Why Black History Month is important to everyone.

 BLACK HISTORY MONTH

It is Black History Month once again. The annual observance originated in the United States of America. It is now also recognized in Canada, The United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

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The theme of Black History Month 2021 is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.” This theme was chosen by The Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Carter G. Woodson, a son of slaves in the United States of America developed the celebration. He is known as the “Father of Black History.” As a child Woodson “spent his time working in coal mines and quarries. He received his education during the four month term that was customary for black schools at the time.”

He, however, taught himself the fundamentals of English and Arithmetic and got into high school when he was 19. He completed a four year course in half the time and then earned his master’s degree in history at the University of Chicago. Later he earned a doctorate from Harvard University.

USA Today journalist N’dea Yancey-Bragg, writes that Woodson was an author, historian, and the second African-American to earn a Ph.D. at Harvard University. He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.)

Woodson also proposed a national “Negro History Week” which was intended to showcase everything students learned about Black History throughout the school year.

In 1976 President Gerald Ford expanded it to Black History Month.

LaGarrett J. King, an associate professor of social studies education at the University of Missouri says Black History Month has become one of the most celebrated cultural heritage months on the calendar. 

The theme of Black History is presented, sometimes unfortunately without context, in meals, lectures, plays and quizzes by schools and businesses. “Major brands roll out clothing, television specials and content for consumers” sometimes without context.

King who is founding director of the CARTER Center for K-12 Black History Education said some educators “teach black history from a white centered perspective.”

What other observations has LaGarrett King made? 

Many public schools offer only “sanitized versions of slavery and the civil rights movement, along with biographies of a handful of figures who are palatable to white audiences.” Some offer inaccurate or inappropriate lessons such as reenactments of slavery.

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Alaska became a state of the USA in January 1959. (It is the largest US State by area!) In the Alaska Native News Feb. 1, 2021 there is a lovely letter “Happy Black History Month” sent by Senator Elvi-Gray Jackson. It reads: 

“Let me take this moment to wish you all a Happy Black History Month! During the 2019 Legislative Session SB40 established the month of February as Black History Month in Alaska. What an honor it is to have this recognition permanently in State Statutes.

We celebrate this month by remembering the achievements and inventions of African-Americans who made a difference in U.S. history. 

For example, Otis Boykin’s work in electrical resistors, made possible the steady workings of a variety of electronic devices…..Most notable, however, his work enabled control functions for the first successful implantable pacemaker.

I encourage everyone, regardless of heritage, to use this month as an opportunity to educate yourselves and others about the vast history of the African diaspora.

Again, Happy Black History Month.

Senator Elvi Gray Jackson.

Who is Otis Frank Boykin? 

He was born in Dallas, Texas in 1920 and lived until 1982. His father Walter was a carpenter, who later became a preacher. His mother, Sarah, was a maid who died when he was one year old. Otis became an inventor and engineer. He patented 28 electronic devices.

Seattle’s Black History Month is starting with a Black Lives Matter at school week and “a week of action” calling for more black educators and ethnic studies in the cities classrooms. Capitol Hill Seattle Blog says: “This is the fourth year that officials have recognized the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and made curriculum resources available to teachers to bring the discussion more fully into their classes – even as the pandemic has moved instruction online in 2021. 

“We have only begun our struggle to transform the schools to make them a place that natures and loves Black students,” Seattle educator and activist Jesse Hagopian said in announcing the 2021 BLM at school effort.

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