Celebrating Black History Month

by Sally Sanderson
Since the beginning of our nation’s history, new movements and old prejudices have been intertwined. Our country paved the way for a new world, filled with democracy, free choice and happier lifestyles while still keeping minorities of our citizens in bonds of slavery, forms of mistreatment and in skewed equality. Now, more than ever, is the time to recognize these facts and take into consideration that we are again changing the world: the bells of equality and freedom are ringing yet again.

The election campaign of 2008 changed the face of the U.S. forever: no more can we say that we are a country of unequal rights and old grudges, but a country full of new beginnings and new hope. It marks a new chapter in our country’s history and a tribute to all who have suffered injustice.

As the nation celebrates the election of its first black President, this February we also celebrate a tradition dedicated to remembering those who have been mistreated and discriminated against in our country: Black History Month.

Black History Month was founded in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson and his organization, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), which, founded in 1915, has the mission to: “promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community” (www.asalh.org/aboutasalhmain.html). According to Wikipedia.com, Woodson originally chose the second week of February to celebrate “Negro History Week” because the week held the birthdays of two important figures in the revolution of black freedom: former President Abraham Lincoln and former slave Frederick Douglass.

As history progressed, February held more important events for the recognition of African Americans as equal citizens, thus causing the celebration to hold not only a week but a month of recognition. Other important events in February included: the birth of W.E.B. Du Bois on Feb. 23, 1868, the passing of the 15th Amendment on Feb. 3, 1870 and the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on Feb. 12, 1909 (www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmintro1.html).

W.E.B. Du Bois was a significant member in the fight against racial discrimination and an equal rights activist. Du Bois was one of the founding members of the NAACP, an organization with the mission to: “ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination” (www.naacp.org/about/mission/index.htm and www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/dubois).

Black History Month marks an important aspect of our culture and history and should be recognized as a celebration of an ever-changing movement for equality and civil rights. To celebrate Black History Month, Michigan Tech has month long programs and activities to participate in. For the next two weeks, these events will be occurring: on Tuesday, Feb. 17 in the MUB Alumni Lounge A from 2-3 p.m. “The ‘N’ Word”, a study of the connotations behind one of the crudest words in the English language, performances of jazz, dance and spoken word on Thursday, Feb. 19 in the Rozsa Lobby from 7-11 p.m. and an open mic coffee house from 8-11 p.m. in Wadsworth Hall on Saturday, Feb. 21. Two presentations made by LTC Otha Thornton and C.S. Giscombe relating to topics of BHM will be featured as well. Thornton’s presentation will take place Thursday, Feb. 26 from 12-1 p.m. in the MUB Red Metal Room 105B; Giscombe’s will take place from 5-7 p.m. in Walker 134 on Friday, Feb. 27. Lastly, African Night 2009 will be celebrated from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28. African Night includes dinner in the MUB Ballroom followed by performances of dancing and music in the Rozsa Center.

source : LODE