Every February, the world celebrates Black History Month. The month marks a time to acknowledge the achievements of African Americans and their contribution to the history and culture of the United States.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially designated February as Black History Month. Today, not just the United States but Canada and the United Kingdom also recognize this month as a time to formally celebrate the achievements of Black individuals and communities and acknowledge their importance. 

Each year, the President of the United States selects a theme for the year. The theme for 2024 was African Americans and the Arts. The aim? To delve into the role of African Americans when it comes to the arts — be it film, literature, music, fashion, architecture, or any other form of artistic expression.

On the Origin and Importance of Black History Month

In September 1915, five decades after the abolition of slavery, historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland together established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). This organization focuses on research and review to acknowledge the lives and achievements of the Black communities and others of African descent.

Today, the organization is known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). In 1926, the association sponsored Negro History Week on a national level. They chose the second week of February for the celebrations, coinciding with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Schools and communities organized events like history clubs, lectures, and performances nationwide.

In the following decades, mayors of multiple cities began declaring Negro History Week every year. Following the civil rights movement in the late 1960s and consequent awareness of the Black identity, Negro History Week became Black History Month in college campuses across the country.

Finally, in 1976, the month gained official recognition. President Ford asked citizens to, “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

Today, the month stands as a testament to the historical struggles of the Black community and the critical roles they have played in shaping the culture and the history of the U.S. 

February is a time to celebrate the achievements of legends like Marcus Garvey, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. While it is essential to acknowledge the contributions of pioneers, one must support and recognize the contributions of those who write, create, fight, and live today.

For the entirety of the month, individuals and businesses across the U.S. organize events and run promotional programs. One fantastic initiative, for example, is Visit Philadelphia’s partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia and Little Free Library. Together, they distributed 1,500 books by Black authors last month. 

The Role of Black Literature

Books are seldom simply a source of entertainment; they hold stories of individuals, communities, identities, and existence. They have long been tools of resistance. Through the years, individuals and communities have harnessed literature as a tool to speak out against their oppressors. Books have the power to change minds, lives, and the world, and such power is why books are often challenged and subsequently banned.

In the 2023 State of America’s Libraries Report, the American Library Association reported nearly 1,300 demands for bans on books, spanning more than 2,571 unique titles. Many of these books were written by or for people of color. Two of the first three titles on ALA’s list of 2022’s most challenged books are works by Toni Morrison and George M. Johnson, African American writers from different eras. Pen America reports that 30% of unique titles banned from school libraries last year have race or racism-related themes or feature people of color.

The continued attempts to suppress Black voices and communities make this a critical time to fight back, especially now that Black History Month has passed. One great way to do this is to pick up books written by Black authors throughout the year. One mustn’t limit oneself to classics or banned or challenged literature; readers must also heed authors’ writing about modern struggles and share stories of racism and identity in an ever-changing world. Some great reads, old and new, include:

• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
• The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow
• Push by Sapphire
• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
• Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
• The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song by Henry Louis Gates Jr. 
• Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.