"Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise." ~ Maya Angelou, from "Still I Rise"
Black history month is also known as the African-American history month. It is celebrated all over the United States of America and Canada in the month of February. Although, in the United Kingdom, the black history month is celebrated in October! This month is black history month 2011, wherein each and every school and university will conduct black history month activities to make this generation aware of the importance that African-American history holds in the nation. The electronic media is filled with black history themes, and many activities are carried out across the country to pay tribute to the contribution made by African-American citizens in the development of this nation.
Who Started Black History Month
We have been celebrating the black history month since quiet some time. But many people still have a lot of questions in their minds. Some of these questions are, who started black history month? Why is February black history month? etc. Well, black history month was first started by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who was a well known African-American historian, in the year 1926. February was decided as the black history month because that was the month wherein the birthdays of two of the most notable and highly valued people, among African-Americans, fall. These were, President Abraham Lincoln, who freed the slaves; and Frederick Douglass, who was the first Vice presidential nominee among African Americans! Initially, Black history month was known as the 'Negro history week'. This was Dr. Woodson's attempt to encourage awareness among citizens about the contribution of African-Americans towards the building of this nation. It was only in the early 1970's that the name 'Negro history week' changed to 'Black history week.' And later, in the year 1976, the entire month of February was declared as the National African American History Month, or the black history month!
Black History Month 2011 Theme
Every year, black history month is celebrated by conducting many activities and implementing various black history month ideas for children and schools. Unlike last year, wherein the black history month theme was 'The History of Black Economic Empowerment', the black history month 2011 theme is, 'African Americans and the Civil War'! So, this is the month wherein, schools can encourage children to do some projects or assignments which gives them an opportunity to learn how African- Americans contributed in the Civil War and made the nation what it is today!
Black History Month Ideas for Schools
In order to celebrate the black history month this year, schools can conduct and implement many interesting ideas to help the students dig into African-American history pages. These ideas may include treasure hunt activity, wherein the students are asked to surf the internet or the libraries to find out the contribution of African Americans in the Civil War. You can also ask the junior classes to prepare a chart for the same. An essay on who is their favorite African-American hero and why, would help the kids understand their contribution in a much better way! Senior classes may be asked to prepare a skit based on the Civil War, this would give them a chance to live the way the African-Americans did, even though for a few minutes!
Another interesting point among the black history month facts is that, it has always been accompanied by some controversies! There has always been a debate among many sections of the society that emphasizing a whole month just on the contribution of African Americans promotes multiculturalism! Not only this, many people also say that differentiating African-American history from American history promotes the idea that African Americans are not fully Americans! However, I see it from a different point of view. This black history month 2011, I think that celebration of black history month promotes unity. The fact that African Americans are still going through issues like racism and unfairness is because people don't realize that without their contribution, America could not be the nation that it is today! Celebrating this month, and knowing more about them, would help all nations accept each person without looking at their color, but by looking at what the African-American ancestors did to make America the only super power in the world. So, now that you know when is black history month, and why is it celebrated, how are you celebrating your black history month this year?
Black history month is also known as the African-American history month. It is celebrated all over the United States of America and Canada in the month of February. Although, in the United Kingdom, the black history month is celebrated in October! This month is black history month 2011, wherein each and every school and university will conduct black history month activities to make this generation aware of the importance that African-American history holds in the nation. The electronic media is filled with black history themes, and many activities are carried out across the country to pay tribute to the contribution made by African-American citizens in the development of this nation.
Who Started Black History Month
We have been celebrating the black history month since quiet some time. But many people still have a lot of questions in their minds. Some of these questions are, who started black history month? Why is February black history month? etc. Well, black history month was first started by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who was a well known African-American historian, in the year 1926. February was decided as the black history month because that was the month wherein the birthdays of two of the most notable and highly valued people, among African-Americans, fall. These were, President Abraham Lincoln, who freed the slaves; and Frederick Douglass, who was the first Vice presidential nominee among African Americans! Initially, Black history month was known as the 'Negro history week'. This was Dr. Woodson's attempt to encourage awareness among citizens about the contribution of African-Americans towards the building of this nation. It was only in the early 1970's that the name 'Negro history week' changed to 'Black history week.' And later, in the year 1976, the entire month of February was declared as the National African American History Month, or the black history month!
Black History Month 2011 Theme
Every year, black history month is celebrated by conducting many activities and implementing various black history month ideas for children and schools. Unlike last year, wherein the black history month theme was 'The History of Black Economic Empowerment', the black history month 2011 theme is, 'African Americans and the Civil War'! So, this is the month wherein, schools can encourage children to do some projects or assignments which gives them an opportunity to learn how African- Americans contributed in the Civil War and made the nation what it is today!
Black History Month Ideas for Schools
In order to celebrate the black history month this year, schools can conduct and implement many interesting ideas to help the students dig into African-American history pages. These ideas may include treasure hunt activity, wherein the students are asked to surf the internet or the libraries to find out the contribution of African Americans in the Civil War. You can also ask the junior classes to prepare a chart for the same. An essay on who is their favorite African-American hero and why, would help the kids understand their contribution in a much better way! Senior classes may be asked to prepare a skit based on the Civil War, this would give them a chance to live the way the African-Americans did, even though for a few minutes!
Another interesting point among the black history month facts is that, it has always been accompanied by some controversies! There has always been a debate among many sections of the society that emphasizing a whole month just on the contribution of African Americans promotes multiculturalism! Not only this, many people also say that differentiating African-American history from American history promotes the idea that African Americans are not fully Americans! However, I see it from a different point of view. This black history month 2011, I think that celebration of black history month promotes unity. The fact that African Americans are still going through issues like racism and unfairness is because people don't realize that without their contribution, America could not be the nation that it is today! Celebrating this month, and knowing more about them, would help all nations accept each person without looking at their color, but by looking at what the African-American ancestors did to make America the only super power in the world. So, now that you know when is black history month, and why is it celebrated, how are you celebrating your black history month this year?
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