S.
Constitution.
As Christians, when we rehearse
that struggle and celebrate the positive achievements of Americans who excelled,
despite having been socially marginalized, we affirm the values and
responsibilities of our Christian faith and heritage.
I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of
LIFE.
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