Black History Month Black History month previously known as Negro History week has been recognized annually since 1926. The study of Black History is owed to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, born into a family of slaves, he worked in the coal mines during his childhood and enrolled in high school at the age of 20, he would later earn a PhD from Harvard. Dr. Woodson was disturbed to find that the history of African Americans was not documented in history books the only time they were reflected was in the inferior social position they were assigned at the time. Dr. Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 and in 1916 he founded the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history he launched Negro History Week. He chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. In part to the Civil Rights Movement late 1960’s and the growing of black identity awareness; Negro History Week had evolved into Black History Month in many colleges. Black History Month was officially recognized in 1976 by President …show more content…
For example, the Plessy v. Ferguson case, “equal but separate” brought up to the courts because of the railroad cars; they would still be separated by color but provided the same essential elements. People need to be aware of the educational rights so that they will not take them for granted to appreciate the struggles that came along with it. An example is the Little Rock Nine, integration was approved and nine black students were to attend an all-white school in Little Rock, Ark. they were blocked from entering the school by the Ark. Governor at the time; President Eisenhower sent National Guard troops to intervene the integration but a federal judge granted injunction against
In the 1954 court ruling of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of schools was unconstitutional and violated the Fourteenth Amendment (Justia, n.d.). During the discussion, the separate but equal ruling in 1896 from Plessy v. Ferguson was found to cause black students to feel inferior because white schools were the superior of the two. Furthermore, the ruling states that black students missed out on opportunities that could be provided under a system of desegregation (Justia, n.d.). So the process of classification and how to balance schools according to race began to take place.
The famous Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka can be used to illustrate when judicial review should be implemented to aid one or a faction in actions that are unconstitutional. In the town of Topeka, Kansas a black third-grader was forced to walk one mile through a switchyard in order to get to her black elementary school, although a white elementary school was only a few blocks away. Her parents attempted to enroll her into the white school but were repeatedly denied. The Brown v. Board of Education case was tried on behalf of the black minority that was the target of racial segregation in public schools.
Stewart’s essay “The Field and Function of Black Studies”, he implies that black history is dominated by continuing challenges by its critics and the weak attachment of many scholars to the black studies movement and to black studies units even when the research of such scholars examines the black experience (pg. 45). Statistics show that 70.2 percent indicated that the number of full-time faculty members who have appointments outside black studies and another academic units is stable, proving the fact that black studies has established a beachhead in higher education. This statistic demonstrates how things have been stable in terms of growing the teachings of black studies, which causes challenges. A challenge that can be seen from this issue, is the lack of financial support available to faculty and students. Small budgets are provided to Black Study departments at many universities, therefore, making it difficult to purchase materials and hire more educated, experienced staff
African or black history was not a study that was done by many until the last century. Studying African Americans accurately as part of American History was an even newer field of history. John Hope Franklin’s obituary calls him, “the scholar who helped create the field of African-American history and dominated it for nearly six decades.” He would call himself an historian of the American South.
Smith spoke with WBEZ, "I chose the week because before there was Black History Month, way back in 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week, which was always the second week in February. So I said let me honor his initial vision to honor African-Americans who have played a part in our history. And let me do the restaurant
As a country it is important that we understand and value the importance of civil rights. The following cases demonstrate the importance of rights and liberties. In Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), the Supreme Court ruled on the inherent right to privacy. The Supreme Court ruled that the state could not ban the use of contraceptives. They determined that this was a violation of martial privacy. The state was attempting to fine and/or arrest people that were using any type of medicine or instrument to prevent pregnancy. This case was followed by Roe v. Wade (1973), where the Supreme Court not only gave women the right to privacy but also the right to have an abortion. In Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002), the Supreme Court gave parents in Ohio the right to use vouchers in order for their children to attend religious or private schools. While these cases protect liberties, the cases involving civil rights are far more reaching. In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court prohibited racial segregation of public schools. In Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson (1986), the Supreme Court ruled that a “hostile environment” related to sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. The impact of protecting our civil rights ensures a more inclusive American
“Separate is not equal.” In the case of Plessey vs. Ferguson in 1896 the U.S. Supreme Court said racial segregation didn’t violate the Constitution, so racial segregation became legal. In 1954 the case of Oliver Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka this case proved that separate is not equal. Oliver Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka was revolutionary to the education system, because colored people and Caucasians had segregated schools. The Caucasians received a better education and the colored people argued that they were separate but not equal. This would pave the way for integrated schools and change the education system as we knew it.
The year was 1915, Carter G. Woodson had recently traveled from Washington D.C to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation. This gave him and thousands of other African Americans the ability to appreciate displays highlighting the progress African Americans had made since the abolishment of slavery. This occasion inspired Woodson and four others to form the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now Association for the Study of African American Life and History or ASALH). This organization’s purpose was to recognize and promote the accomplishments and history of African Americans that often went unnoticed. In 1916, Woodson created The Journal of Negro History in hopes that it would familiarize people with the findings and achievements of African Americans. But Woodson wanted more; he wanted all people to celebrate and be aware of the great things African Americans had and were accomplishing. He wanted both whites and blacks to have strong, positive affiliations. Woodson decided the best way to accomplish these things was to create Negro Achievement Week.
Black Press Day, otherwise known as Freedom’s Journal, was the anniversary of the founding of the first black newspaper in the US. It was established the same year that slavery was abolished in New York State. It changed African Americans forever or colored people. Black Press day is Freedom's Journal, the paper that serves to counter racist commentary published in the mainstream press. It also provided its readers with regional, national, and international news and with news that could serve to both entertain and educate.
The Black History Month is a time when the children are taught about the inventions that were mostly done by the black pioneers. During this month, the children are taught on the most basic information regarding he black pioneers but the background information is not taught. Due to the shallowness of the lessons in this month, those taught concerning it carry very little significance of an individual such as Charles Drew having invented the blood plasma. This period is celebrated in the month of February and has been controversial for some time. Most individuals especially from the Black Americans argue that this month should not be celebrated.
Black History Month is an observance in the United States that is celebrated in the month of February to remember all of the important African Americans in history. This observance is still celebrated annually and brings forth a debatable question such as is there still a need to celebrate black history month? I strongly believe that Black History Month should still be celebrated for several reasons, one being that children need to know how African Americans contributed to society. Young African American children need to know their ethnic background. The legendary icons who fought for whom were considered “colored” people need to be acknowledged.
African Americans are still facing segregation today that was thought to have ended many years ago. Brown v. Board of Education declared the decision of having separate schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. As Brown v. Board of Education launches its case, we see how it sets the infrastructure to end racial segregation in all public spaces. Today, Brown v. Board of Education has made changes to our educational system and democracy, but hasn’t succeeded to end racial segregation due to the cases still being seen today. Brown v. Board of Education to this day remains one of the most important cases that African Americans have brought to the surface for the good of the United States. Brown v. Board of Education didn’t just focus on children and education, it also focused on how important equality is even when society claimed that African Americans were treated equal, when they weren’t. This was the case that opened the eyes of many American’s to notice that the separate but equal strategy was in fact unlawful.
Brown v. Board of the Education in 1954 was a landmark decision in the education arena. The decision maintained that schools that separated students by the color of their skin could no longer be maintained. The court saw this as necessary, since in their mind schools for black students would always be inferior. This inferiority would not be caused by lack of resources, although that usually was a contributing factor to the poor quality of the school, physically and performance-wise. As the Supreme Court saw it, s...
Black History Month began as Negro History Week in 1926. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a scholar known as the Father of Negro History, started the celebration of Black accomplishments and contributions. Negro History Week in the 1920’s was a victory for Black Americans, because we were still suffering from the infringements of slavery and trying to gain a sense of identity as human beings and as a group of people with a history and a culture. Similarly, Black History Month was sensible in the 1960’s, because Black Americans had a sense of nationalistic pride that influence ou...
As a direct result of Carter’s studying around the world Carter was able to conclude that and realize that Black people were and their contribution to the world had been overlooked, ignored and forgotten about. The writers of history books who down played the great achievements of African Americans disturbed Carter. Carter was assured that if there was no type of recorded history that credit African Americans for their great achievements that they soon would forever be forgotten. Carter went on to write and create his own textbooks for schools to use. In addition he started the Journal Negro History, where he was an active editor for almost 40 years. He also established the Association For The Study of Negro Life. This association promoted black history.