Show n n n Black ac History IS or Month on e i Celebrating the History of African Americans Ceville Bailey t Campus Editor H February is Black History Month It is important to continually celebrate the many different cultures and backgrounds that have contributed to this great nation February is a time to acknowledge the many great things African Americans have done to enrich our country Americans have annually recognized these contributions since 1926 However this annual tradition originally began as Negro History Week At the time this tradition began the roles African Americans played in ip our nations nation's history was not well documented or studied At the time history books had little information about African American history and what little information was present primarily focused on the inferior inferior- social stigmas assigned to African Americans during these early periods The origination of this annual tradition can be attributed to Dr Carter G. G Woodson a Virginia native born bom in 1875 Woodson a son to former slaves graduated high school at age 22 and continued his pursuit of higher education earning a PhD from Harvard University in 1912 Woodson was un-happy un with the lack of documentation and misrepresentation of African American history As quoted by Woodson If a race has no history if it has no worthwhile tradition it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world and it stands in danger of being exterminated In light lightf of f this Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in efforts to promote and preserve African American history and culture To bring recognition and appreciation to the African American community Woodson launched Negro History Week in 1926 which later evolved into Black History Month in 1976 Woodson chose the second week in February between the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln who lent much to the African American civil rights movement Black History Month is a time timeto to celebrate our nations nation's African American roots culture and heritage Black History Month to tous tous tous us represents many things It brings us together with the black communities of the Salt Lake Valley but also elicits our desire to come closer to one another and plan out group related activities says Mack President of club Black Student Union Black History Month is in my opinion some type of of recognition attributed to the Africans and African Americans to thank them for being part of the cultural landscape of this country As suggests Black History Month is a time to tobe tobe tobe be thankful African Americans have made huge contributions to the arts literature and music of this country Technology has been improved and scientific discoveries made Frederick Frederic McKinley Jones invented the theair theair theair air con conditioner Dr Daniel Hale Williams performed the first-ever first successful open-heart open surgery African Americans have fought in every war involving the United States African Americans fought riot just for their freedom but also for the freedom of all Americans American's past and present African Americans have changed the social political and economic landscape of this country Pride in history Continued on African Ameri Americans American's ans an's take pride in history Continued from Al Perhaps one of their greatest contributions to society and civic life is the hope that their strength courage and perseverance have given to other oppressed groups such as Native Americans migrant workers woman and the disabled African Americans have made countless contributions to our history I I and culture far too many i ito to do justice in this short j article In honor of Black I History Month examine j i seek out and research these i contributions Examine the 1 i past that made our country what it is today As goes the j famous quote by Edmund 7 Burke Those who dont don't know history are destined i ito to repeat it For information on Black j History Month activities hosted by the Black Student Union or to join contact President Mack at |