| I recently did a search on Black History Month in | | | | corporate profit and keeping the African American |
| Google and to my surprise 2,470,000 sites were listed | | | | mind docile, opposed to revolutionary. |
| on the subject. To my dismay, out of the top 10 sites, | | | | "...to unify and become a constructive force in the |
| very little was said about the Founder of Black History | | | | development of your people..." That thought alone is |
| Month (formerly Negro History Week) Dr. Carter G. | | | | revolutionary. Dr. Carter G. Woodson wanted Negro |
| Woodson. Even less was said about why it was | | | | History week to inspire us to work together to make |
| formed in the first place. | | | | the Black Family at least equal to other cultures |
| Dr. Carter G. Woodson created what is now known | | | | economically, socially, culturally, politically and in |
| as Black History Month not just to add "The Negro" | | | | education. He was a living and a prime example of that |
| into history, but to rewrite what had been written of | | | | which he sought to achieve in all of us. |
| him. In his classic work, "The Mis-education of the | | | | Dr. Woodson was the Second African American to |
| Negro" Dr. Woodson details how in nearly every class | | | | receive a PhD from Harvard University after receiving |
| and subject in school The Negro is portrayed as | | | | his Bachelors Degree from University of Illinois and |
| inferior if portrayed at all. His special talents and gifts | | | | studying at Sorbonne University in France. He taught in |
| were never highlighted in a way that would make him | | | | High School and was a Principal for 5 years. He |
| feel equal as a member of a multicultural society. And, | | | | studied educational systems from America to Malaysia |
| in most classes, it was taught that The Negro had | | | | and went on to become the Supervisor of Schools in |
| contributed nothing of value to civilizations present or | | | | the Philippines for 3 years. He was the Dean of the |
| past. Dr. Woodson started Negro History week to | | | | Liberal Arts School at Howard University. And, with all |
| infuse the Negro with a proper self-image and | | | | his educational accomplishments, he still found time to |
| worldview that would make him desire to unify and | | | | write as a columnist for Marcus Garvey's Negro |
| become a constructive force in the development of | | | | World. He authored over 18 books and publications |
| his people. | | | | dealing with the Life and History of the Negro. He |
| So here we are today in 2008, 82 years from the | | | | started the Association for the Study of Negro Life, |
| inception of Negro History Week. Can we say that the | | | | which published the Journal of Negro Life. He started |
| spirit of Dr. Carter G. Woodson still exists in Black | | | | "Associated Publishing" the oldest African American |
| History Month? Every February we are reminded of | | | | book publishing company. And, he founded Negro |
| pretty much the same characters...Dr. Martin Luther | | | | History Week now know as Black History Month. |
| King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglas, | | | | He accomplished all of the above to instill in us a desire |
| W.E.B. DuBois, etc. People don their Kente Clothes and | | | | for unity. And, for all of us to become a constructive |
| hold celebrations to recite speeches by these African | | | | force in the development of Black people. Educator, |
| American heroes. We buy a few trinkets, sing some | | | | Historian, Entrepreneur, Author and Publisher, Dr. Carter |
| songs and go home. Black History Month has become | | | | G. Woodson is the Spirit of Black History month and |
| a month of semi-cultural events centered around | | | | should be remembered as such. |