Every February since 1976, Black History Month is celebrated as a month-long celebration of African-American achievements. Black History Month is also known as the National African American History Month. The significance of Black History Month is told by some scholars who identify as historians.
Professor Dr. Maurice Hobson teaches an African American Studies class at Georgia State University. Hobson is a scholar in Black Studies and is the author of new book entitled The Black Mecca.
“Dr. Carter G. Woodson created an organization called the Study of Negro Life and History to promote and to disseminate African and African-American history,” said Hobson. In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s organization started sponsoring a national Negro History Week the second week in February to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
“Omega Psi Phi was used as a vehicle to spread the idea of Negro Achievement Week,” said Hobson. Negro Achievement Week evolved into what is known as Black History Month.
Apex Museum Director Dan Moore who founded the African-American Museum in 1978, says he and his staff at Apex lives by the motto that every month is Black History Month.
“Black History Month is very necessary to not just honor those who are popular but honor those and recognize those who have made great contributions to the city, to the nation, and to the world,” said Moore.
Georgia State student Kevin Chappell says the significance of Black History Month means a lot to him as a college student because he is majoring in African-American studies.
“Being an African-American major at Georgia State I feel like this knowledge is very important to my work and to my everyday life. There is a lot of Black history that has been lost and hasn’t been told to this new generation,” said Chappell.
“African-American history doesn’t always feel good but the one beautiful thing of it all is the resilience,” said Hobson. Black History Month continues to be a month of reflection and celebration for many African-Americans rejoicing over the achievements of many Blacks who came before them. African-American history is still being kept alive today by many historians, scholars and students who take great responsibility in teaching and preserving the history.
