Black History Month

Each February, people thoughout the United States honor African Ammericans and examine their role in shaping our nation’s history.  Back History month clebrations can help spark  year-round exploration of the countless advances pioneered by Aftrican Americans in the worlds of politics, science, education, business and the arts. 

This month has been set aside to pay tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.  As a Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson, like W.E.B. DuBois before him, believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail ove prejudice.  His hopes to raise awareness of African American’s contributions to civilization was realized when he and the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), conceived and announced Negro Histroy Week in 1925.  The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas.  The response was oerwhelming: Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded materials to intruct their pupils; and progressive whites, not simply white scholars and philanthropist, stepped forward to endorse the effort. 

By the time of Woodson’s death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and substantial progess had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration.  Dr Carter G. Woodson became known as the father of Black Histor.

The celbratin was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial.  Carter G. Woodson knew the importance of knowing one’s self and knowing one’s history.  Today, we celebrated Black History.  Let us expand this occasion to a dialy celebration of who we are and whose we are.

We are noble, elegant creatures of God.  We have a pst, a present and a future in Christ Jesus.  Millions have gone before us.   Many have taught, produced, shared and cared.  Many of our ancestors died during the Middle Passage, and now rest in the Atlantic Ocean.  Many of our ancestors arrived to these shores and, with a God that helped them to make a way out of no way, managed to withstand the cruelties and rigors of slavery.  They were creative and smart.  They took a remnant of their African cultrue and merged it with what they gleaned from Western culture; and this indigenous Black culture flourished on American soil.  Yes, the God we serve is able to do all thing!  The knowledge of our history roots us deeply, with legacy of a creative, ingenious, surviving, God-centered people.  history show us possibility and builds communities.

We pray that God will help us to learn about and learn from the past, to better live with self-esteem and self -awareness today,to better prepare for the time when the future tomorrow becomes today.  We salute ourselves during this annual Black History Month.

May there come a time when the interaction and empowerment of all society reaches a point where we all celebrate Black History daily.