Every February, the nation commemorates Black Historical past Month, a time to honor the enduring contributions of African Individuals all through historical past.
This observance serves as a poignant reminder of our shared journey and the continued quest for racial justice.
“African Individuals have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all kinds, particularly the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings since our arrival upon these shores,” stated the Affiliation for the Examine of African American Life and Historical past (ASALH) in an announcement.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH A CHANCE TO REFLECT ON UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
“These efforts have been to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a simply democratic society in america and past america political jurisdiction,” added the affiliation.
Discover a extra profound understanding of Black Historical past Month by these 10 enlightening details.
Martin Luther King Jr. delivers the “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 28, 1963. (Getty Pictures)
1. The theme for 2024 Black Historical past Month is ‘African Individuals and the Arts’
A unique theme is chosen for every year.
In 2023, the theme for Black Historical past Month was “Black resistance,” as outlined by ASALH, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Previous themes have included Black well being and wellness, household, migration and Black girls in American tradition and historical past, amongst others.
2. Nations worldwide have a good time Black Historical past Month
Opposite to Canada, Black Historical past Month spans October within the Netherlands, Eire, and the UK.
Though the U.Okay. initially targeting Black American historical past, the main target has now shifted to honoring the wealthy tapestry of Black British historical past.
BLACK PATRIOTISM IN US HISTORY: HERE IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE TO REMEMBER DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
3. Nationwide organizations sponsor Black Historical past Month
Famend sponsors of Nationwide Black Historical past Month embrace The Smithsonian Establishment, America Holocaust Memorial Museum, The Library of Congress, and The Nationwide Park Service.
These organizations host quite a lot of community-focused studying classes, artwork gallery exhibitions, and interesting talks by distinguished audio system.
4. Within the U.S., the inhabitants of Black or African Individuals was roughly 48 million in 2022, in accordance with the U.S. Census Bureau
Black Individuals comprise barely greater than 14% of the U.S. populace, as per Pew Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau.
“In 1940, when the U.S. Census Bureau began asking about instructional attainment, solely 7% of Blacks had a highschool schooling, in contrast with 24% for the nation as an entire,” reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In 2023, 8,607 people throughout the Black or African American group held a bachelor’s diploma or increased.
A protester waves a Black Lives Matter flag in the course of the demonstration. (Stanton Sharpe/SOPA Pictures/LightRocket through Getty Pictures)
Black Historical past Month serves as a tribute to the various experiences of every African American, with celebrations usually involving communal acknowledgments of group leaders, household legacies, and narratives that foster unity.
5. Carter G. Woodson is credited for the creation of Black Historical past Month
Carter G. Woodson was born in 1875 to newly freed Virginia slaves.
He later earned a PhD in historical past from Harvard College.
Woodson anxious that Black youngsters weren’t being taught about their ancestors’ achievements in American faculties within the early 1900s, as Fox 10 famous.
BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY
6. Negro Historical past Week was modified to what’s now often called Black Historical past Month
In Feb. 1969, a bunch of Black activist college students and lecturers at Kent State carried out the primary celebration of Black Historical past Month.
Inside a decade, Black social and cultural establishments all through the nation have been celebrating the month, and by 1976, President Ford formally acknowledged it.
7. February was picked for Black Historical past Month as a result of it contained the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
President Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, and Frederick Douglass, a former slave who didn’t know his exact birthday, celebrated his date of start on Feb. 14, Fox 10 additionally famous.
8. ASALH has celebrated Negro Historical past Week and Black Historical past Month for 98 years
Woodson, together with the affiliation, introduced in 1926 that the second week of February would commemorate the achievements of Black Individuals.
Initially, distinguished Black leaders and newspapers supported the thought, and a few schooling facilities alongside the East Coast noticed the month-to-month celebration.
9. President Ford formally acknowledged Black Historical past Month in 1976
President Ford referred to as on Individuals to “seize the chance to honor the too-often uncared for accomplishments of Black Individuals in each space of endeavor all through our historical past,” as Historical past.com famous.
10. President Obama delivered a message for Black Historical past Month 40 years after Ford acknowledged Black Historical past Month
“Black Historical past Month should not be handled as if it’s one way or the other separate from our collective American historical past or one way or the other simply boiled all the way down to a compilation of biggest hits from the March on Washington or from a few of our sports activities heroes… It is in regards to the lived, shared expertise of all African Individuals.”
Former President Obama speaks at a rally. (Invoice Pugliano/Getty Pictures)
11. Canada commemorates Black Historical past Month in February
Though Black Canadians are roughly 4.3% of the nation’s whole inhabitants, group leaders and activists nonetheless have a good time the historic achievements of the Black group.
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Canadian politicians Jean Augustine and Donald Oliver have been instrumental in getting Black Historical past Month formally acknowledged within the nation in 2008.
12. Woodson believed the educating of Black historical past was key to the bodily and mental survival of the race in 1926
“If a race has no historical past, it has no worthwhile custom, it turns into a negligible issue within the considered the world, and it stands in peril of being exterminated,” Woodson stated partly, because the Journal of Negro Historical past reported.
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Phillip Nieto contributed reporting.
For extra Life-style articles, go to www.foxnews.com/life-style.
