As a Harvard-trained historian, Carter G. Woodson, like W. E. B. Du Bois before him, believed that truth could not be denied and that reason would prevail over prejudice. His hopes to raise awareness of African American's contributions to civilization was realized when he and the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925. The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The response was overwhelming: Black history clubs sprang up; teachers demanded materials to instruct their pupils; and progressive whites, not simply white scholars and philanthropists, stepped forward to endorse the effort.
By the time of Woodson's death in 1950, Negro History Week had become a central part of African American life and substantial progress had been made in bringing more Americans to appreciate the celebration. At mid–century, mayors of cities nationwide issued proclamations noting Negro History Week. The Black Awakening of the 1960s dramatically expanded the consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black history, and the Civil Rights movement focused Americans of all colors on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture.
The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation's bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first Black History Month. By this time, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of Black history in the drama of the American story. Since then each American president has issued Black History Month proclamations. And the association—now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)—continues to promote the study of Black history all year.
(Excerpt above is posted on https://blackhistorymonth.gov/about/, and originates from an essay by Daryl Michael Scott, Howard University, for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History)
Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies Course Finalized
The Advanced Placement African American Studies course that sparked controversy among some conservative lawmakers has been revised and was released by the College Board on Wednesday. The updated curriculum is now set to launch in the 2024-25 school year.
Read More: To learn more about the AP African American Studies course, visit:
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-african-american-studies/about-the-course
Next Generation of Leadership
Young people and the movement for civil rights have always been closely connected. While we often think of the titans of the Civil Rights movement as wise elders, during the peak of their work they were often teenagers and college students, finding their voices as they diligently worked to shape their own future.
That legacy continues today. During uprisings and protests against police violence, we have witnessed young, Black NAACP members nationwide step up to represent their communities.
Website: https://naacp.org/issues/next-generation-leadership
Read More: To learn more about the NAACP and its contribution to the black community, visit: https://naacp.org/
COVID-19 Impact on Mental Health, Healthcare, and Social Wellbeing: A Black Community Needs Assessment
Okoro, Vosen, E. C., Allen, K., Kennedy, J., Roberts, R., & Aremu, T. (2022). COVID-19 impact on mental health, healthcare access and social wellbeing - a black community needs assessment. International Journal for Equity in Health, 21(1), 1–137. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-022-01743-z
Read More: To learn more about studies being conducted about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 to blacks in the US, visit: