Meaningful and intentional celebrations

February 1, 2024

As we move into Black History Month, it is worth being reminded of some key factors that helped establish Black lives as worthy of both celebration and academic study.
 
In 1915 Carter G. Woodson founded what is now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) as a space to intentionally study African American life and history for the uplift of Black people in America. Amongst Black academics and within Black communities, both then and now, there existed a desire to know, learn, read, and hear stories of Blackness and make richer meaning of Black life in America. ASALH also institutionalized African American life and culture as an academic discipline.
 
Beginning in the 1920s, ASALH prepared packets of information with picture cards of leaders in African American history and information sheets and distributed them to African American schools and churches to encourage celebrations of African American history. ASALH also reached out to Black civic organizations and Black Greek-letter organizations to assist in sharing this information and hosting celebrations as well. These celebrations took form unofficially as weeklong programs, and in 1926, during February coinciding with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, ASALH established “Negro History Week”. The treasured practice of “Negro History Week” soon expanded into a month-long celebration. In 1976, 50 years after its inception, President Gerald Ford officially designated February as Black History Month and endorsed the annual theme as issued by ASALH.
 
The 2024 Black History Month national theme is “African Americans and the Arts”. We can all participate in meaningful and intentional celebrations during February, and throughout the entire year. Here are a few examples:

Reflect on if, when, and how you incorporate aspects of the African American experience in your courses.

Be on the lookout for on-campus programming and events sponsored by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and other offices/department across campus. The 2024 Black History Month Campus Calendar is coming soon!

Check out local opportunities for engaging with Black history and culture.

Lest we relegate Black History Month to remembering people and events only of the past, take a moment and genuinely inquire into the wellbeing and care of your Black colleagues.