Celebrating Black History Month

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Celebrating Black History Month

01-31-2013 06:50 PM

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Black History Month
February
African Americans
History



Celebrating Black History Month


by: DODEA
www.dodea.edu
published: February 01, 2013

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Black History Month celebrates the contributions of African Americans to American history and culture. Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator, and publisher and was first known as "Negro History Week." It only became a month-long recognized celebration in 1976 and the month of February was selected specifically as it coincides with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.

President Gerald Ford started the tradition of issuing messages on the observance of Black History Month, but it wasn't until 1986 when Congress approved it and Ronald Reagan signed into law the first proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month that it was legally recognized.

This year's theme for Black History Month acknowledges the struggles that American and the world has had in the past and yet continues to have in our history with civil rights and freedom. In fact, 2013 marks the 150th and 50th year anniversaries, respectively, of two parallel events, which occurred in 1863 and 1963.

On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation decreed by President Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves as "forever free" in all confederate states (then at war with the Union) and made them eligible for paid military service in the Union Army. Although it did not end slavery throughout our nation, it transformed the character of the war. By the end of the war almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for freedom. On the road to slavery's final destruction, the Emancipation Proclamation assumed not only a place in history but serves even today as a milestone among the great documents of human freedom and civil rights.

In 1963, a century later, America once again would fight for freedom as hundreds of thousands of Americans, marched in the "The Great March on Washington” to the memorial of Abraham Lincoln. It was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in the United States history and called for civil and economic rights, equality of citizenship and freedom for all. It was on this day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his celebrated and historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

Black History Month is an annual observance created in an effort to ensure that African-Americans contribution to both society and history will remain part of the mainstream curriculum. Every February, it is only fitting that America recognizes and reflects in the struggles, achievements and contributions that the African-American community has made to honor its ancestry and recognize the advancements and innovations that have shaped American lives and the world as we know it.


Tags: African Americans, Black History Month, February, History, RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth, News
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Celebrating Black History Month


by: DODEA
www.dodea.edu
published:

Share This:


Tweet

Comments
Email
Print


Black History Month celebrates the contributions of African Americans to American history and culture. Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator, and publisher and was first known as "Negro History Week." It only became a month-long recognized celebration in 1976 and the month of February was selected specifically as it coincides with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.

President Gerald Ford started the tradition of issuing messages on the observance of Black History Month, but it wasn't until 1986 when Congress approved it and Ronald Reagan signed into law the first proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month that it was legally recognized.

This year's theme for Black History Month acknowledges the struggles that American and the world has had in the past and yet continues to have in our history with civil rights and freedom. In fact, 2013 marks the 150th and 50th year anniversaries, respectively, of two parallel events, which occurred in 1863 and 1963.

On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation decreed by President Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves as "forever free" in all confederate states (then at war with the Union) and made them eligible for paid military service in the Union Army. Although it did not end slavery throughout our nation, it transformed the character of the war. By the end of the war almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for freedom. On the road to slavery's final destruction, the Emancipation Proclamation assumed not only a place in history but serves even today as a milestone among the great documents of human freedom and civil rights.

In 1963, a century later, America once again would fight for freedom as hundreds of thousands of Americans, marched in the "The Great March on Washington” to the memorial of Abraham Lincoln. It was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in the United States history and called for civil and economic rights, equality of citizenship and freedom for all. It was on this day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his celebrated and historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

Black History Month is an annual observance created in an effort to ensure that African-Americans contribution to both society and history will remain part of the mainstream curriculum. Every February, it is only fitting that America recognizes and reflects in the struggles, achievements and contributions that the African-American community has made to honor its ancestry and recognize the advancements and innovations that have shaped American lives and the world as we know it.


Tags: African Americans, Black History Month, February, History, RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth, News
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