Black History Month Celebration
Black History Month 2023 also called Africa-American History Month may be the impetus for Africa develop its economy and continent
The Roots
Black History is one of the oldest in the world but modern education may trace it from the partition of Africa.
The partition of Africa as you may know saw African continent divided and pounced upon by the Western European powers and colonized with their utmost imperialism.
Africa notably known for its endowment of natural wealth and resources apparently enticed colonial powers to scramble Africa for enormous gains.
Black History Month also called Africa-American History Month is an annual celebration of African-American achievements and to acknowledge African American core role in U.S. history.
The man Behind Black History Month
Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) dedicated his life to educating African Americans about the achievements and contributions of their ancestors.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson
Born in 1875 in New Canton, Virginia, Woodson had worked as a sharecropper, miner and various other jobs during his childhood to help support his large family. Though he entered high school late, he made up for lost time, graduating in less than two years. After attending Berea College in Kentucky, Woodson worked in the Philippines as an education superintendent for the U.S. government. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Chicago before entering Harvard. In 1912, three years before founding the ASNLH, he became only the second African American (after W.E.B. DuBois) to earn a doctorate from that institution.
In 1915, Carter G. Woodson traveled to Chicago from his home in Washington, D.C. to take part in a national celebration of the 50th anniversary of emancipation. He had earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of Chicago, and still had many friends there. As he joined the thousands of Black Americans overflowing from the Coliseum, which housed exhibits highlighting African American achievements since the abolition of slavery, Woodson was inspired to do more in the spirit of celebrating Black history and heritage. Before he left Chicago, he helped found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). A year later, Woodson singlehandedly launched the Journal of Negro History, in which he and other researchers brought attention to the achievements of Black Americans.
The “Negro History Week,” is known to have birthed Black History Month in the United States and the mastermind, Carter G. Woodson (Historian) with the help of other prominent African Americans drove its prominence.
If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated. The American Indian left no continuous record. He did not appreciate the value of tradition; and where is he today? The Hebrew keenly appreciated the value of tradition, as is attested by the Bible itself. In spite of worldwide persecution, therefore, he is a great factor in our civilization, He elaborated. (Wikipedia)Other nations in the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, observe this remarkable month of Black history.
In the United States of America, all American Presidents have officially designated the month of February as Black History Month to mark the celebrations.
The Black History Month 2023 theme, “Black Resistance,” explores how “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings,” since the nation’s earliest days.
Development of Black History Month
When first established, Black History Month resulted in some controversy. Those who believed that Black History Month was limited to educational institutions questioned whether it was appropriate to confine the celebration of Black history to one month, as opposed to the integration of Black history into mainstream education for the whole year. Another concern was that, contrary to the original inspiration for Black History Month, which was a desire to redress how American schools failed to represent Black historical figures as anything other than enslaved people or colonial subjects, Black History Month could reduce complex historical figures to overly simplified objects of “hero worship”. Other critics refer to the celebration as a form of racism. Actor and director Morgan Freeman and actress Stacey Dash have criticized the concept of declaring only one month as Black History Month. Freeman noted, “I don’t want a Black history month. Black history is American history.” (Wikipedia)
How Africa Can Develop its Economy and Continent with the Help of Black History Month (Agyemang Effah’s Take)
Black History Month despite its celebration and vibrancy in the United States reverberates also in
African countries and is embraced by all black people.
African Presidents’ dream, like Emperor Hailey Selassie, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was to reunite the African continent. This dream though dormant can be rekindled to achieve unity.
The African Continental Free Trade Area is trade-specific but unites some African countries hence a laudable effort.
President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo in recent times has championed the ‘Year of Return Ghana 2019′ themed ‘Celebrating 400 Years of African Resilience’ and ‘Beyond the Return Ghana’ themed ‘The Decade of African Renaissance’ which have been pivotal in mobilizing many Africans in the diaspora to return and feel back at home (their roots).
Many African Americans since the inception of these projects (Year of Return and Beyond the Return) visited Ghana to explore their roots, embrace the culture and settle- the ultimate goal of all African Americans.
African countries can adopt same, re-echo the significance of getting Africans to return home from oppression, racial injustice, etc. and help build Africa. With myriad renowned Africans who have amassed wealth and properties can channel all these to Africa (the land rich with natural resources), vast farmlands, natural resources, peace and unity in Ghana, hospitable people, young and healthy generation, smart and intelligent people etc. cannot be overemphasized with respect to establishing businesses and growing same.
Africa is the land for Africans, and now is the time for Africans to return home and make Africa proud again!
Black History Month Themes Over the Years
In the US, a theme for each Black History Month is selected by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)
1928: Civilization: A World Achievement
1929: Possibility of Putting Negro History in the Curriculum
1930: Significant Achievements of the Negro
1931: Neglected Aspects of Negro History
1932: What George Washington Bicentennial Commission Fail to Do
1933: Ethiopia Meets Error in Truth
1934: Contribution of the Negro in Poetry, in Painting, in Sculpture and in Science.
1935: The Negro Achievements in Africa
1936: African Background Outlined
1937: American Negro History from the Time of Importation from Africa up to the Present Day
1938: Special Achievements of the Race: Oratory, Drama, Music, Painting, Sculpture, Science and Inventions
1939: Special Achievements of the Race: Religion, Education, Business, Architecture, Engineering, Innovation, Pioneering
1940: Negro Labor
1941: The Career of Frederick Douglass
1942: The Negro in Democracy
1943: The Negro in the Modern World
1944: The Negro and the New Order
1945: The Negro and Reconversion
1946: Let us Have Peace
1947: Democracy Possible only Through Brotherhood
1948: The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
1949: The Use of Spirituals in the Classroom
1950: Outstanding Moments in Negro History
1951: Eminent Negroes in World Affairs
1952: Great Negro Educators (Teachers)
1953: Negro History and Human Relations
1954: Negro History: A Foundation for Integration
1955: Negro History: A Contribution to America’s Intercultural Life
1956: Negro History in an Era of Changing Human Relations
1957: Negro History
1958: Negro History: A Factor in Nationalism and Internationalism
1959: Negro History: A Foundation for a Proud America
1960: Strengthening America Through Education in Negro History and African Culture
1961: Freedom and Democracy for the Negro after 100 years (1861-1961)
1962: Negro History and a New Birth of Freedom
1963: Negro History Evaluates Emancipation (1863-1963)
1964: Negro History: A Basis for the New Freedom
1965: Negro History: Freedom’s Foundation
1966: Freedom from Racial Myths and Stereotypes Through Negro History
1967: Negro History in the Home, School, and the Community
1968: The Centennial of the Fourteenth Amendment Afro American History Week
1969: Changing the Afro American Image through History
1970: 15th Amendment and Black America in the Century (1870-1970)
1971: African Civilization and Culture: A Worthy Historical Background
1972: African Art, Music, Literature; a Valuable Cultural Experience
1973: Biography Illuminates the Black Experience
1974: Helping America Understand
1975: Fulfilling America’s Promise: Black History Month
1976: America for All Americans
1977: Heritage Days: The Black Perspective; the Third Century
1978: Roots, Achievements and Projections
1979: History: Torch for the future
1980: Heritage for America
1981: Black History: Role Model for Youth
1982: Afro American Survival
1983: Afro Americans in the United States
1984: Afro Americans and Education
1985: Afro American Family
1986: Afro American Experience: International Connection
1987: Afro Americans and the Constitution from Colonial Times to the Present
1988: Constitutional Status of Afro Americans in the 21st Century
1989: Afro Americans and Religion
1990: Seventy-Five Years of Scholarly Excellence: A Homage to Our Forebearers
1991: Educating America: Black Universities and Colleges, Strengths, and Crisis
1992: African Roots Experience New Worlds, Pre-Columbus to Space Exploration
1993: Afro-American Scholars: Leaders, Activists and Writers
1994: Empowering Black Americans
1995: Reflections on 1895: Douglass, Du Bois & Washington
1996: Black Women
1997: African Americans and Civil Rights; a Reprisal
1998: Black Business
1999: Legacy of African American Leadership for the Present and the Future
2000: Heritage and Horizons: The African American Legacy and the Challenges for the 21st Century
2001: Creating and Defining the African American Community: Family, Church Politics and Culture
2002: The Color Line Revisited: Is Racism Dead?
2003: The Souls of Black Folks: Centennial Reflections
2004: Before Brown, Beyond Boundaries: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education
2005: The Niagara Movement: Black Protest Reborn, 1905-2005
2006: Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social, and Civil Institutions
2007: From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas
2008: Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism
2009: The Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas
2010: The History of Black Economic Empowerment
2011: African Americans and the Civil War
2012: Black Women in American Culture and History
2012: President Barack Obama National Black History Month Proclamation
2013: At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington
2014: Civil Rights in America
2015: A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture
2016: Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories
2017: The Crisis in Black Education
2018: African Americans in Times of War
2019: Black Migrations
2020: African Americans and the Vote
2021: The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
2022: Black Health and Wellness
2023: Black Resistance
(Wikipedia)
Black History Month is worth celebrating, are you an African, an American, European, Asian, etc. I believe you feel like an African already, nice, now let’s come together as one people because what you feel right now is not really African, but you actually feel human, because we are one people and there is only one race, the human race.
Gallery: Black History Month
Dr. Carter G. Woodson 2
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a movement (bh)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a movement
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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