Many folks may not know it, but Black History Month has a theme. In fact, it has had a theme since the days when it was just Negro History Week.
The themes are curated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, which was founded by noted Black historian, Carter G. Woodson, the father of Negro History Week. For this year’s observance, the theme is “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture.” According to the reflection posted on the ASALH website:
In 1915, few could have imagined that African Americans in music, art, and literature would become appreciated by the global community. Fewer still could have predicted the prominence achieved by African Americans, as well as other people of African descent, in shaping world politics, war, and diplomacy. Indeed, it was nearly universally believed that Africans and people of African descent had played no role in the unfolding of history and were a threat to American civilization itself. A century later, few can deny the centrality of African Americans in the making of American history.
Daryl Michael Scott, professor of history at Howard University and ASALH president, says that the purpose of the themes is to shy observances of Black History Month away from the individual accomplishments of Black people, and focus on deeper reflections of history that stop Black people in particular from seeing ourselves as people with no past.
However, with the commercialization of the month, including corporations who tie our history into slick marketing campaigns meant to sell stuff, many of our national observances of Black history have become almost frivolous.
Scott acknowledges that the annual theme the Association produces for Black History Month is only a suggestion. He says that it’s a suggestion based upon the work of a membership comprised of some of the leading Black history scholars in the field.
“We’re not saying that if you celebrate Black History month you have to follow our theme,” says Scott. “But we’re saying if you follow us, you will have a more substantive celebration.”
This is increasingly important to note, considering that Black History Month has been under attack as of late by those who question the validity of celebrating “Black” history apart from American history.
But like a true history professor, Scott said that to understand why Black History Month is needed, we first have to appreciate how Black History Month came to be. According to Scott, Woodson, who would later be known as the father of Black history, founded Negro History Week in 1926. He did so as a way to “reform” the already existing celebrations of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays, two non-recognized holidays that occurred in February and were celebrated exclusively by Black people. Woodson felt that such celebrations weren’t taken seriously.
“He complained all the time about what he called ignorant spellbinders,” says Scott. “People who would give these speeches on Douglas’ birthday and Lincoln’s birthday and didn’t know anything. He wrote at one point that these people would come and give a talk and the greatest part of it was, ‘thank goodness I was drunk anyway.’”
Woodson wanted people to know something substantial, so every year, he would suggest a theme to help organize the study of Black History leading up to Negro History Week. Scott explains that according to Woodson, “We’re not supposed to simply be talking about black people doing great things in the past. It is not as simple as that. We are supposed to be talking about what our involvement in human history really meant.”
As Scott notes, Black history has always existed outside of an institutionalized structure, so the idea that Black History Month segregated itself from the larger context of history is pretty far-fetched. In fact, he argues that America has become “a wasteland” when it comes to the study and appreciation of all history. Scott says that ending Black History Month would basically end “the most successful celebration of history in the history of the United States of America.”
Before February was officially recognized as Black History Month, it was American History Month, which was created in 1956 by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The observance of homegrown American history would be well-received by presidents and congress alike, who would make a number of proclamations honoring its existence. In 1967, Lyndon Baines Johnson would give the Daughters another proclamation, making the observance official. Years later, the celebration of American history ended, and February became Black History Month.
“Why did it end? Because Americans don’t care much for history,” says Scott. “Nobody wants to say it. Americans are just not into history.” Scott says that when American history is even taught in school, it’s only to meet some of the requirements of No Child Left Behind. “So when people say kill Black History month, I’m like, and fold it into what? Why are you trying to kill the longest running sustained celebration of American history there has ever been in society? Are you against history altogether? Black history is probably the only history most Americans will ever get.”
And it is a history based upon decades of scholarly research, most of which can be found in ASALH’s Journal of African American History. In fact, Scott says that many of the published texts on Black history were likely written by one of the organization’s members. “When the Freedom Schools in the South came about, their material all came from people who were all members of the Association. That stuff is all dependent on what we do. You may love John Henrik Clarke who takes a more Afro-centric approach. He was one of our best members.”
Although Black folks have been observing Black History Month since the 60s, the government didn’t recognize it until 1976. Today, the month-long celebration is recognized and honored by most American-based businesses, educational and religious institutions, and media outlets.
While its popularity reflects the significance Black History Month has had on telling another side of the story of American history, Scott also argues that its widespread observance has meant that many commercialized entities have taken liberties with how it was originally meant to be celebrated. He says that corporations will often fragment and bend Black History so that it aligns with their marketing while ignoring other relevant political and social dynamics at the time.
“Most times, when you get corporations who want to use black history, it is for marketing,” he says. “And they don’t just want to sponsor something that a bunch of intellectuals create. They don’t want our themes. They want history that brands their products. But we can’t go there. We have to be true to history. And history is not always fun.”
But it is important, especially for a country, as well as a people, still trying to define itself properly. And this is why having themes for Black History Month is important. It helps to add focus to what should be a time of study.
In addition to the themes, the Association puts out an annual Black History Bulletin and Black History Month kit (which also contains the bulletin) that aims to help teachers as well as other organizers, design lesson plans and instruct classes around the annual theme.
While ASALH tries to get the word out about the themes and their importance to the overall goal of Black History Month (including providing more free material for the community), Scott says they are competing with entities with bigger budgets and more poignant agendas to sell you stuff, including your history. He said that such entities are always looking to underwrite the activities and programs that help to give the observance of Black History Month the respect Woodson felt Black history deserves.
“You found a guy that has a guilt complex around the theme. We can do better. I wish we can do better.”
