The history of Black History Month makes us question this

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Carter G. Woodson is the reason we celebrate Black history this month, and every February.

Not many people know him, but he was a scholar, a journalist, and an activist who decided in the early 1900s to document how formerly enslaved Africans and the broader African diaspora contributed to the prosperity and growth of this country and beyond.

At the time, our nation’s narrative assumed that African Americans had no history or impact on the trajectory of the United States. Despite known and demonstrable evidence to the contrary, even among former enslavers, a national narrative asserting the biological and inherent inferiority of anyone with one drop of Black blood had to assert that Black people lacked any significant history or claim on shared humanity. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” except for Black men and women. This narrative added further justification for the evils of Jim Crow segregation and decades of policy and actual violence to African Americans.

Hidden figures

Woodson and his colleagues changed all that. Together, they detailed the history of African-descended people in the Americas and beyond. Woodson educated the broader population about the Black contributions to their daily lives. Inventors like Thomas Jennings, the first African American to receive a patent, for a new form of dry cleaning. And, Lewis Howard Latimer, who worked with Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, where he improved the process for making carbon filaments in light bulbs and later invented a precursor to air conditioning. And, Granville T. Woods, who improved the operation of telegraphs. And, Alice H. Parker, who designed the first central heating system powered by natural gas.

These hidden figures—and so many more—had been and would have been forgotten by history if not for Woodson and his colleagues. He began publication of the Journal of Negro History, now The Journal of African American History, in 1916, and it has been continuously publishing ever since, documenting the history of African American life and their contributions to society.

After founding the Journal, Woodson decided to go further and start “Negro History Week” in 1926. He timed this for the second week in February, to coincide with the birthdays of both Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, this grew into the Black History Month we now recognize every year.

Contributions should be honored

As we face current attempts at historical erasure, we recall that Woodson and his colleagues did not enjoy broad support. Policy violence and deep rhetorical contempt against Black Americans catalyzed the rise of attacks and intimidation by the KKK and other hate groups. Thus, Woodson strived without the accolades or endorsements from establishment leaders. He and his colleagues, many white, understood that in the shared understanding of all peoples’ contributions to civilization lay the seeds for a more fully flowering democracy.  Woodson’s efforts certainly helped to raise the consciousness of Black Americans. It also gave whites the opportunity to cast aside the toxic mythology of white supremacy.

Woodson became one of the leaders of the Black intellectual and cultural movements in the 20s and 30s, such as the Harlem Renaissance and the international Black Consciousness Movement led by individuals like Marcus Garvey. His work helped Black people all over the country and throughout the African diaspora recognize our contributions and envision our full potential in a society unfettered by racial hate, segregation, and discrimination.

Black History Month rests on a big and bold legacy that Woodson created for us. We now have many different history months that celebrate all aspects of our nation’s heritage, not just a sanitized version. We have Women’s History Month; Jewish American History Month; Hispanic Heritage Month; LGBTQ+ Pride Month; and so much more. Because of the tireless work of Woodson, we can have a full picture of this country’s history. With a better understanding of our past, we can better navigate the future.

Build on the legacy

As we reflect on all of this work that brought us here, I want to ask: What is the work we are willing to do to build upon this legacy? What can we do to make the most of where we are now, every single day?

Woodson was driven not by a desire for accolades or recognition. He wanted his people, and all people, to better connect with a rich history, rather than have that history erased. We are at a similar moment in time in our nation’s history where we risk losing the truth of how we got close to, and how we might strive to fulfill the promise of a more perfect union. 

How can we follow Woodson’s lead and do the work necessary to remember our past, and create a better future where all can thrive?

Joe Scantlebury, JD, is CEO of Living Cities.

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