A Gentle Reminder on Black History Month
February 19, 2025
Black History Month began in 1976 to recognize the contributions of Black Americans throughout history. The celebration was initiated by scholar Carter G. Woodson and expanded from a week to a month by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. In 1986, Congress officially designated February as Black History Month.
Origins of Black History Month
Woodson believed that Black people should be proud of their heritage.
Woodson chose February because it includes the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Woodson also wanted to encourage Black students to learn more about their history.
Woodson’s book “Miseducation of the Negro” was influential in the emergence of Black Studies and African American Studies in the late 1960s.
Celebrating Black History Month
In 1975, President Ford issued a message urging Americans to recognize the contributions of Black Americans.
In 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244, designating February as National Black History Month.
LOC.gov (Library of Congress)
As I share my privileged reflection during Black History Month, I am grateful for Carter G. Woodson’s vision of perpetuating the rich legacy of Black contributions to American culture and history. However, many have, through personal sacrifice, paved the path of liberty that all Black people and others share as a result. The names of Frederick Douglass, a prominent leader of the abolitionist movement and an advocate for women’s rights; Rosa Parks, the Civil Rights Activist who inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott that ruled segregation on public buses unconstitutional; Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister and Civil Rights leader who fought against inequality through nonviolence and peaceful protest, and was one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that aims to achieve racial equality peacefully; and President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States and the first African American president, who served two terms, strengthened the economy during a global financial crisis, championed healthcare reform with the passage of the Affordable Healthcare Act, and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to improve international relations, are just a few examples. The list of contributions by African Americans in history is almost incalculable.
So how do I view myself as a Black person during Black History Month? What contributions have I made, if any, that are noteworthy? If I'm being honest... there was the sound of crickets. But then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and illuminated my own contributions as a father, husband, and a Christian person actively seeking to be more informed and equipped to better share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I also aim to make the world a brighter and more loving place, one person at a time. I create Black History and everyday history by being kind, encouraging, and lending a helping hand regardless of race, culture, gender, or creed. God Bless Us All.
Gregory S. Hardaway
MDIV, McCormick Theological Seminary