Black History Month offers a celebration, time to learn
By Jennifer Kimrey | FREELANCE WRITER
Carter G. Woodson, a highly regarded Harvard-educated historian and author, saw a need to raise awareness of Black influences in American society to combat prejudice and inequality. In 1925, he formed the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and, in February of the following year, established Negro History Week. The week was held in February, as it included the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Negro History Week took hold across the country and in classrooms. In an essay for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASNLH), Daryl Michael Scott of Howard University explained, “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.” During the United States’ bicentennial in 1976, then-President Gerald Ford endorsed the movement to celebrate and pay tribute to the African American community. That year, exactly 50 years after the inaugural Negro History Week, the ASNLH formally established the African American History Month, or Black History Month.
Many ways to celebrate Black History Month is celebrated in many ways. For children, their schools may focus their lessons on prominent civil rights leaders, read literature by Black authors or take school trips to Black history or civil rights museums. Adults are encouraged to support Black businesses, organizations and colleges; engage in healthy conversations to learn about race, and identify racism and prejudice in the community. Organizations like the Houston-area National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce (GHBC) have countless resources for learning about and supporting African Americans. And the impact Black History Month has cannot be understated. Carol Y. Guess, interim president of GHBC, said the month serves as a gentle reminder to the Black community that, like any other culture represented in American society, theirs is important. Equality is crucial “The hopeful outcomes of Black History Month are that Black Americans are seen and treated as equals to all other humans and that barriers to being treated as equals are removed,” Guess said. “While advances have been made, there is much more work to be done, and we are positioned as a country at this time to make substantial and meaningful changes along these lines.” Each year, Black History Month also showcases a theme. This year, it is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity,” which will explore the rich tapestry of African American families, both past and present.
ebruary is Black History Month, an annual celebration that shines a light on African American contributions, successes, culture and issues.
Frederick Douglass Muhammad Ali Hank Aaron Thurgood Marshall Rosa Parks
CELEBRATING
All photos courtesy of Shutterstock
Martin Luther King Jr. Mural at the National Historic Site in Atlanta
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Third Ward history: Black artists offer 'creative canvas'
By Jan Burns | FREELANCE WRITER
We are preserving the shotgun houses as structures, but also as manifestations of the resilience and creativity that are hallmarks of the Black experience in Houston.
— Eureka Gilkey, PRH executive director
PRH offers a community platform for art and enrichment, with programs creating opportunities for talented artists, young mothers, small businesses, and Third Ward residents. The PRH area landscape involves “shotgun” houses, or small, one-story structures based on an architectural style that originated in West Africa. One idea for the origin of that name is if someone fired a (shot)gun straight through a house, the bullets wouldn’t hit a wall. World-renowned African American artist John Biggers — founder of Texas Southern University’s art department — often included these structures in his art as symbols of cultural identity. He discussed this idea with fellow artist Rick Lowe. In 1993 Lowe and six other Black artists realized potential existed in what were then blocks of these derelict houses. They wanted not only to preserve the structures, but give them rich new life and cultural meaning. They started to plan how they could be a resource to the community and how art could be an engine for social transformation. Many of the houses have been fully renovated, and some houses are dedicated to art, photography, and literary projects. Other houses are used by the Young Mothers Residential Program, which provides transitional housing for young mothers and their children. In addition, a rotating slate of artists uses some of the houses as studios to showcase their unique ideas. The area and the art are designed to stimulate social justice conversations and foster a positive, creative environment that honors culture and history. "Those unfamiliar with Project Row Houses may hear the name and assume we simply do art or historic preservation. We do much more. We are saving a neighborhood, making sure what comes next honors what came before,” said Eureka Gilkey, PRH executive director. “We are preserving the shotgun houses as structures, but also as manifestations of the resilience and creativity that are hallmarks of the Black experience in Houston. These row houses reflect our history. They also make space for connection, invention, hustle, and celebration. They stand as symbols of the transformative power of collective creative action.” Today, PRH is home to community enriching initiatives, art programs, and neighborhood development activities. The PRH model for art and social engagement applies not only to Houston, but also to diverse communities around the world.
Aerial view of Third Ward area, Midtown, and Houston skyline.
Shutterstock
Houston's Third Ward near Emancipation Park
roject Row Houses’ once-derelict 20-plus homes are located in Houston’s historic Third Ward, one of the city’s oldest African American neighborhoods.
Black Americans have made important historical impact
By Bob Weinstein | FREELANCE WRITER
his year’s celebration of Black History Month is a time to honor those Black historical figures who have shaped history for centuries with their courage and vision. Here are some, but of course not all, of the important, influential Black Americans whose achievements have found an honored and rightful place in U.S. history.
— Eureka Gilkey, PRH executive
Maya Angelou. She played many roles during the civil rights movement. Angelou was a writer, poet, filmmaker, actor, dancer, civil rights activist and more. Ella Baker. Recognized as one of the most important African American leaders of the 20th century, also one of the most influential women in the civil rights movement, whose career spanned 50 years. James Baldwin. A brilliant and eloquent writer, in his novels, essays and plays, he wrote passionately about race in America. A few of his brilliantly conceived works include “Notes of a Native Son,” “Nobody Knows My Name,” and “The Fire Next Time.” George Washington Carver. Recognized as the one of the important African American scientists of the early 20th century, Carver, a botanist and inventor, is credited with saving the agricultural economy of the rural South. He developed approximately 300 products made from peanuts. Shirley Chisholm. American politician Chisholm distinguished herself as an author and educator. In 1968, she became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York’s 12th Congressional district for seven terms. In 1972, she became the first Black woman to run for the presidential nomination of a major party. John Coltrane. An iconic figure in 20th century jazz, Coltrane is recognized as a musical giant. His brooding saxophone is one of the most recognizable in modern jazz. His influence transcends musical styles and cultural borders. Frederick Douglass. An escaped slave who became a prominent activist, author and public speaker. Douglass was a powerful force in the abolitionist movement, whose members risked their lives to end the practice of slavery before and during the Civil War. W.E.B. Du Bois. He was a 20th century rights activist who co-founded the NAACP in 1909 and wrote “The Souls of Black Folk.” A scholar and activist, Du Bois became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He is acknowledged to have been the best-known spokesperson for African American rights during the first half of the 20th century. Duke Ellington. Recognized as one of the greatest jazz composers, performers and bandleaders, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was a global musical force. His travels exposed the world to jazz and earned him the unofficial title, “The Ambassador of Jazz.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). Perhaps one of the most revered figures in Black history and a giant of the nonviolent civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, MLK tirelessly traversed the country in his quest for freedom. His involvement in the movement began during the bus boycotts of 1955 and ended by an assassin’s bullet in 1968. One of his most prophetic and famous works is his “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered in 1963, in which he spoke of his dream of a United States that is void of segregation and racism. Malcolm X. He was a controversial African American leader in the civil rights movement, minister and supporter of Black nationalism in the early 1960s. After his assassination, the successful distribution of his life story — “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” — made him an ideological hero, especially among Black youth. Malcom X argued for Black power, Black self-defense and Black economic autonomy and encouraged racial pride.
Maya Angelou
George Washington Carver
Shirley Chisholm
Frederick Douglass
Malcolm X
John Coltrane album cover
More historical figures
Dr. Martin Luther King
Duke Ellington statue in Harlem, New York. Duke Ellington (April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and big-band leader. Composer of the famous jazz standard song, "Take the A Train."
Black historic figures continued.
Thurgood Marshall. Best known as the first African American Supreme Court justice, Marshall was instrumental in promoting racial equality during the civil rights movement. He was also a practicing attorney, arguing 32 cases before the Supreme Court, winning 29 of them. Marshall said, “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” Barack Obama. On Nov. 4, 2008, he became the 44th president of the United States. He was the first Black president and served two terms. During his time in office, the country began to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression; two women were appointed to the Supreme Court; gay marriage was declared by that same court to be a fundamental right; Osama bin Laden was killed in a raid conducted by U.S. Navy SEALs; the Affordable Care Act was passed; a nuclear deal was struck with Iran; and relations with Cuba moved forward. Rosa Parks. Dubbed "the mother of the civil rights movement," Parks fueled the struggle for racial equality when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. Parks' arrest Dec. 1, 1955, launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott by 17,000 Black citizens. Sidney Poitier. The gifted actor’s pioneering career has had an impact on American culture. In the early ’50s, Poitier was the sole African American film star, and the first Black actor to become a hero to both Black and white audiences. In 1964, Poitier won the Academy Award for Best Actor (his second nomination), becoming the first Black male actor to win the award. Kwame Ture. He was a charismatic and riveting organizer in the civil rights movement in the U.S. and the global Pan-African movement. In 1966 he popularized the phrase “Black power” and was a prominent force in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), working to organize African American voters in the deep South. Sojourner Truth. An American abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York. She escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826 and became the first Black woman to win a legal case against a white man. Harriet Tubman. Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist who was born into slavery. She escaped and made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including family and friends, using a network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. Booker T. Washington. Educator and reformer, Washington was known as the most influential Black leader of his time (1856-1915). He preached a philosophy of self-help and racial solidarity. One of Washington’s noteworthy contributions was the establishment of the Tuskegee Institute for the education of African Americans. Ida B. Wells-Barnett. One of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), she worked tirelessly combating prejudice and violence and fighting for African American equality, especially that of women. Phillis Wheatley. Brought to U.S. as a slave from Senegal/Gambia in West Africa at age 7 or 8, Wheatley (1753-1784) was quickly recognized for her intellect and ability with language. While in her teens she became the first African American woman — and the third woman in the American Colonies — to publish a book of poetry, “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.” Still a domestic slave owned by a wealthy Boston family, she was published and renowned in England.
Sculpture of Rosa Parks inside a bus at the National Civil Rights Museum
Sidney Poitier
Sojourner Truth
Booker T. Washington
Ida B. Wells
Barack Obama
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Star Black athletes left their mark on history
Hank Aaron. By the end of his career, “Hammerin’ Hank” had a total of 755 home runs. He held the Major League record for more than 30 years. A longtime supporter of civil rights, he co-founded with his wife, educator Billye, the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to help children develop their potential. Muhammad Ali. One of the greatest boxers in history, Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight championship three times. But he also is known for his social message of Black pride and Black resistance to white domination and for refusing induction into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Arthur Ashe. A little more than 50 years ago, Ashe stormed the tennis world by winning major tennis titles, becoming not only a bona fide sports star but also a citizen activist with important things to contribute to society and, most important, the struggle for civil rights. Jim Brown. A Pro Football Hall of Famer, Brown played football during the civil rights movement, facing racism every time he stepped on the NFL gridiron. Althea Gibson. After being allowed entry to major tennis tournaments, Gibson became the first Black player to win Wimbledon and the French and U.S. Open titles. In addition, after turning professional in 1959, she became the first Black competitor on the LPGA women’s pro golf tour in the 1960s. Jack Johnson. The son of former slave, Johnson redefined the art of boxing with a style that could be likened to Muhammad Ali. He also countered prejudice in a manner that infuriated racists from Galveston, where he was born, to the halls of power in Washington, and on to London and Moscow. He drove fancy cars, ran nightclubs, and befriended gangsters, poets and princes. There was not a public figure of the age who could compare with Johnson for style, and courage. Michael Jordan. Superstar athlete Jordan brought the NBA and basketball’s popularity to new heights. His ability to soar to the basket and do things we’d never seen captured the world’s attention and helped make basketball more of a global sport. Joe Louis. Nicknamed the “Brown Bomber,” was heavyweight champion of the world from 1937 to 1949, an almost 12-year streak that set a new world record. Louis is perhaps best known for his legendary matchups against German boxer Max Schmeling. Jesse Owens. The American athlete is best remembered for his performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he won gold medals in the long jump, the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and the 4 x 100-meter relay. He became a symbol of victory against fascism during a period of segregation and bigotry. Jackie Robinson. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 opened public facilities to all races. However, the movement condemning segregation following World War II began in 1947 with Robinson, who became a civil rights activist, breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Wilma Rudolph. A gifted athlete, Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at the same Olympic Games. Her performance also earned her the title of “the fastest woman in the world.” Returning home after the 1960 Olympics, Rudolph refused to attend her homecoming parade if it was not integrated. Bill Russell. Although Russell’s actions toward promoting civil rights and his performance as player and coach of the Boston Celtics from 1956 to1969 did not significantly improve race relations in Boston, his efforts were influential in the civil rights movement in the U.S. because his convictions combined with his fame. Charlie Sifford. The U.S. golfer and civil rights pioneer was born in 1922, and the Charlotte, North Carolina, native is often called golf’s Jackie Robinson. His challenge to the PGA’s “Caucasian-only” membership clause led to the desegregation of professional golf in 1961.
Jackie Robinson's Memorial at the Rose Bowl. He also was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball.
Althea Gibson
Joe Louis
Wilma Rudolph
Sports icons are also celebrated during Black History Month, as many were first in their leagues or sports. Read on for a sampling of athletes who achieved greatness for distinguishing themselves in their respective sports:
Hank Aaron
Muhammad Ali
Jesse Owens
