Championing Diversity: The Importance of Black History Month

February 5, 2024 | by sau1admin

Dr. Carter G. Woodson

NOTE: The word Negro is used in this blog post. It is used to show the history of Black History Month, and what it and the Association that started as part of it were called at the time.

Every February, SAU1 is proud to recognize the important things the Black American community has done and given up to make change in the world. We believe that by speaking up you can make change happen. That is exactly how the modern day idea of Black History Month came to be.

A National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) article, tells us that a man named Dr. Carter G. Woodson was upset because Black Americans were not being recognized for their work making the world a better place, and for the important things they did in history. He wanted to change this. So he came up with the idea of celebrating what was called Negro History Week in 1926. Negro History Week was celebrated in February because Abraham Lincoln's birthday and Frederick Douglass's birthday are both in February too. Lincoln and Douglass are two men who worked for Black American freedom in history. As it grew, Negro History Week would become Back History Month.

Dr. Woodson also noticed that Black history was not included in history textbooks and wasn’t taught to people in school. He wanted a place for Black people to study and save Black history so he started The Association for the Study of Negro Life And History. Today, it is called The Association for the Study of African American Life And History (ASALH).

Through this organization, Woodson’s idea of Negro History Week grew and he gave people information to teach others about the important things that Black Americans did in American history. In 1976, fifty years after the first celebration, the Association used its power to make the change from a week to a month and from Negro history to Black history. Since the mid-1970s, every American president has issued announcements supporting the Association’s annual theme. You can read more about how Black History Month was started in this article by ASALH.

Today, we take the time to thank and honor the efforts of Black Americans who have made a difference not only in our community, but in the world. A special thanks goes out to those in the disability community that overcome so much to make such a difference in others lives. Today and every day we honor you for your service to the disability community. Those folks who have been part of SAU1 in the past and now are:

• Oscar Drummond
• Ernie Roundtree
• William Brewer
• Teri Brewer
• Josh Harper
• Sharon Harper-Young
• Carolyn Morgan

We thank you for speaking up and sharing your power with us. Without you what we do would not be possible!