Happy Black History Month!
Today begins the first of a celebration of Blackness, that although, should be reflected upon every day, is given worldwide recognition during the shortest month of the year.

Interestingly enough though, February was chosen to commemorate the birth month of Frederick Douglas (an American slave well known for his documentation of slavery) and the American President Abraham Lincoln, an advocate for the freedom of slaves.

It began as a single week in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson – the son of a slave, and founder of the Association for the study of Negro Life and History (1915). Woodson was the second Black person to graduate from Harvard. He understood the value of education.

Interestingly enough, there’s a demeaning, but perhaps somewhat true quote against Black people – “If you want to hide something from Black people, put it in a book (or write it down).” Perhaps this was where our premier, Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, got his phrase, “Antiguans are not a reading public.”
But with reading, comes something valuable – education. And with education comes enlightenment.

Realising that the history of Black people in the US and around the world was short-lived, vague and grossly misquoted or incorrectly documented, Woodson and Rev. Jesse Moorland founded the ANLH to enlighten Black people in America and around the world.

For one, many of the luxuries we enjoy today have been improved or evolved inventions of many Black people from previous centuries.

During his lifetime, Woodson and Rev Moorland published and distributed material on Black history and key players to the history. After his death in 1950, Dr. Woodson’s work and vision was continued, as cities across the country adopted Negro History Week.

“This observance proved especially important during the  Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and the 60s – a time when the inhumane and unequal treatment of Black people in America was being challenged and overturned.

“The Black Power Movement of the 1970s emphasised racial pride and the significance of collective cultural values. This prompted the ASNLH, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, to change Negro History Week to Black History Week. In 1976, they extended the week to a month-long observance.” (from http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/black-history-month.jsp)

While it’s undeniable that Black people have been put through the wringer, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and of course physically, suffering varying forms of humiliation and torture, Black History Month is not only about remembering the pain. Its main purpose is to remember the legends, celebrate the heroes, relive the triumphs and to accentuate the positive.