Friday, February 28, 2020

February 28 - National Black History Month


In closing the month of February, the month also observes National Black History Month. 

Known as National African-American History Month, this is a time for any and all Americans to celebrate the achievements of African-Americans and recognize their central role in American history. 

Other countries, including Canada and Great Britain, have also set aside months to honor black history. 

The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and noted civil rights advocate, African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman Frederick Douglass.  

The first record of Africans arriving in North America is dated 1619, when a privateer ship carrying “twenty and odd” Africans landed at Point Comfort, Virginia, which is now modern-day Hampton, Virginia. The Africans were traded as slaves in exchange for provisions. 

African-American’s impact our society throughout history and in numerous ways. This even includes filmmakers as well, although there are only a handful. Here are just a few prominent individuals that we can honor this month:

• George Washington Carver developed over three hundred products from peanuts. Celebrate Carver and his contributions to the peanut industry on National Peanut Day. 

• Louis Armstrong is widely known as a jazz pioneer. Information about Louis Armstrong can be found in November on National Louisiana Day. 

• Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American appointed to the Supreme Court. National Day Calendar recognizes Marshall every year on National Maryland Day. 

• Rosa Parks helped initiate the Civil Rights Movement by refusing to give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Celebrate Rosa Park on Rosa Parks Day and learn more about her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.  

• Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to U.S. House of Representatives.  

• Colin Powell is a four-star General who became Secretary of State. Powell dedicated the Buffalo Soldier monument at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, establishing the first Buffalo Soldiers Day 

• 44th U.S. President Barack Obama was elected the first Black President of the United States.  

HOW TO OBSERVE  

Learn more about African-American history. Here are a few books we suggest reading during Black History Month:

• The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (1897)
• Native Son by Richard Wright (1940) 
• Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. (1963) 
• The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin (1963)
• Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) 

Use #BlackHistoryMonth on social media and start a book discussion. 

HISTORY 

National Black History Month was created by twentieth-century African-American historian, author and journalist Carter G. Woodson, who believed black Americans were not adequately represented in the study of American history.  

Woodson hoped for the day when black history would be accepted as a part of American history. Formerly known as Negro History Week, Black History Month was officially declared by 38th U.S. President Gerald Ford in 1976. 

How can you observe National Black History Month? 

#BlachHistoryMonth 
#BlackHistoryMatters 
#BlackDirectorsMatter 
@NAACP 
@nichecinema  

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