The Celebration of Black History Month
By Zola Kambandu Schilz
Black History month is an annual month-long celebration of achievements by African Americans and is dedicated to recognizing the roles of Black lives in history. Celebrated yeary during the month of February, Black History Month has spread and been recognized by other countries across the world such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Black History Month originated from “Negro History Week” which was founded in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a historian, journalist, and author. The Negro History Week was observed on the second week of February and inspired local celebrations, history clubs, performances, and lectures—all dedicated to the achievements of Black Americans.
The original week long celebration originated from the Associations for the Study of Negro Life and History (now known as the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History [ASALH]) which was founded by Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland, who was a minister, civic leader, and community executive. The organization came to be even before slavery had been officially abolished.
Every year, since the very first Negro History Week, ASALH has found it necessary to develop a theme for the celebration. The purpose of this theme is to focus the public’s attention on important developments deserving of significant recognition. Over the years, the influence of social movements, identity changes, and aspirations of the black community are reflected in the many different themes.
The theme for 2021 Black History Month, set by ASALH, is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.” The theme represents how African-American identities have been stereotyped, reverenced, and even vilified since times of slavery.
The theme also recognizes and explores the different genetic-ancestry of African-American families. This year’s theme is very important because with movements like Black Lives Matter at large now, that sense of identity is more important to define than ever.