A TRUE STORY For Black History Month ~

Every February we look around and we look back to recognize, remember, and maybe even re-adjust some thinking on Black History. This is an annual event that aims to celebrate African American achievement while highlighting their role throughout U.S. history (History.com Editors, 2010). In a letter to Americans entitled “A Proclamation on Black History Month, 2021” President Biden urged Americans to, “honor the history and achievements of Black Americans and to reflect on the centuries of struggle that have brought us to this time of reckoning, redemption, and hope” (A proclamation on National Black history MONTH, 2021).

Black history month is the product of “Negro History Week, championed by esteemed historian Carter G. Woodson (History.com Editors, 2010). The year was 1915, and it had been 50 years since the abolition of slavery. “That September, the Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent.” (History.com Editors, 2010).

This association is now known as the  Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The original group began sponsoring an African American history week event beginning in 1925. The second week of February corresponds with Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’ birthdays and was selected for the event's date. Many schools and other organizations picked up this event and thus became the Black History month that we now know today.

During the month of February we are treated to many figures and stories; they inspire, they horrify - and  we recognize the brilliant innovation, talent, intellect. We recognize the crimes, the racism, and the prejudice. I would like to use this platform and this post to treat the reader to one such inspiring story.

I myself, am no stranger to history. I enjoyed obtaining a bachelors in history from the State University of New York at New Paltz. I will painfully admit however, that my black history knowledge (as it pertains to the US) is rudimentary at best and could benefit from a broadening and enhancement. Two major memories I can recall during my middle school years was reading accounts of the horrific acts carried out on black slaves. I read accounts of Harriet Tubman and stories like hers. I looked at maps of the underground railroad. I read Frederick Douglass. 

    But I digress, and will instead tell you a random piece of trivia: The library at SUNY New Paltz is called the Sojourner Truth Library. Named after (you guessed it!) Sojourner Truth. I can blushingly tell you that after 3 years a spent there (and many after as I write this) I wouldn’t be able to tell you one fact about her. Nothing.

    In lieu of Black History month I have just now educated myself on her story; and its a great one. And in the end, it seems that black history month really centers around just that: education. If all of us took it upon ourselves to educate ourselves in small ways around Black History month and other events or issues, it could do big things.

    I wish I had read about Sojourner's story sooner. Anyone wanting to know more about her incredible life story should check out the youtube video I have posted below. It is really worthwhile!

The Story of Sojourner Truth

References

History.com Editors. (2010, January 14). Black history Month. Retrieved February 13, 2021, from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month

A proclamation on National Black history MONTH, 2021. (2021, February 04). Retrieved February 13, 2021, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential- actions/2021/02/03/proclamation-on-national-black-history-month-2021/