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I can think of no better way to celebrate Black History Month without the inclusive history dealing with books and people. Therefore selecting a theme involving the phenomenal explosion of the written word in books, documented biographies and new reference resources can only bring excitement to this year's celebration. Black history is indeed ongoing and still very new in its focus on discovery. The cultural and historical contribution of African Americans to American society encompasses a revolutionary journey. New books and biographies are opening new vistas of learning in this discovery process. African American history is unique because it had to evolve on separate terms defined by race, which included the many limitations coming from a society with fixed legal restrictions. Due to the separation of the races on many societal levels, African Americans had to create and learn via the harsh struggles to survive and progress. The picture was not always pretty, but the will to be inclusive in this Nation was always in view. Enduring slavery was bad, but it was far worst when one thinks about the laws, which kept slavery alive. Reading and writing for slaves was against the law and the long road toward freedom was not easily won. Research publications and books in the area of black studies have had a respectable, but slow development in its coverage of noteworthy events, and the people involved in these history making endeavors. The preeminent black historian, Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) recognized this omission and back on September 9, 1915, he founded the Assocation for the Study of Negro Life and History to help fill in the many gaps and misconceptions of blacks as living Americans without a tangible written legacy of their contributions involved in the historical development of America. Woodson's entire life was dedicated to changing this image. In less than twenty years, the publishing business has reached out and embraced a plethora of recognizable yet unpublished information dealing with African Americans and their quest to live and contribute to this democracy. The publishers are now seeking all kinds of documented histories, some hidden, some forgotten, but they are welcoming African American history into the fold. Today we see black and white researchers and scholars writing and publishing books dealing with detailed and specific accounts of African American ancestry. These newfound treasures of knowledge cover revealing topics with all kinds of inclusive interest. We welcome this broad based renaissance, along with a salute to those writers who chartered these waters so that we might know more about this phase of American history. Professor
Melvin Sylvester | ||||
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Carter G. Woodson and Black History
The original idea for the celebration of black history as a special event came about mainly through the efforts of the noted African American scholar and historian, Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950). Dr. Woodson sought to pay homage to those black pioneers who contributed significantly to our American society, yet were mainly ignored or misrepresented in textbooks, magazines and other printed materials. "Negro History Week" was the original nomenclature for this special event, and the first celebration started on February 12, 1926. Today seventy-eight years have gone by since the inception of Dr. Woodson's original idea relating to Negro History Week. Since 1976, Negro History Week has been recognized as "Black History Month". Most of the research and programs dealing with this nationwide celebration of Black History Month is handled by the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, located in Washington, D.C. Dr. Woodson established The Association on September 9, 1915. New discoveries in the area of African American history are still being uncovered and researched in this year of 2004. The concept of Black History as a separate occurrence in American History has grown tremendously because of Carter G. Woodson's idea, but the significance of Black History as an integral part of America's total history falls far short of reality. Black History is still treated as something to study for the moment or in conjunction with a black studies program. If American History is an ongoing process, then Black History should also be part of this ongoing process. Both Blacks and Whites are still eagerly looking for a much broader representation of Blacks in the total involvement of America's documented history. Until that time, we must take the separate role of telling all about the sometimes forgotten, and missing pieces of history relating to the contributions of those Americans who happen to be black. (For more information)
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