The Origin of Black History Month – Read all the facts here

The history of Africans in America began in 1619 when the first slave ships arrived. Since then black people have endured centuries of violence and oppression. Due to systematic discrimination, African-Americans, the decedents of slavery, have been excluded from the country’s opportunity, education and wealth, though they are largely responsible for building it. Although major progress has been achieved, blacks still face discrimination in employment, housing, education and criminal justice.

Despite these road blocks, black folks have made many incredible contributions to America’s culture of social justice, religion, arts, music, sports, science and technology. Examples: The most distinctly American genres of music such as blues, jazz, soul and gospel all came from the African-American tradition to influence the world’s culture. And one cannot forget Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., America’s most famous social justice leader, who embodied a distinctly African-American theological tradition.

• Ghanaian student artist designs COVID-19 art with eggshells – Heeds to UN call

February has been designated as Black History Month in order to celebrate these great accomplishments. The tradition began in 1915 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 (ASNLH) to study black America’s accomplishments. In 1926, the group chose the second week of February as Black History Week. By the late 1960s, Black History Week evolved into Black History Month.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month and ever since, American presidents have chosen a theme for period. The 2020 theme is “African-Americans and the Vote.”

History is not only about the past. It also represents an opportunity to reflect on the present. Unfortunately, anti-black voter suppression is still at work in the US. It is hoped that a national process of remembering the enormous struggles of blacks to gain voting rights will spur the nation to defend those rights and to push forward in its effort to create “a more perfect union.”