2008 Woodie Awards
Carter Goodwin Woodson: Father of Black History Month
Clarence Talley
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: Editorials & Viewpoints
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Black History Month serves as our national reminder of the epic legacy of African Americans. It is the brainchild of African American educator, Dr. Carter Goodwin Woodson.
It is at this time when we, as a nation, stop to pay homage to the many individuals of African descent who have sacrificed and contributed to the growth and the development of this nation and the world.
It was the desire of the late Carter G. Woodson that the ignorance and myths surrounding the Negro be forthrightly addressed and dispelled. What better way to do so than to highlight past and present contributions in, a week-long celebration?
Born in 1875 to former slaves, Woodson in 1912, became the first and only American of slave parentage to earn a doctor of philosophy degree from Harvard University. Woodson created Negro History Week, as it was then called in 1926 and scheduled it during mid-February. Many believed he did so to coincide with the birthday of Frederick Douglass, a slave who escaped to the north and became a leading abolitionist, editor of the North Star, and a diplomat to Haiti under President Abraham Lincoln.
Others contend that Woodson chose February because even though the 13th Amendment to the constitution was signed in January which abolished slavery, slaves did not hear of the news until February.
Nevertheless, the idea of Negro History Week, Black History Month, or African American History Month, whichever you prefer, has helped in a major way to remove much of the needless speculation surrounding those of African descent.
Woodson reasoned that 'the miseducation of the Negro" by mainstream historians had only served to further enslave the Negro in America and abroad. Woodson explained, "When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary."
It is at this time when we, as a nation, stop to pay homage to the many individuals of African descent who have sacrificed and contributed to the growth and the development of this nation and the world.
It was the desire of the late Carter G. Woodson that the ignorance and myths surrounding the Negro be forthrightly addressed and dispelled. What better way to do so than to highlight past and present contributions in, a week-long celebration?
Born in 1875 to former slaves, Woodson in 1912, became the first and only American of slave parentage to earn a doctor of philosophy degree from Harvard University. Woodson created Negro History Week, as it was then called in 1926 and scheduled it during mid-February. Many believed he did so to coincide with the birthday of Frederick Douglass, a slave who escaped to the north and became a leading abolitionist, editor of the North Star, and a diplomat to Haiti under President Abraham Lincoln.
Others contend that Woodson chose February because even though the 13th Amendment to the constitution was signed in January which abolished slavery, slaves did not hear of the news until February.
Nevertheless, the idea of Negro History Week, Black History Month, or African American History Month, whichever you prefer, has helped in a major way to remove much of the needless speculation surrounding those of African descent.
Woodson reasoned that 'the miseducation of the Negro" by mainstream historians had only served to further enslave the Negro in America and abroad. Woodson explained, "When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary."
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