February is Black History Month. The idea of an official celebration of Black History originated with Harvard-educated historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson and his Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). His association announced Negro History Week, which was first celebrated in February 1926, prompting the creation of Negro History Clubs and conventions. According to the ASALH, Woodson never intended to confine Negro History to a week; rather the intention was to promote the inclusion of Black History into the entire history curricula of schools. In 1976, fifty years after the first Negro History Week, Black History Month was recognized by the U.S. federal government, and since then every American president has issued proclamations endorsing ASALH’s annual theme. The theme for 2022 is “Black Health and Wellness.”For other perspectives on Black History Month, check out these links:
- Participate in the ASALH’s Black History Month Virtual Festival.
- Study The 1619 Project Curriculum, the Pulitzer Center’s reading guides, activities, and other resources that bring “The 1619 Project” into the classroom.
- Read the thoughtful and thought-provoking We’re Teaching Black History Month All Wrong, by ShaRhonda Knott-Dawson on Education Post.
~Mark Wilson
Corvallis SURJ 