At the time, the racial landscape in the United States was marked by discrimination, segregation, and poor access to education, work, transportation, and everyday activities. Amid a highly oppressive cultural environment, a week set aside to recognize the struggles and accomplishments of African Americans, both past and present, served as an opportunity for the community to feel empowered and educate others about their contributions to the United States. While Negro History Week was a time for celebration, it was also a form of resistance toward a society that shied away from acknowledging the history of Black Americans, whether that be their accomplishments or trials.
The recognition and celebration of black history during the second week of February quickly garnered widespread participation among African Americans and only became more popular in the decades that followed. As years went by, communities of all races began to participate in the week of recognition, organizing local events, incorporating black history in school curricula, and using their voices to speak about the importance of racial justice. What initially began as a week of remembrance to promote the teaching of Black History gradually evolved into monthlong celebrations of culture in many parts of the country during the Civil Rights Movement. In the years that followed, acceptance of these celebrations increased and on February 10, 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, President Gerald R. Ford cemented the celebration by officially designating February as Black History Month. The President urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” To this day, every U.S. President has officially declared February as Black History Month.
President Ford’s official declaration had a profound impact not only on the African American community but our nation as a whole. Setting aside an entire month in honor of Black History opened the door to more opportunities to truly understand African American culture and led people of all races to explore a part of American history that often was overlooked or outright avoided. Black history clubs began to form and flourish, institutions of higher education began to offer programs on the topic, and celebrations eventually began taking place year-round. Institutions such as libraries and museums also followed suit and began offering resources that highlighted Black history, further increasing opportunities for the American public to understand a more holistic view of our nation. In turn, stereotypes and taboos began to fall, discussions on justice became more common, and racial unity ultimately began to improve.
While much of the history that Americans began to accept often focused on the efforts made in the South, black history also has deep roots in the Land of Lincoln. Here in Illinois, notable figures such as Oscar De Priest, the first African American elected to Congress in the 20th century, and former Illinois House Republican John W.E. Thomas, the first African American legislator in Illinois, were recognized for their pioneering efforts and legislative impacts on our state and our nation and are still celebrated to this day.
This year’s theme for Black History Month, “African Americans and Labor,” was chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History as a way to highlight the important role African Americans play in our country’s workforce, their toils during slavery, and their part in shaping the United States we know today. As we reflect on these contributions this February, let us recognize the important work African Americans have done in solidifying our nation’s values of justice, opportunity, and the self-evident truth that all men are created equal.