Notice how B.H.M. is the shortest month of the year.

[-EboniiSkinn-]

It's... just... wow.

[MisterGatto]

The History of Black History
by Elissa Haney

Dr. Carter G. Woodson

Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as "Negro History Week" and later as "Black History Month." What you might not know is that black history had barely begun to be studied-or even documented-when the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they gained a respectable presence in the history books.
Blacks Absent from History Books

We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents who were former slaves, he spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at age twenty. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. The scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population-and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time.
Established Journal of Negro History

Woodson, always one to act on his ambitions, decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history.

Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. However, February has much more than Douglass and Lincoln to show for its significance in black American history. For example:

February 23, 1868:
W. E. B. DuBois, important civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP, was born.

February 3, 1870:
The 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote.

February 25, 1870:
The first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels (1822-1901), took his oath of office.

February 12, 1909:
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City.

February 1, 1960:
In what would become a civil-rights movement milestone, a group of black Greensboro, N.C., college students began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter.

February 21, 1965:
Malcolm X, the militant leader who promoted Black Nationalism, was shot to death by three Black Muslims.
Thats why it's in february

[Hope Amity]

Come on now. Who else gets a month that people on Gaia have endless arguments over? heart

[-EboniiSkinn-]

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

Please don't take offense of this, but...
I didn't ask WHY it's in February. I said "notice" how February's the shortest month of the year and black history month.
I'm sure a lot of African Americans take offense to that, even though it's longer than other historic reflections for other races.
Which I think is just... "wow".

[-EboniiSkinn-]

Hope Amity

Come on now. Who else gets a month that people on Gaia have endless arguments over? heart

Yeah, I agree with that entirely. There's not nearly as much arguments over Asians, Hispanics, and ESPECIALLY Whites.
*sighs*
It's just a part of life for us I suppose. A truth we'll have to accept.

[MisterGatto]

-EboniiSkinn-

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

Please don't take offense of this, but...
I didn't ask WHY it's in February. I said "notice" how February's the shortest month of the year and black history month.
I'm sure a lot of African Americans take offense to that, even though it's longer than other historic reflections for other races.
Which I think is just... "wow".

I posted that to tell you that it wasn't about the length. Many African Americans know this and don't take offense to it. :/

[Hope Amity]

-EboniiSkinn-

Hope Amity

Come on now. Who else gets a month that people on Gaia have endless arguments over? heart

Yeah, I agree with that entirely. There's not nearly as much arguments over Asians, Hispanics, and ESPECIALLY Whites.
*sighs*
It's just a part of life for us I suppose. A truth we'll have to accept.

It may be the shortest month of the year, but does the length really matter? Its a month where Black History is put on display for people to learn about. We may have the shortest month, but I must say, we do milk it all the way through.

[-EboniiSkinn-]

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

-EboniiSkinn-

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

Please don't take offense of this, but...
I didn't ask WHY it's in February. I said "notice" how February's the shortest month of the year and black history month.
I'm sure a lot of African Americans take offense to that, even though it's longer than other historic reflections for other races.
Which I think is just... "wow".

I posted that to tell you that it wasn't about the length. Many African Americans know this and don't take offense to it. :/

Thank you very much for letting me know that, though it's already to my understanding.
And, yet, many African Americans DO know this and will always feel some hostility to the coincidence.
... sad, isn't it?

[MisterGatto]

-EboniiSkinn-

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

-EboniiSkinn-

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

Please don't take offense of this, but...
I didn't ask WHY it's in February. I said "notice" how February's the shortest month of the year and black history month.
I'm sure a lot of African Americans take offense to that, even though it's longer than other historic reflections for other races.
Which I think is just... "wow".

I posted that to tell you that it wasn't about the length. Many African Americans know this and don't take offense to it. :/

Thank you very much for letting me know that, though it's already to my understanding.
And, yet, many African Americans DO know this and will always feel some hostility to the coincidence.
... sad, isn't it?

:/ They need to forget about the length and remember the meaning. I mean they at least don't have to share a commemorative month like most cultures do.

[-EboniiSkinn-]

Hope Amity

-EboniiSkinn-

Hope Amity

Come on now. Who else gets a month that people on Gaia have endless arguments over? heart

Yeah, I agree with that entirely. There's not nearly as much arguments over Asians, Hispanics, and ESPECIALLY Whites.
*sighs*
It's just a part of life for us I suppose. A truth we'll have to accept.

It may be the shortest month of the year, but does the length really matter? Its a month where Black History is put on display for people to learn about. We may have the shortest month, but I must say, we do milk it all the way through.

Of course the length doesn't matter and shouldn't matter. The fact that we have an entire month is truly a blessing. And yup, there's not a day wasted that we don't reflect on the past, take note of today's amazing changes and try to improve the days of the future.

[MisterGatto]

-EboniiSkinn-

Hope Amity

-EboniiSkinn-

Hope Amity

Come on now. Who else gets a month that people on Gaia have endless arguments over? heart

Yeah, I agree with that entirely. There's not nearly as much arguments over Asians, Hispanics, and ESPECIALLY Whites.
*sighs*
It's just a part of life for us I suppose. A truth we'll have to accept.

It may be the shortest month of the year, but does the length really matter? Its a month where Black History is put on display for people to learn about. We may have the shortest month, but I must say, we do milk it all the way through.

Of course the length doesn't matter and shouldn't matter. The fact that we have an entire month is truly a blessing. And yup, there's not a day wasted that we don't reflect on the past, take note of today's amazing changes and try to improve the days of the future.

I wish people would let this forum be about the beauty of this month and not bash it

[Hope Amity]

-EboniiSkinn-

Hope Amity

-EboniiSkinn-

Hope Amity

Come on now. Who else gets a month that people on Gaia have endless arguments over? heart

Yeah, I agree with that entirely. There's not nearly as much arguments over Asians, Hispanics, and ESPECIALLY Whites.
*sighs*
It's just a part of life for us I suppose. A truth we'll have to accept.

It may be the shortest month of the year, but does the length really matter? Its a month where Black History is put on display for people to learn about. We may have the shortest month, but I must say, we do milk it all the way through.

Of course the length doesn't matter and shouldn't matter. The fact that we have an entire month is truly a blessing. And yup, there's not a day wasted that we don't reflect on the past, take note of today's amazing changes and try to improve the days of the future.

Agree. I just don't understand why there is such outcry over BHM being in the shortest month. There is reason behind it, and few get their own history month.

[-EboniiSkinn-]

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

:/ They need to forget about the length and remember the meaning. I mean they at least don't have to share a commemorative month like most cultures do.

Agreed. confused

[MisterGatto]

-EboniiSkinn-

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

:/ They need to forget about the length and remember the meaning. I mean they at least don't have to share a commemorative month like most cultures do.

Agreed. confused

sad Y are people trolling this forum

[-EboniiSkinn-]

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

-EboniiSkinn-

_Etz_Mr_Kitteh_

:/ They need to forget about the length and remember the meaning. I mean they at least don't have to share a commemorative month like most cultures do.

Agreed. confused

sad Y are people trolling this forum

I wish I could tell you... neutral I really wish I could.
In my opinion... I think those people are racist, biased about blacks and black history month, to a certain extent.