I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream today…”
Martin Luther King Junior delivered his I Have a Dream speech on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963. He, like many other civil rights activists, spent most of his life fighting for equality and justice for African Americans. Today we celebrate their contributions and accomplishments all year round, but especially during Black History Month.
Carter G. Woodson originally founded Black History Month on Friday, February 19, 1926 as “Negro History Week”. Woodson was born in 1875 to parents who had been slaves. His motto in life was “it’s never too late to learn.” While teaching at a high school, Woodson was alarmed to find that children were not being taught the history of Black Americans. He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and studied the important accomplishments of Black Americans. Thus began what we now know as Black History Month.
It is estimated that between 1890 and 1925, before Black History Month was established, that African American was lynched every two and a half days. They were dehumanized, referred to as non-citizens and defined as fractions of humans. The entire African race was defined in an appalling generalization as a “race of men, which has never created any civilization of any kind”, by Professor John Burgess, the founder of Columbia University graduate school of political science, and a very important figure in American scholarship. What is even more horrible is that this prejudice and discriminatory behavior did not end in 1926. It carried on well into the sixties and seventies, and it is still a battle that African Americans are facing today. It is because of the ignorance and the distortion of Black History that Woodson took a stand. Meetings, exhibitions, lectures and symposia were organized to maximize the knowledge of American history, both black and white.
Today this international observance has expanded to cover the entire month of February. Strength and importance have brought about new meaning for this celebration. Black History Month does not only entail those who have contributed to American mainstream, but those who have contributed to the entire African race. It is common to celebrate the birthdays of great African American pioneers and institutions. These include, but are not limited to, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Dubois, Langston Hughes, Eubie Blake, the NAACP, the first Pan African Congress, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Although, Black History month has also helped to expose the legal consequences of overt discriminatory practices and racial harassment, it does not necessarily stop these practices from occurring. “Behavior may be controlled by laws, national and international, but attitudes can only change through education and the elimination of ignorance,” commented Yaw Boateng, Professor of Education at Eastern Washington University. Black History Month represents a struggle and an undying determination to change attitudes and educate people of the African American experience. It stands in honor for those who struggled, and to challenge future generations to protect and preserve the heritage and character of African Americans.
Plymouth State College has always taken an active role in the celebration of Black History Month. PSC recognizes this month’s importance to students and any educational experience. Tracie Massey, Assistant Director for Student Activities and Greek Life, commented that students can really learn and grow from participating in the activities planned for the next month. “It will give students a chance to open their eyes to different events that aren’t so typical, and hopefully embrace a little culture while doing so.” Massey is in charge of planning the activities for the college’s Black History Month, and she is very excited for students to take advantage of the events.
On Wednesday, February 19th, Curtis Lamkin will be visiting the Fireplace Lounge at 7p.m. to share poetry, stories and some music. He will be accompanied by African instruments, which will help to create an interactive show with dancing and fun. “Students should really check it out,” Massey enthusiastically commented, “it’s going to be a lot of fun!” Another event that promises to be interesting is on Friday, February 21st. The Multi-Cultural society will hopefully be sponsoring a sort of Hip-Hop event including poetry and music. More information on this event can be obtained from the Student Activities Office or the Multi-Cultural Society.
The whole month promises to be an enjoyable chance to experience different things. Academic departments and organizations such as Silver Cultural Arts Center, International Film Series, Pace, Lamson Library and the Multi-Cultural society are helping to plan events and keep things running smoothly. So take some time to visit the different events this month. It will be a chance to learn, socialize and increase awareness of the struggle for equality that African Americans have been fighting for centuries. In the famous and unforgettable words of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., “When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”