Black History Month
Webpages concerning "Black History Month"
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Wikipedia-Article "Black History Month"
Black History Month is celebrated annually in the United States in the month of February. Black History Month originated as "Negro History Week", the second week in February. This celebration of black history in America was started by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who wanted to bring national attention to the large contribution of African-Americans to the history of their country, in 1926. Woodson chose February as black history month because it was the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Langston Hughes. Yet, in choosing February as Black History Month, Woodson failed to realize that he chose the shortest month of the year. History books had barely started covering black history when the tradition of Black History Month was started. At that point, most representation of blacks in history books was only in reference to the low social position they held.
In the United Kingdom, Black History Month is celebrated in the month of October.[1]
Criticism
Black History Month sparks an annual debate about the continued usefulness of a designated month dedicated to the history of one race. Critical op-ed pieces have appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer [2] and USA Today [3].
Many black radical/nationalist groups, including the Nation of Islam, have criticized Black History Month.
In the December 18, 2005 episode of 60 Minutes, Morgan Freeman criticized Black History Month. "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." Freeman believes that racism will persist as long as individuals continue to identify themselves by their race.
Dr. Woodson, creator of Negro History Week, hoped that the week would eventually be eliminated, when African-American history would be fully integrated with American history.
