Yesterday, I introduced Black History Month.  I discussed what this month is and means and all the ways great and small that people can celebrate this great month.  I also noted that everyone is invited to participate in Black History Month. It’s not just for African Americans (or even just for Black peopld worldwide) but also for all cultures and ethnicities, genders, ages, and interests.

Today, I will discuss the person who initiated or founded Black History month.

Have you heard of Dr. Carter G. Woodson?  Listen and prepare to be impressed!

Carter G. Woodson was born in Virginia in 1875,  the son of former slaves. As the eldest son of nine children, he helped to support the family by working as a sharecropper and a miner. But he was always an avid reader and interested student.  He graduated from Douglass High School, the University of Chicago, and, in 1912, became the second African American to receive a doctorate from Harvard University. (W.E.B. Dubois was the first.)

Throughout his studies, he noticed that the contributions of African Americans were never discussed or taught in school. African American history was either missing or misrepresented in the educational systems throughout the United States--both in the northern and southern states.  He was determined to change this problem.

In 1915, he founded the Association for Negro Life, which later became the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. This organization was—and still is--dedicated to ensuring that Black history was taught in school and studied by scholars. Perhaps many of us don’t understand or remember when Black history was not taught in schools or when the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans were not presented or acknowledged.  It was not that long ago.

Personally, I remember that throughout elementary school in the 1970s, we used a 500-page textbook for American history. In all those 500 pages, there was a single paragraph that mentioned African Americans. It mentioned slavery and how Blacks were brought to the United States as slaves then continued to say that President Lincoln freed the slaves!  We know that slavery was one part of African American history but there is so much more and it’s essential that this information become part of the standard education and to be treated as a scholarly pursuit.

In 1926, Dr. Woodson founded Negro History week, which was the second week of February. (Yes, it started as only a week.) Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February because it coincided with the birthdays of the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. He envisioned this week as a time for Blacks to learn about their history and culture.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Woodson wrote more than a dozen books, including the iconic and influential Mis-education of the Negro in 1933. This book, which is still required reading in some universities, discussed the western indoctrination of the educational system and the means of self-empowerment for African Americans. It is an incredible book that remains relevant today.  You can find this book, The Mis-education of the Negro, in the bookstore at robinlofton.com.  He also wrote numerous works of literature to teach African American history to elementary and secondary school students.

His continuous commitment to teaching and legitimizing Ahistory and culture in the United States have made these subjects essential parts of educational curricula throughout the country. For this reason, he is known as the father of Black History. He has definitely earned that distinguished title. I’m grateful for his hard work and vision.

Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration that comes from teaching of biography and history. ~ Dr. Carter G. Woodson

Dr. Woodson died in 1950. In 1976, Negro History Week became Black History Month as African Americans started to embrace their culture and history.

This was the short story of Dr. Carter G. Woodson.  He also wrote the Negro National Anthem, which is a powerful and vivid reminder of how much progress African Americans have made in the United States.  It’s called Lift E’vry Voice and Sing! and is one of the most moving and uplifting songs that I’ve ever heard.

Well, that’s all for today’s podcast. Next time, we will ask:

Do we still need Black History Month?

In this podcast, we learned that Dr. Carter G. Woodson initiated Black History month to encourage people to learn about Black history and to support scholarly examination. Both are good reasons. But remember he founded Black History month in 1926. That’s a long time ago. Do we still need it today?

So, I hope that you enjoyed this podcast about Dr. Woodson.  I really enjoyed researching it and presenting it to you. I hope that you will take it further than I have.

Please remember to visit robinlofton.com.  I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about Black History Month and what you are doing to celebrate this exciting month. As I said, one thing that I’m doing is making food from my heritage every day this month. Yesterday, I made Jollof Rice, which is a dish from Gambia. Today, I made fried plantains. I have posted pictures of these dishes on my facebook page at Robin Lofton and Remembering History. I have also tweeted them. You can follow Waikoloarobin (spell it) to see these dishes every day.

Finally, I want to remind you that for every one who listens to this podcast and every podcast this month, I will donate $1 to Blackpast.org, which is an online encyclopedia of African American history. It is a great resource so I hope that you also visit it and contribute to it. Remember, Blackpast.org. And don’t forget robinlofton.com. We are a great community here and everyone is welcome. Every day.

See you next time at robinlofton.com where we remember history and we make it!