A Brief History of Black History Month
By: Sir William Dixon {National Editor & Chief}
Uplift, Educate, Empower and Promote
The month of February is nationally recognized and celebrated as Black History Month. However many people do not know
the exact origins of this significant time of year.
The precursor to Black History
Month was created in 1926 in
the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and
the Association for the Study of
Negro
Life
and
History announced the second week
of February to be "Negro History
Week.” This week was chosen
because it marked the birthday
of
both
Abraham
Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Aside from the birthdays of the
fore mentioned leaders, the
week was also chosen because of
tradition. Black people had long
celebrated the birthday of the
fallen President since his assassination because of his presumed
role in the freedom of Black
slaves. In addition, Black families
across the nation celebrated
Frederick Douglass because of his
many achievements. Therefore,
we an established tradition of
celebration, it made it easier to
implement the Negro History
Week.
It was not until 1969 when a
group of students apart of the
Black United States from Kent
State University proposed the
expansion from a week to the
entire month of February. One
year later, they celebrated the
first Black History Month. However, it was not recognized by
the United States until 1976.
Black History Month was first
celebrated in the United Kingdom in 1987. This establishment
of Black History Month is generally attributed to the work
of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba
Addai-Sebo,
as
well
as
the Greater London Council. In
1995, after a motion by politician Jean Augustine, Canada's House of Commons officially
recognized February as Black
History Month and honor Black
Canadians . In 2008, Senator Donald Olivermoved to have
the Senate officially recognize
Black History Month, which was
unanimously approved .
So at this time of year as we
reflect on our ancestors and their
great accomplishments, let us
also remember how this celebration started.
BROTHER SPOTLIGHT
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish
together as fools.”
~Martin Luther King, Jr
If you would like to submit
someone for the Brother Spotlight please send in their name,
chapter information, and why
you feel they deserve the honor
of the Brother Spotlight.
Sir Kendrick Roberson
Kansas City Chapter President
This month’s brother spotlight goes to Sir
Kendrick Roberson. Although he only crossed recently, he is already making a name for himself in
the fraternity.
He serves as the Chapter President for the Kansas City Chapter. He has a strong vision of unity and
communication in the brotherhood. From encouraging posts to full videos challenging other brothers
to be their best, Sir Kendrick continues to show
why our bond is truly important.
Not defined by his past, his future is bright and
we are honored and proud to call him brother.