Origins of the Black History month and has it developed in America

Origins of the Black History month and has it developed in America

Introduction

The Black History month; or more popularly recognized as the month of African American History originates from the actual week of Negro History which initiated in the 1920s as a result of the countless efforts and contributions that were made by Dr. Carter G. Woodson; the son of a formerly enslaved parents and a PhD from the Harvard University alongside with many other African American scholars. It symbolizes the annual observance of the eminent people and events in the African history. Hence it is a month that is set aside in order to honor, learn and celebrate all the achievements of the black men and women throughout the history. With its inception in the Nation's bicentennial in 1976, today the black history month is widely recognized around the world and is celebrated in United States, United Kingdom and Canada as a means to remember and honor the various significant achievements along with the history of the descents of African living in America.

One of the key aim behind celebrating the Black History Month is to expose the harmful effects of racial prejudice; another is to recognize the significant contributions made by people with African heritage, including artists, musicians, scientists, political figures, educators, and athletes. During February, cities, communities, and educational establishments feature speakers and community events, thus focusing on the Civil Rights Movement.

The Black History Month was initially commemorated in the United Kingdom in 1987. This establishment of rejoicing the efforts and the achievements of the African American is usually attributed to the hard work and dedication of the Greater London Council along with Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a Ghanaian analyst.

Since the age of slavery until today, the African Americans have indeed come a long way. According to the United States Census more than 34 million people in the United States are African American.

This research paper embarks upon the Black History month and how it has developed in the United States of America. The paper begins with a general introduction of the topic along with a brief discussion of the history of the African American and then proceeds on towards tracing the origins of Black History month and how it was created, followed by a discussion of the transition from the Black Negro Week to the Black History Month. A lot of stress has also been put on Carter Woodson; the prominent key figure behind the notion of the Black History month, proceeding on towards an identification of the Harlem renaissance and how it celebrated the Black History Month. Furthermore, this paper concludes by identifying the significance worth of the Black History Month, especially to the African Americans themselves and states why the month is still an important event in most parts of the world, including America.

Background

The African-American history emphasizes on the discussion of the African American or more commonly known as the Black American; an ethnic group in the United ...