Since we are ending Black History Month, we can’t forget the historical moments that impacted this country, like Kamala Harris as the first black woman to be President (for a few minutes)—and Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first black woman to serve as one of the jurists for the Supreme Court. Funny Women’s History Month is around the corner(hmm…). Ever wonder how Black History Month was created? Or who decided to make it official in the United States? Let’s dive right in!
When was it Created?
A historian named Carter G. Woodson believed children should learn about the African American stories that changed history in the United States. He created the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in 1915. Then, Woodson began a publication about black history in America called The Journal of African American History in 1916, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This led Woodson to create a week-long event that showcased the impact in the U.S by civilians of women and men of color. According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, it wasn’t official until President Ford declared February the month to celebrate Black History in 1976.
Now that we went over the main foundation, let’s review some critical factors and information about African Americans that helped shape the United States.
1) The Louisiana Purchase and Chicago's Founder
In 1804, Haiti became the first republic and independent black country in the Western Hemisphere. Due to Haiti’s revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, a French Political Leader, sold part of the Louisiana Territory to the United States. They are Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Montana, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Minnesota, Colorado, and parts of Canada.
In the 1770’s, a free Haitian trader named Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, along with his Native American wife, was “the first permanent non-indigenous resident” near the Chicago River.
2) African American Roots influenced Country and Rock Music
A musical instrument called the banjo was introduced to the South. Enslaves from West Africa brought it over. The banjo helped create the sounds of country music. According to Time, segregation in the South helped black and white artists to collaborate and make country music between the 1920’s and 1930’s. This is reflected in the collaboration of today’s artists, like Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus! In the 1950’s, the rock genre was created by R&B and country music. The musicality was initially founded in the South by African Americans.
3) Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
When Hitler was invading Germany in 1933, HBCUs welcomed people of Jewish descent to continue their academic careers, and find jobs as professors.
What is your intake on Black History Month? Leave your comments below!
Updated on February 24, 2024
