Black History Month is a remembrance of the events in the history of the African diaspora. Since 1976, it is celebrated annually in the United States of America and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in the month of October. In the U.S., Black History Month is also referred to as African-American History Month.
Black History Month actually started as Negro History Week in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson. (pictured above) The goal of Black History Week was to educate the American people about African-Americans' cultural backgrounds and reputable achievements.
When Carter G. Woodson started Negro History Week, his purpose was for the history of African Americans to become considered a more significant part of American history as a whole. According to historian John Hope Franklin, Woodson “continued to express hope that Negro History Week would outlive its usefulness”.
The purpose of Black History Month is to promote awareness of African American history to the general public. It is arguable that despite the opinions of several critics, Black History Month has several advantages, and to an extent, Woodson’s hopes were realized. During Black History Month, African American history is taught to thousands of students at the elementary, high school and university levels respectively.
African American history is an extremely important part of American history, and it is almost impossible to find a American History textbook that does not include passages about black history. It is seldom argued that America’s youth does not at least somewhat benefit from having an annual Black History Month, however, several critics argue that the adult population now perceives the month of February from a different angle.
Read more HERE
Get great interactive info on public figures, inventors, entertainers and pioneers HERE