Monday, February 01, 2016

Happy Black History Month 2016!

Today is the start of the second month of 2016, and the flipping of the calendar page to February means that it is also Black History Month.

It was the idea of Dr Carter G. Woodson, 'The Father Of Black History' who understood the importance of education and knowing our people's history in order to secure and expand our human rights and freedoms.

In 1915 Dr. Crater, recognizing the dearth of information about the accomplishments of  African-American people, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.  It's now call the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH).   The Houston chapter of it is named after my late godmother Pearl C. Suel. who was its longtime president.

Under Dr. Woodson visionary leadership, ASALH created research and publication outlets for Black scholars with the 1916 founding of the Journal of Negro History and the Negro History Bulletin in 1937.

In 1926, Dr. Woodson founded Negro History Week, which corresponded with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln .  In 1976 it was expanded to the entire month of February as people of all ethnic backgrounds discuss the historical accomplishments and societal impact of my people.

For Black History Month 2016, we get 29 days this year since it is a leap year, but as far as I'm concerned, every month is Black History Month.  And in the wake of a loud and wrong FOX negroid fembot calling for the end of Black History Month, it's more important than ever, especially to those of us in Black LGBT World.

For Black trans people, knowing our history and accomplishments as Black trans people is critical to build pride in ourselves and our community.  That is one of the missions of this blog in pointing out the ongoing inspirational and evolutionary story of Black trans people.

Happy Black History Month!  

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