What
Is Black History Month
By Sufia Giza
How is it that a people’s entire historical experience, culture and
contributions can be summed up in one month? It can’t! Black or
African History, “Our Story” happens every day. That’s why I feel
that whenever I have the opportunity, it’s up to me to tell Black
My Story, because his-story left my people out.
We all know that our story is so much more than what history books
have told us. Even today’s high school social science books
continue to perpetuate the myth that our history begins with Slavery
in America. In schools, most curriculums continue to say that
ancient civilization began with the Greeks without giving any
respect to Egypt having educated the likes of Hippocrates and
Pythagoras. Even America’s history starts with the founding
fathers, George Washington and his crew, without acknowledging the
“original” indigenous people, such as the Olmecs and Washitaws or
the Iroquois Confederacy, that inspired the grafting of those noble
tenants known as the U. S. Constitution. That’s why it’s so
critical to teach the youth the truth in this day and time.
To begin with, in looking at what Black History Month is, a brother
named Carter Godson Woodson is known as the Father
of Black History. He was born in Virginia on December 11, 1875
and made his transition in April of 1950. During his life, he left
a great legacy of scholarship and research on African Americans,
including founding the Association for the Study of Negro Life &
History in 1915; authoring publications, such as the Journal
of Negro Life in 1916 and numerous books, such as Mis-Education
of the Negro in 1933 and African Heroes and Heroines in
1939. In 1926, he founded the precursor to Black History Month,
which was Black History Week because he knew the importance of
African descendant people knowing about their culture and that their
history was more than the short period of chattel slavery. He
thought the knowledge passed on in schools during Black History Week
would eventually expand to the larger society and lead to better
relations between Blacks and White, thus more integration or
opportunity in the wider society for Black people. This idea of
cultural diversity still hasn’t completely manifested as Carter G.
Woodson had envisioned, but who knows what 2006 and beyond has in
store. I’m hopefully optimistic that, change is a comin’.
Since this is a time when we are blessed with numerous African
cultural activities, (which can be a rarity in some communities),
for those of you looking for parades and things to do, check your
local Black Weekly or mainstream newspaper’s calendar section for
event listings. In addition, I’ve also included a few special
activities going on during Black History Month in several
communities, so if you live near any of these events, go out and
participate or simply enjoy yourself with family and friends.
Black My Story Events and Activities
BERKELEY, CA – Sweet Honey and The Rock – February 24th
at 8pm, Zellerbach Hall, University of California
OAKLAND, CA. - Malonga
Center, Studio E, 1428 Alice St., 510-839-9192 - January 27 through
29th with Fib & Quibble Showcase
LOS ANGELES, CA - Magic Johnson Theater, 4020 Marlton, (M.L.K. @
Crenshaw Blvd)
Feb. 9 through 20th - Pan-African Film & Arts Festival,
(323)-295-1706
LONG BEACH, CA. - Ragga Muffins Reggae Festival. (Formerly
know as Bob
Marley Day) Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Avenue (310)-515-3322 -
Feb. 18th and 19th
RIVERSIDE, CA. - U.C.R. African Student Programs, 909-787-4576 -
Lectures and Performances, including Boys Choir of Harlem on Feb.
18th
BROOKLYN, NY. - Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue (718)
270-6096
Feb. 9th – Sankofa Project Film and Culture Series, Founder’s
Auditorium
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Tranquility Indigenous Healing Arts Center, 224
State Street - Events throughout the month of February; call (803)
788-8773 for details
ATLANTA, GA. - Adams Park Library, 2231 Campbellton Road (404)
752-8763 - Feb 16th from 4:30pm to 5:30 pm. - History &
Heritage Competition in Meeting Room
NORFOLK, VA. - Botanical Gardens (757) 441-5830 – Attucks
Theater (737) 622-4763 - Chyrsler Museum of Art (737) 664-6206
Also in February CNN online has a daily feature that will spotlight
Africans of significance from around the
globe, including the Father of Russian Literature, Alexander Pushkin
and many others. So check out the site for more information at
http://www.cnn.com/events/blackhistory.htm
Remember that this isn’t just a time for “feel good, booty shaking
& partying”, but that great people lived and died so that we could
be here today. We owe them not only a debt of gratitude, but honor
and most of all, RASPECT for their sacrifices made for us. They
were the history makers of yesterday, so that we could tell OUR
story today.
Forward ever, backward never! |
