Automatic elevator doors, refrigerated trucks, home security systems, three-light traffic signals and Super Soaker water guns; a list of things that could not be anymore different from each other, but all have one important common denominator—black inventors are responsible for all of them. With those innovations alone, it is no surprise that a month was chosen to acknowledge and celebrate black achievements.
Before Black History Month became official, it started out as a week-long event. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, an historian known for opening the study and discussion of African-American history to the public, launched “Negro History Week.” This ultimately fell in the second week of February, as a way to showcase black people’s contributions to America.
It was not until 1976 that Black History Month was set in stone for all of February, and not just a week long. President Gerald Ford formally recognized the month, calling on the public to take part in honoring the accomplishments of Black Americans that a lot of times go unacknowledged.
Why was February was specifically chosen for “Negro History Week” and Black History Month? Well, this is because February includes the birthdays of abolitionist and pivotal civil rights leader Frederick Douglass, and former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Both are known for their help in the advancements of black people in America.
Since its inception, the goal of Black History Month is to highlight African-Americans, from the ones who were forcibly brought ashore in 1619 to the ones who reside in the United States at the moment. It was not an easy process, but civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X and so many more opened up the door for African-Americans to be recognized for their contributions to America.
This is seen in endeavors such as the music industry and the world of health and science. For music, there are many genres that have taken inspiration from black African-American music. Rock and roll, for example, originated from black music such as blues, jazz and boogie-woogie.
Elvis Presley, who is commonly known for being the “King of Rock and Roll,” was directly inspired by Chuck Berry. When Presley was first starting out in his career, he would sing Berry’s songs.
This same kind of influence is seen in country music; the earliest instruments used in the genre were fiddle and the banjo, which was brought to America by slaves. Today, the banjo is seen as something used in ‘hillbilly’ music, but it once was connected to African-Americans and saw popularity between plantations.
As for the health and science world, there are many contributions to highlight. For example, Daniel Hale Williams founded the first ever black owned hospital in the U.S. and performed the country’s first cardiac surgery in 1893. Not many people know that one of the most important cell lines in medical history came from a black woman.
In 1951, after Henrietta Lacks started radium treatments for her cervical cancer, Dr. Gey, a cancer researcher, found out that her cells were unlike anything he saw before. Instead of dying off like the usual cell would do, Lacks’ cells doubled in size.
Her cells were nicknamed “HeLa” cells which led to many scientific breakthroughs, such as Jonas Salk using HeLa cells during his research to come up with a vaccine for polio. Today, HeLa cells are used to study a variety of important matters, including the effects of toxins and drugs. Without her, the world of research would not have been the same.
With these examples, it is undeniable to see African-American’s influence on a multitude of matters. What may have seemed completely outrageous and out of the question for a black person to do then is commonly being proven wrong now. No one could ever see a African-American man becoming President back when America was first gaining its legs as a country, nor did they want to.
Flash forward to 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama became the first black President and First Lady to serve in the White House. Black History Month celebrates those who have had the opportunity to be these ‘firsts’ and show everyone that nothing is impossible.
Such as Hattie McDaniel, the first black person to win an Oscar for her supporting role in “Gone with the Wind,” and Jackie Robinson, the first black player to play in Major League Baseball.
Black History Month is not only limited to the United States as The United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands have joined in celebrating black people for their achievements in history.
As it comes down to another year of Black History Month, the recognition of black people and their contributions to America comes up in the spotlight. Despite the many years of being held back, it is clear that African-Americans are just as much a part of the U.S. as everyone else.
