Black History Does Not End With February
Since 1976, February 1st has marked the beginning of what we know as Black History month. The predecessor of Black History month, Black History week, was a 1926 event sponsored by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, known as ASALH. This group was founded by Carter G. Woodson, a notable black Harvard alumni who made strides toward racial progress and fought for the rights of African Americans. The event was created as an attempt to further the interests of racial equality, as in the words of Dr. Woodson himself, “if a race has no history… it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and stands in danger of being exterminated.” Black History month was created as an inherently political stand, one that emphasizes the important role that black people have had in the foundation of the United States, as architects of history and catalysts of social progress. Woodson believed that if a race lacked a role in a country’s foundation, that they would never truly be seen as equals.
However, Woodson’s vision has somewhat backfired. In the past few years, Black history month has become a month about posturing and signaling a commitment to realizing equality that outside the month of February does not exist. According to an article by ABC news, Noelle Trent, a prominent figure at the National Civil Rights museum, says that “the organization’s biggest challenge is keeping people engaged beyond February.” Outside of this month, many lose interest in black history. While it is an important start to acknowledging black history, a month is not long enough to acknowledge the contributions that black Americans have imparted on the United States. During February we study Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Martin Luther King, but we neglect Dorothy Height, Claudette Colvin, Rebecca Lee Crumper, and countless others.. Because we relegate black history to just one short month, we forget to hear the voices of those lesser known African American historical figures who shaped society in important and meaningful ways.
While Black History Month does encourage some corporations to tout merchandise and other publications to produce special features, this advertisement is more about signaling progressiveness than actually honoring black achievement. For example, Target runs an annual black history assortment, and yet was under fire for discriminatory hiring practices just last year. While the idea of Black History Month is certainly a fine sentiment that attempts to address the history of African American people in America, it has essentially become an opportunity to ignore black history for eleven months of the year. While society has certainly made steps toward racial equity, there is still progress to be made. The 1954 ruling of Brown v. Board of Education outlawed racial segregation in public schools, but these schools remain largely segregated, whether by virtue of districting or the discontinuation of busing systems. Ultimately, Black History is American history, and cannot be seen as such until it is celebrated and taught year round.
Sources
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
https://wbac.tamu.edu/woodson/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/importance-black-history-celebrated-february/story?id=68618746
