The Importance of Black History Month

By Sierra Hoeger

Black History Month is celebrated throughout the entire month of February, which also happens to be the shortest month of the year. This well-known fact has been presented multiple times before and during February, emphasizing the importance of educating oneself beyond these 28 days.

The origins of Black History Month are three-fold, but each holds importance to the observance of celebrating and raising awareness towards Black history.

Carter G. Woodson, American historian and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is also considered the “father” of Black History Month.

In 1926, Woodson established “Negro History Week,” a week-long celebration occurring the second week of February, the same week both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were born.

Then, in 1970, professors and students at Kent State University celebrated the entire month of February as Black History Month. It wasn’t until 1976 when President Gerald Ford declared it so, did Black History Month be established as a national annual observance.

Since then, Black History Month has evolved to be a month that celebrates accomplishments while also remembering the obstacles the Black community have overcome and are still overcoming today.

“Black History Month as a tradition, I think it’s about remembering the past for people of color, their families and ancestors who have experienced these things,” said Sean Donaldson, Museum Educator at the African American Museum of Iowa. “I would argue that this probably starts when Carter Woodson does this, that’s what he’s celebrating, he’s teaching these stories to people who need to remember them.”

Donaldson emphasized the fact that the tradition that continues to persevere throughout the years is the sharing of history that Black History Month allows us to remember.

Black History Month holds new weight this February after the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 and the recognition of racial injustice in America.

“There are more people talking about Black history than we’re used to seeing,” Donaldson said. “More people I think, trying to learn a little bit more, trying to be aware of themselves and that the gaps may be in their own knowledge. I think that that’s been really great, just seeing this expanded awareness and understanding.”

Whether it be taking the time to research and seek out Black history via podcasts, literature or having difficult conversations with those close to you, celebrating the Black community needs to be a year-round celebration rather than one that just lasts throughout the month of February.

“Black people exist every day of every year,” Donaldson said. “Their stories and their experiences exist every day and every year, so it is not a history we should be ignoring. It is instead something I would argue we should be working to incorporate into our daily understanding of history. Moving toward our history, an accurate and inclusive representation of the past to inform a better tomorrow.”

Allyship is vital for helping to raise awareness and create a better understanding for those who aren’t part of the Black community. Seeking out tools to further your education and taking the time to listen to experiences different than your own is important when wanting a deeper understanding.

“One of the things that we can all do pretty easily during Black History Month takes time to listen,” Donaldson said. “I think there are so many Black artists and authors and all of these things who have made a great culture of contribution to our society but they don’t often get the same push from the same audience that a white creator might.”

Donaldson noted that choosing to amplify Black creators and consume pieces created by them year-round is an opportunity for allies to seek a deeper understanding of Black history. Public education has a set curriculum and often skims over most of Black history, with some shortening slavery to one sentence. Seeking out “honest history” is a large step in the right direction.

Donaldson highly encourages individuals to seek out these types of media, like literature and history year-round, not just when it’s a trend to do so, specifically in the month of February or this past summer, when the Black Lives Matter movement was gaining traction.

Donaldson is the Museum Educator for the African American History Museum of Iowa (AAMI), located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The museum is open for in-person tours, walk-throughs and visits, however, there are digital tours available on their website. The AAMI also offers programming for adults and youth, to further their education and knowledge on Black history, whether it be the origination of jazz music and its roots or learning more about Juneteenth.

“We love these monumental figures who overcame odds,” Donaldson said. “And I think Black history as a whole is a story of overcoming odds. I think that within that overarching arc, there’s a lot of stories of great success and impressive contribution. In Iowa, we have the stories of being the first in the nation to desegregate the schools, we have sit-in protests in Des Moines, Iowa, we have a Civil War Unit that petitions for the right for suffrage for Black voters. We have all of these really impressive stories that affect us everyday, so why wouldn’t we celebrate those stories more than once a month?”