February is Black History Month in the United States. In the mainstream media, at least in 2008, not much has been said to remind people of this fact. Perhaps it has been overshadowed by the presidential race (which itself is historical), or other celebrity news which, unfortunately, leads to ratings and ad dollars.
My 10-year old son asked me - no, begged me - to write a Hub about Black History Month. In order to provide more information to him and others that are interested in the history of Black History Month, and some of the great people that we should be remembering and honoring, particularly this month, I dedicate this Hub to Matt. By the way, this should be a great resource, not only in February, and not only to learn about prominent …show more content…
At that time, in the early 20th century, people had not studied black history much at all, and African Americans were not well-represented in history books. Either they were ignored, and not discussed, or cast in unfavorable …show more content…
As the 16th President of the United States, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which eventually led to the Civil War between the North and the South. Frederick Douglass was a famous abolitionist, who worked both to end slavery and then in early civil rights campaigns during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.
In the 1960s, Negro History Week became Black History Month. The founder's hope was that it would be celebrated by both black and white people alike. For this reason, he chose the birthdays of both a caucasian and an African-American as the basis for the annual event. Unfortunately, however, it took many decades for Black History to be noted on the February calendars of people other than blacks. Eventually, during the Civil Rights movement, governmental leaders started promoting the event on a broader basis. By 1976, Black History Month was well-established, and has continued on a national basis ever
My 10-year old son asked me - no, begged me - to write a Hub about Black History Month. In order to provide more information to him and others that are interested in the history of Black History Month, and some of the great people that we should be remembering and honoring, particularly this month, I dedicate this Hub to Matt. By the way, this should be a great resource, not only in February, and not only to learn about prominent …show more content…
At that time, in the early 20th century, people had not studied black history much at all, and African Americans were not well-represented in history books. Either they were ignored, and not discussed, or cast in unfavorable …show more content…
As the 16th President of the United States, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which eventually led to the Civil War between the North and the South. Frederick Douglass was a famous abolitionist, who worked both to end slavery and then in early civil rights campaigns during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.
In the 1960s, Negro History Week became Black History Month. The founder's hope was that it would be celebrated by both black and white people alike. For this reason, he chose the birthdays of both a caucasian and an African-American as the basis for the annual event. Unfortunately, however, it took many decades for Black History to be noted on the February calendars of people other than blacks. Eventually, during the Civil Rights movement, governmental leaders started promoting the event on a broader basis. By 1976, Black History Month was well-established, and has continued on a national basis ever