During February, Texas REALTORS® proudly joins the rest of the nation in celebrating the rich cultural heritage, contributions and sacrifices of African Americans that have helped shape our country. Here are a few things you may not know about Black History Month (sourced from NPR.)
Why February? February was chosen primarily because the second week of the month coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Lincoln was influential in the emancipation of slaves, and Douglass, a former slave, was a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery. Douglass' exact date of birth wasn't recorded, but he came to celebrate it on Feb. 14. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Chicago before entering Harvard, where he became the second African American to earn a doctorate from that institution.
How did Black History month begin? It was Carter G. Woodson, the "father of Black history," who first set out in 1926 to designate a time to promote and educate people about Black history and culture. Woodson envisioned a weeklong celebration to encourage the coordinated teaching of Black history in public schools. He designated the second week of February as Negro History Week and galvanized fellow historians through the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASALH), which he founded in 1915. The idea eventually grew in acceptance, and by the late 1960s, Negro History Week had evolved into what is now known as Black History Month.
Fifty years after the first celebrations, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month during the country's 1976 bicentennial. Ford called upon Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,"
There's a new theme every year. ASALH designates a new theme for Black History Month each year, in keeping with the practice Woodson established for Negro History Week. This year's theme, Black Health and Wellness, pays homage to medical scholars and health care providers.
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