As we finish up January, plans are already in place for celebrating African American History Month for the entire month of February. Across the country, renditions of Lift Every Voice and Sing will fill the air, public libraries will present specialized programming, universities will host various speakers and symposia, school children will take a specialized look into African American history, museums will launch exhibits, and countless other celebrations will be mounted to lift up the story of African Americans in the United States.
Lift Every Voice and Sing (Poetry by James Weldon Johson, music by J. Rosamond Johnson, in commemoration of Lincoln’s birthday in 1905)
What began as a “Negro History Week” by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926, by the 1960’s had evolved into a month-long commemoration of African Americans’ achievements and contributions to the history of the United States that have otherwise been overlooked in mainstream history curricula. In 1976, Gerald Ford recognized February as African American history month to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Dr. Woodson’s activism was inspired by his invitation to participate in a 1915 exhibition in Washington, D.C. that celebrated the 50th anniversary of emancipation. The exhibit highlighted the journey of African Americans in the United States after slavery officially ended. After attending the D.C. celebration, Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which was later renamed the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). In 1926, he set aside a week in February around the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, who both played significant roles in ending slavery and advocating for the rights of African Americans. The establishment of both the association and the initial week-long celebration followed on the coat-tails of the Harlem Renaissance, which in the 1920’s was in full swing as greater interest in African American culture became more mainstream. Following the significant migrations of African Americans into northern metropolitan areas, black writers, artists, and musicians found more outlets for their work and their popularity skyrocketed.
Today, 45 years after Gerald Ford recognized February as Black History Month, the movement and awareness of African American History has grown. Each year, a different theme is designated by the ASALH. The organization plans strategically, years in advance, with the objective that these themes will give focus and depth to the commemorations. For example, the 2020 theme was “African Americans and the Vote” to honor the sesquicentennial of the Fifteenth Amendment, which gave black men the right to vote following their gaining freedom after the Civil War. Since the suffrage movements of both African Americans and women were closely tied, the theme also paid homage to the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, which awarded the right to vote to women. The theme for 2021 is “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity”, which explores the African diaspora and the migrations of African American families across the United States. In 2022, the theme will be “Black Health and Wellness, ” while 2023 will look at “Anti-Black Violence and Resistance in the Diaspora.”
For more extensive information and materials, the ASALH has curated a rich slate of events around this theme and is hosting The 2021 Black History Month Virtual Festival, for anyone and everyone to access online at their website.
Locally, you can study African-American history all year long thanks to the Evansville African American Museum. The museum itself has a rich history that is fascinating to dive into, and the collection highlights the African American experience in Evansville circa 1938, as well as promoting current day arts, education, cultural events and festivals. While the pandemic has slightly limited their specialized offerings, the museum is open by appointment. Just call them at 812-423-5188.
The pandemic has thrown a wrench into a lot of community events, but you can research and participate in special offerings during the month of February at local universities and libraries:
Some local and regional corporations also join in the festivities in different ways. Schnucks Grocery Stores, for example, has created a new employee t-shirt for its workers to wear if they choose during February and beyond.
The challenge for all of us is to stay engaged with African American history beyond the month of February. Let February ignite the spark to look deeper and ask more questions about the African American experience and contributions to our world. To know and understand African American history is to more fully understand the complete history of the United States.
Sources:
https://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
https://asalh.org/about-us/origins-of-black-history-month/ https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/knowing-past-opens-door-future-continuing-importance-black-history-month
https://abcnews.go.com/US/importance-black-history-celebrated-february/story?id=68618746
