Celebrating African American History Month
Carter G. Woodson named February "Negro" history week in 1926. It was named in February in honor of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. I am thankful to Mr. Woodson, thankful he believed in the heritaged of my foreparents who were dragged into slavery by their own African brothers and sisters who were slavers and the European slavers. I am indebted to Carter G. Woodson for the work he did to make me understand the importance of remembering and celebrating the people who inspired the "sorrow songs."
What is lodged in my historical member are the words of George Moses Horton. Although this poet was enslaved, he had a "hope of liberty." Mr. Horton hoped for my freedom. What is lodged in my historical memory are those songs, those songs W.E. B. DuBois called "sorrow songs." My African American foreparents gave me life upon this American shore: They endured slavery and fought hard so that I would be treated with equality. They fought hard, intellectually and physically, through acts such as the Civil Rights act of 1866 and 1964. They crossed the Edmond Pettus bridge as they marched towards the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with linked bodies marching into freedom.
In 1976, African American history week was expanded; now we are called to remember the African American for a month. This is a month of remembering, of renewal. Today, I renew my commitment to imparting the information concerning the folk who I identify as my foreparens, the ones dragged and birthed upon the American shore. Culturally and socially, they birthed in me my respect, my love for Afican American people. Politically, they inspired in me the desire to participate in the American idea.
During the month of February, I will wear the floral African American corsage on my dress, my suit jacket in honor of them. Indeed, I will!!!!
Published by Dr. Ramona L Hyman
Dr. Hyman is an Associate Professor and Director of the Humanities Program at Loma Linda University, a writer and speaker. View profile
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