Black History Month in Paris, Texas

Black History has come a long way since 1915, when it was National Negro Week.

As of 1976 it was then that it was a national holiday. Celebrating a full month of learning about black history. Every United States President has recognized Black History month (in February) since the 1970's. The United Kingdom and Canada have their own month where they celebrate Black History. The very beginning of Black History month began in 1915, shortly after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery. Carter G. Woodson, a historian who graduated from Harvard University, founded the Association of Negro Life and History. The group sponsored the first week in history to be the national Negro History week in the year of 1926.

In the 1960's they began to offer a month dedicated to teaching about Black History on college campuses. President Gerald R. Ford then officially recognized black history month in 1976.

Thus before black history month begins, we also have an introduction to the national holiday on the third Monday of January. We have Rev. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday.

How does Paris Texas celebrate these holidays? They usually have Martin Luther King day off and many schools, banks, and businesses will be closed on this day. They will show respect to this day and what it represents. In February, schools across Paris, Texas will teach about our important historians who are written in history. This is also when they will learn about Harriet Tubman and the underground rail road. Paris, Texas does not have any parades or special events listed. How ever one thing is for sure there will be many teachers scrambling to get lesson plans together.

This is a time to recap the many accomplishments and review the time lines of how far many African Americans have come in our history. The Association for the study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has a lot of resources and information.

Their website is http://www.asalh.org/ and has meetings and has been gathering information since 1926. Some schools may even have a theatre presentation to represent some of the events that occurred. A few plays that I have heard of include the life story of Harriet Tubman. She not only was an African American, She was also one of the first African American women to be talked about in history. No wonder why many theatres and teachers would give lesson plans and show part of her life story.