As we celebrate Black History Month here in our Borough by shining a light on Black residents and business owners, it’s also important to look to the history of the month itself, particularly if we want to encourage the telling of Black stories as part of our collective American history.
Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), American historian, scholar, and founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, is known as the “Father of Black history.” Nearly 100 years ago, Woodson sought to designate a time to promote & educate people about Black history & culture. At the time, this was envisioned as a weeklong celebration to encourage coordinated teaching of Black history in public schools. Woodson designated the second week of February as “Negro History Week” and worked with fellow historians to implement the concept. Importantly, the idea wasn’t to place limitations, but instead to expand the nation’s consciousness of the Black experience. February was chosen primarily because the second week of the month coincides with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln & Frederick Douglass.
By the late 1960s, “Negro History Week” had evolved into what is now known as Black History Month. President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month during the country’s 1976 bicentennial, calling upon Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Years later, our country’s first Black President, Barack Obama, delivered a compelling message about Black History Month from the White House, which was constructed by slaves:
“Black History Month shouldn’t be treated as though it is somehow separate from our collective American history or somehow just boiled down to a compilation of greatest hits from the March on Washington or from some of our sports heroes. It’s about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped and challenged and ultimately strengthened America.”
Because we have a small child, Black History Month involves a lot of reading the listening to music. When my son was four, we bought the book, Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A. by Arlisha Norwood, which continues to make its way into our weekly rotation. This year, we introduced The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez. Two of his current favorites include Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams, and Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o. These provide beautiful imagery for children to enjoy, and characters that are easily relatable. Importantly, they invite honest conversations about kindness, perseverance, and how experiences may be different for people based on skin color or other differences.
Thankfully, we can also introduce our son to Black neighbors & business owners right here in our Borough. Thank you to community members like Joyce Pierce and Antonne Jones for allowing the Borough and the Partnership for Haddonfield to share your stories on our social media this month.
As for music, on frequent rotation in our home is the musical genius of Stevland Hardaway Morris (born May 13, 1950 as Stevland Hardaway Judkins), better known as Stevie Wonder. Talk about a child prodigy! His is a story we love to tell our son.
I’ll leave you with one of our favorite family “date night” songs, and wish you a month of much affection & appreciation:
For once in my life I have someone who needs me
Someone I’ve needed so long
For once, unafraid, I can go where life leads me
And somehow I know I’ll be strong
For once, I can touch what my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
Oh, someone warm like you
Would make my dreams come true
For once in my life I won’t let sorrow hurt me
Not like it’s hurt me before
For once, I have something I know won’t desert me
I’m not alone anymore
For once, I can say, this is mine, you can’t take it
As long as I know I have love, I can make it
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me
Someone who needs me
Hey, hey, hey, hey yeah
Oh, I’m in love, baby
For once in my life I won’t let sorrow hurt me
Not like it’s hurt me before
For once, I have something I know won’t desert me
I’m not alone anymore
For once, I can say, this is mine, you can’t take it
As long as I know I have love, I can make it
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me
Someone who needs me
For once in my life
Somebody that needs me
For once in my life
