City Of Fort Worth: Black History Month Roots Extend To Early 1900s

Dallas TX

02 February, 2022

4:59 PM

Description

Press release from City of Fort Worth: February 02, 2022 Black History Month, celebrated in February, is a time to learn about and acknowledge the achievements and history of African Americans. The story of Black History Month begins in 1915, half a century after the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States, when Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. Known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The event inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures. In the decades that followed, mayors of cities across the country began issuing yearly proclamations recognizing Negro History Week. By the late 1960s, thanks in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black identity, Negro History Week had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses. President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling on the public to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history." Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society, including activists, civil rights pioneers and leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. In the spirit of that mission, each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the rest of the month, a local Black "hero" will be featured in City News in hopes that their stories will inspire residents all year long to explore other fascinating change agents.   Source.      Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.   This press release was produced by City of Fort Worth. The views expressed here are the author's own.