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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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This impatience led Woodson to create Negro History Week in 1926, to ensure that school children be exposed to black history. Woodson chose the second week of February in order to celebrate the birthday of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It is important to realize that Negro History Week was not born in a vacuum. The 1920s saw the rise in interest in African American culture that was represented by the Harlem Renaissance where writers like Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglass Johnson, Claude McKay-wrote about the joys and sorrows of blackness, and musicians like Louie Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Jimmy Lunceford captured the new rhythms of the cities created in part by the thousands of southern blacks who migrated to urban centers like Chicago. And artists like Aaron Douglass, Richard Barthe, and Lois Jones created images that celebrated blackness and provided more positive images of the African American experience.

Woodson hoped to build upon this creativity and further stimulate interest through Negro History Week. Woodson had two goals. One was to use history to prove to white America that blacks had played important roles in the creation of America and thereby deserve to be treated equally as citizens. In essence, Woodson-by celebrating heroic black figures-be they inventors, entertainers, or soldiers-hoped to prove our worth, and by proving our worth-he believed that equality would soon follow. His other goal was to increase the visibility of black life and history, at a time when few newspapers, books, and universities took notice of the black community, except to dwell upon the negative. Ultimately Woodson believed Negro History Week-which became Black History Month in 1976-would be a vehicle for racial transformation forever.

The question that faces us today is whether or not Black History Month is still relevant? Is it still a vehicle for change? Or has it simply become one more school assignment that has limited meaning for children. Has Black History Month become a time when television and the media stack their black material? Or is it a useful concept whose goals have been achieved? After all, few-except the most ardent rednecks - could deny the presence and importance of African Americans to American society or as my then-14 year old daughter Sarah put it, "I see Colin Powell everyday on TV, all my friends-black and white-are immersed in black culture through music and television. And America has changed dramatically since 1926-Is not it time to retire Black History Month as we have eliminated white and colored signs on drinking fountains?" I will spare you the three hour lesson I gave her.

I would like to suggest that despite the profound change in race relations that has occurred in our lives, Carter G. Woodson's vision for black history as a means of transformation and change is still quite relevant and quite useful. African American history month, with a bit of tweaking, is still a beacon of change and hope that is still surely needed in this world. The chains of slavery are gone-but we are all not yet free. The great diversity within the black community needs the glue of the African American past to remind us of not just how far we have traveled but lo, how far there is to go.

While there are many reasons and examples that I could point towards, let me raise five concerns or challenges that African Americans - in fact - all Americans - face that black history can help address:

The Challenge of Forgetting

You can tell a great deal about a country and a people by what they deem important enough to remember, to create moments for - what they put in their museum and what they celebrate. In Scandinavia - there are monuments to the Vikings as a symbol of freedom and the spirit of exploration. In Germany during the 1930s and 1940s, the Nazis celebrated their supposed Aryan supremacy through monument and song. While America traditionally revels in either Civil War battles or founding fathers. Yet I would suggest that we learn even more about a country by what it chooses to forget - its mistakes, its disappointments, and its embarrassments. In some ways, African American History month is a clarion call to remember. Yet it is a call that is often unheeded.

Let's take the example of one of the great unmentionable in American history - slavery. For nearly 250 years slavery not only existed but it was one of the dominant forces in American life. Political clout and economic fortune depended on the labor of slaves. And the presence of this peculiar institution generated an array of books, publications, and stories that demonstrate how deeply it touched America. And while we can discuss basic information such as the fact that in 1860 - 4 million blacks were enslaved, and that a prime field hand cost $1,000, while a female, with her childbearing capability, brought $1,500, we find few moments to discuss the impact, legacy, and contemporary meaning of slavery.

In 1988, the Smithsonian Institution, about to open an exhibition that included slavery, decided to survey 10,000 Americans. The results were fascinating - 92% of white respondents felt slavery had little meaning to them - these respondents often said "my family did not arrive until after the end of slavery." Even more disturbing was the fact that 79% of African Americans expressed no interest or some embarrassment about slavery. It is my hope that with greater focus and collaboration Black History Month can stimulate discussion about a subject that both divides and embarrasses.

As a historian, I have always felt that slavery is an African American success story because we found ways to survive, to preserve our culture and our families. Slavery is also ripe with heroes, such as slaves who ran away or rebelled, like Harriet Tubman or Denmark Vessey, but equally important are the forgotten slave fathers and mothers who raised families and kept a people alive. I am not embarrassed by my slave ancestors; I am in awe of their strength and their humanity. I would love to see the African American community rethink its connection to our slave past. I also think of something told to me by a Mr. Johnson, who was a former sharecropper I interviewed in Georgetown, SC:

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Knowing the Past Opens the Door to the Future: The Continuing Importance of Black History Month

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This impatience led Woodson to create Negro History Week in 1926, to ensure that school children be exposed to black history. Woodson chose the second week of February in order to celebrate the birthday of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It is important to realize that Negro History Week was not born in a vacuum.

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Black History Matters | Don John | TEDxSouthampton

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Read the attached article overviewing Black History Month in Canada.

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Read the attached article overviewing Black History Month in Canada.

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American Origins

Black History Month originated in 1926 as Negro History Week. It was observed the second week of February. It aimed to increase everyone's knowledge of Black history. Negro History Week was the brainchild of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian of African Americans. Woodson chose February because it was the birth month of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. ( See also Black Enslavement in Canada.)

Negro History Week caught on within Black communities in America. ( See also Black Canadians.) Politicians, especially those representing Black constituents, gradually began to issue proclamations officially declaring Negro History Week. In 1976, Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month. In 1977, Congress declared Black History Month a national observance.

Canada's Early Observances

Annual Black history commemorations soon spread to Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa and Canada. Most credit Black sleeping car porters for bringing it to Canada. Porters who crossed the Canada-US border quickly learned of the significance of Negro History Week in the United States.

Negro History Week continued despite the Great Depression and its devastating effects on Black communities. In February 1937, the Sunday School at Bethel AME mission in Winnipeg held a program to honour "Negro History and Education Week." It included speeches about the origins of the "Black race" and biographies of distinguished figures. A poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar was also read. The following year, the Negro History Bulletin reported that the Women's Progressive Club in Edmonton wished "to observe Negro History Week through interracial groups." That same year, the Harriet Tubman Club in Niagara Falls sponsored a speaker in honour of Negro History Week. In February 1939, the Negro Historical Society of the Home Service Association commemorated Negro History Week with a series of presentations at Toronto's First Baptist Church. ( See Baptists in Canada.)

After the Second World War, Negro History Week celebrations continued. Stanley G. Grizzle organized Negro History Week as an eight-day symposium. It was held at Christ Church in Toronto on 13 February 1950. On 15 March 1958, Kay Livingstone, former president of the Canadian Negro Women's Club, organized its first annual banquet in Toronto. The event sought to expand Black consciousness in Canada.

In the 1970s, the term "Negro" slowly fell out of use. Instead, Black History Week became the norm. The practice spread and became an expected event every year.

Ontario

In 1979, two founders of the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS), Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks, petitioned Toronto to recognize February as Black History Month. In 1979, under Mayor John Sewell, Toronto became Canada's first municipality to designate February as Black History Month. In 1981, Mayor Mel Lastman of North York followed suit. These more informal recognitions were not officialized as a formal municipal observance, however. Activists had to frequently pressure mayors to recognize BHM. In the early 1990s, new OBHS president Rosemary Sadlier organized a petition to institutionalize Black History Month as an official event in Toronto. Despite persistent efforts, Toronto has yet to do so.

Rosemary Sadlier's efforts at the provincial level were more successful. Ontario proclaimed Black History Month for the first time in 1993 and every year thereafter. Then in 2009, the province introduced Bill 207: An Act to name February in each year Black History Month. The bill would have institutionalized Black History Month as a standard practice in Ontario. However, the bill stalled in committee. Instead, years of annual proclamations followed. Finally, on 29 January 2016, the province announced it would seek "to formally recognize" February as Black History Month. On 16 February 2016, Bill 159: An Act to proclaim the month of February as Black History Month received royal assent. Ontario became the third Canadian province to pass Black History Month legislation.

Quebec

From the 1960s until the 1980s, the Negro Community Centre (NCC) held Black History Week events for its members. By the late 1980s, events took place throughout the month of February. During the 1980s, Black student groups at McGill and Concordia universities sponsored month-long events. These sought to educate people on the significance of February Black History Month.

These initial celebrations were largely limited to the English-speaking communities. ( See Anglophone.) In 1990, a coalition of ethnic minorities and Black community groups ( see also Visible Minority) pressured the Quebec Human Rights Commission to endorse Black History Month. The commission was also the first to provide funding for Black History Month in Quebec. The coalition also lobbied the city of Montreal. In February 1991, Montreal mayor Jean Doré committed to have the city declare February as Black History Month. Almost a year later, on 28 January 1992, city council declared February as Black History Month in Montreal. That same year, the Roundtable for Black History Month was established to organize and coordinate Montreal's February activities.

By the mid-1990s, local Black organizations were staging their own Black History Month activities in Quebec City. In 2000, a Black History Month exhibition opened at the Bibliothèque Gabrielle Roy. The following year, Mayor Jean-Paul L'Allier committed support and resources for Quebec City's BHM events.

In 2005, Yolande James, Quebec's first Black female MNA, was tasked to deliver a report on racism in Quebec. Yolande James's final report, the Task Force Report on the Full Participation of Black Communities in Québec Society, recommended that the National Assembly recognize February as Black History Month.

On 23 November 2006, the National Assembly adopted Bill 39. The law made February Black History Month to "underline the black communities' contribution to Quebec society." It came into effect 1 February 2007.

Nova Scotia

Interest in Negro History Week grew after the Second World War. On 28 February 1947, Carrie Best's newspaper, The Clarion, published an article about Negro History Week events in Boston, US. The headline stated: "Negro History Week Observed in United States Canada Next?"

In the early 1980s, the Black History Month Committee, a loose coalition of groups, began to organize February activities in local communities. They eventually combined their efforts in the Halifax- Dartmouth region. In 1985, the first official Black History Month opened with an exhibition and activities at Halifax's North Branch Library. The committee grew in membership and was eventually renamed the February Black History Month Organizing Committee. It continued to raise awareness province-wide. The committee also popularized the annual Black History Month Celebrity Quiz between the mayors of Halifax and Dartmouth. Then in 1991, Rosemary Brown helped to spotlight the month with a rally in Halifax. Around the same time, the Black History Month Association (BHMA) was formed and pressed for BHM institutional recognition. Finally, on 26 January 1996, Premier John Savage declared February as African Heritage Month to promote the history, culture and accomplishments of Africans worldwide. With increased funding, the BHMA evolved into a part of the African Heritage Month Information Network (AHMIN). The organization became responsible for February's theme and promotion across Nova Scotia.

Manitoba

As early as 1937, the Bethel AME mission in Winnipeg held a program to honour "Negro History and Education Week. Elsewhere, small communities throughout Manitoba celebrated Black History Week locally. They did so without formal recognition or any central planning. In 1981, the Black History Month Celebration Committee (BHMCC) hosted Winnipeg's inaugural Black History Month event - a service at Pilgrim Baptist Church and an awards banquet. ( See Baptists in Canada.) By 1983, the BHMCC had become the established organization for BHM activities and today works to foster awareness of Black history throughout the province.

Saskatchewan

After 1995, Saskatchewan's small local BHM activities began to build momentum. Eventually, in 2001, lobbying led to the founding of the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum (SACHM). The museum seeks to spotlight the province's Black history. As of 2006, the SACHM took the lead in coordinating BHM themes and events. In 2021, Saskatchewan proclaimed February as African-Canadian/Black History Month to recognize and honour "the legacy of people of African descent across the nation." ( See Black Canadians.)

Alberta

In 1987, the National Black Coalition of Canada, Edmonton Chapter, began organizing the first province-wide Black History Month events. MLA David Shepherd led the legislative battle On 31 January 2017, Premier Rachel Notley announced that Alberta officially recognized February as Black History Month for the first time. Alberta's cities followed suit. On 1 February 2021, Edmonton's mayor, Don Iveson, and Cathy Heron, mayor of St. Albert, made formal proclamations acknowledging their cities' Black History Month. That same year, Ubuntu - Mobilizing Central Alberta coordinated Black History Month events for the first time.

British Columbia

By the early 1990s, the Victoria Black Peoples Society (VBPS) was hosting Black History Month events. The VBPS was replaced when, in June 1993, dozens of Black Canadians responded to the Royal BC Museum ( see Art Galleries and Museums) request for support to mount BHM events in February 1994. The success of the Black History Special Event Advisory Committee became the impetus for a permanent organization. On 18 March 1994, The BC Black History Awareness Society was formed in Victoria.

In Vancouver, the National Black Coalition of Canada began organizing Black History Month events in 1985. These events grew into a popular annual event. Over two decades later, the Vancouver City Council passed a motion on 15 February 2011. The motion designated Black History Month as one of the city's official celebrations.

Federal Government

Rosemary Sadlier urged the federal government to recognize Black History Month. MP Jean Augustine introduced a motion in the House of Commons on 14 December 1995. It aimed to note "the diversity of the Black community in Canada and its importance in the history of this country, and recognize February as Black History Month." The House of Commons adopted the motion unanimously. It went into effect 1 February 1996. For the first time, Black History Month was officially observed nationwide.

For over a decade, the House awaited Senate approval. On 13 February 2008, Nova Scotia Senator Donald Oliver introduced a motion to have the Senate officially declare February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval on 4 March 2008. Black History Month had gained permanent recognition in Canada.

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Black History Month originated in 1926 as Negro History Week. It was observed the second week of February. It aimed to increase everyone's knowledge of Black history. Negro History Week was the brainchild of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian of African Americans.

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Read the information below and watch the video.

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Read the information below and watch the video.

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Black Lives Matter is a movement that started in the United States that is now a global movement. Black Lives Matter gained popularity recently after a black man named George Floyd was shot by police. Black Lives Matter aims to erase police brutality and mass incarceration towards black people. " Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives."

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Read the information below and watch the video.

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Read the information below and watch the video.

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The video shows how slavery led to police brutality and mass incarceration towards black people that are huge problems in society today.

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How American Slavery Helped Create Modern Day Policing | Unpack That

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Read through this presentation to learn about the exploitation of Africans for diamonds. If you are not a strong reader, you can use Google, Read, Write, Think and it will read documents for you.

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Answer the question with a sticky note on the Jamboard.

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Answer the question with a sticky note on the Jamboard.

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What choices can you make to help prevent blood diamonds? - Google Jamboard

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What choices can you make to help prevent blood diamonds?

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How Nelson Mandela Fought for Equality and Freedom

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Look at this timeline of important Black History events in Canada.

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Look at this timeline of important Black History events in Canada.

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Click the link to be added to the Edpuzzle classroom.

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Click the link to be added to the Edpuzzle classroom.

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Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

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Watch Mr. Bobawsky's presentation about the scramble to colonize Africa and Slavery.

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Watch Mr. Bobawsky's presentation about the scramble to colonize Africa and Slavery.

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Make sure to answer questions as they appear.

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Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

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Watch this video about the Atlantic Slave Trade and answer questions as they appear.

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Watch this video about the Atlantic Slave Trade and answer questions as they appear.

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Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

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Read through this presentation to review the concept of imperialism and how countries raced to colonize and gain resources. If you are not a strong reader, you can use Google, Read, Write, Think and it will read documents for you.

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Then you are done! :)

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Answer Question 1 and 2 in your Google Doc.

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Answer Question 1 and 2 in your Google Doc.