Black History Month: Not Just a Month of Love
By: Jessica Alexander
The month of roses, chocolate and love has come to mean more to many Americans than just seeing red. For the 32nd year, Black History Month is being celebrated all across the United States as a way of turning attention to the Black history woven into the American story.
Lubbock residents are celebrating the month with a repertoire of events including jazz concerts, a first annual African American Education Summit, and a second annual Black History Month Honor March. Past celebrations in Lubbock have included community health fairs, exhibits at the Museum of Texas Tech, and a variety of banquets and concerts.
Wendy Ross, associate professor of law at Texas Tech, said the month is important to observe for many reasons. Ross is a member of Texas Tech's Black Faculty and Staff Association and has had part in plans for this month's events.
“It is good for [African Americans] to take time out, if only one month per year, to recognize, to appreciate, to give tribute to, and to reflect on the history missing in our textbooks,” Ross said.
According to the Web site for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the association began the celebration as a Negro History and Literature Week in 1924. Its placement in February observed the birthdays of two influential people of African American history, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. By 1976, the week had expanded to a month, with recognition from each U.S. president from that year to the present.
“As a kid, myself, I can remember sitting in my high school history class - which had one quarter devoted to just black history - and being amazed at the rich history and heritage of my race,” Ross said.
ASALH was founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1915 to "create and disseminate knowledge about Black History, to be, in short, the nexus between the Ivory Tower and the global public."
“Still in our American culture, Blacks have not been properly incorporated in our history books,” Ross said. “Many Americans are not aware of Black contributions to our society, past and present, or are not aware of black heritage."
 |
Ross said it is important for all children, not just African Americans to be taught the whole history, so Americans can learn from past mistakes. She said she is amazed that children are not aware of contributions to society made by early African American pioneers. "Today the ignorance remains," Ross said. "In part, this ignorance is due to the fact that many young Black parents don’t know their history. |
Watch Eric Strong, director of the Roots council, discuss the Braxton concert and Black History Month. Click to view>> |
In part, this ignorance is due to the fact that we have yet to do justice as a society to educate all citizens as to our whole history."
"Today the ignorance remains," Ross said. "In part, this ignorance is due to the fact that many young Black parents don’t know their history.In part, this ignorance is due to the fact that we have yet to do justice as a society to educate all citizens as to our whole history."
As for the future of Black History Month, Ross said she hopes people continue to get involved.
"Blacks have fought hard for this special month and the fight should continue," Ross said. "We can get involved by attending the events, educating our children, and working to put on the events. It is not just a few people who need to shoulder the responsibility and work. It takes lots of people - black, white, and others."