The organization would promote studying black history as a discipline and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans.
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“Our history is tied into that history after we were brought here as slaves”. It’s something that I think is there to sort of push our subconscious, to understand that we need to keep moving forward. 50 years in the making, the United States Government officially began recognizing Black History Month under the direction of President Gerald Ford in 1976. When we preserve and visit places of significance to our common past, we honor the people who came before us who toiled, suffered and triumphed as they helped create the world we live in today.
Third St., is hosting a Black History Month exhibit to honor African-Americans who made an impact and continue to make a difference.
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Beyond the historic context, King argues that the problem in associating Black History Month with slavery goes deeper in the way that it inaccurately gives the impression that Black people kicked off their existence “as inferior subjects and somehow found their way out”. Woodson launched the Negro History Week in the 2nd week of February after he realised that black Americans were barely a part of national history, excluded and underrepresented in books and conversations. As Morgan Freeman said, “Black history is American history”. Black history is certainly American history in spite of a history that has been harsh and bitter to such people. Rather than turn an ahistorical eye, let us use what happens to be the shortest month of the year as a time to open our minds about these neglected histories and to remember them for the other eleven months.
