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UHURU na UMOJA
Tuesday
FREEDOM AND UNITY
California State University.Fresno
February 19, 1980
THE
OF
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Association for the Study ol
Aire American Life and History has
designated the entire month of
February for the annual na
tional observance of Black History
Month As activities are organized
and initiated on our campus and
throughout the country, it seems
only proper to reflect upon the
historical elgacy and significance
of Black History Month.
Black History Month was a pro
duct of the eliort and dedication ol
Black scholars and Freedom Fight¬
ers who sought to confront the
contradiction oi_Js«iaci_ Black in
"Democratic America." In 1926,
Negro History Week was estab¬
lished as a reaction to American
racism and an attempt to defend
Black humanity, it is difficult to
recaptuie the climate and trauma
of this era. However, it is important
to recall that from 1890 through
1925 a Black American was
lynched every 2Vi days Within the
public and private sector, Black
folk were continually dehumanized
and relegated to the position ol
non-citizen and often defined as an
unwanted alien!
The white academic and intel¬
lectual community was no different
than the bulk of mainstream Amer¬
ica. People of African descent and
especially "American Negroes"
were classed as "a race unable to
subordinate emotion to reason"
and negligible factors within the
development of world civilization
Professor John W Burgess, the
founder of Columbia University's
graduate school of political sci¬
ence and an important figure in
American scholarship, amply ad
vocated the "working definition" ot
Afro-Americans and people ol Al
rican descent throughout the world
"The claim that there is nothing
in the color of the skin . is a
great sophism. A black skin
means membership in a race of
men which has never creat
ed any civilization ol any kind."'
A response to this climate and
situation was generated by the tal¬
ented Black scholar. Dr. Carter God-
Reprinted, courtesy of Black Collegian
win Woodson in 1933, Dr. Wood¬
son characterized the American
educational community by indicat¬
ing that, "the philosophy and eth¬
ics resulting from our educational
system has justified slavery, peon¬
age, segregation and lynching."*
As the Director of the Associa¬
tion for the Study of Negro Life and
History, Dr Woodson led the struggle
to institutionalize Negro History
Week and what was then called
Negro History As a Harvard trained
Ph D and a former Dean of How¬
ard University, Woodson "dropped
out" of mainstream academia to
devote his life to the scientific
study of the Black Community in
America, Africa and throughout
the world According to the noted
Black historian, John Henrik
Clarke, "Woodson believed that
there was no such thing as 'Negro
History ' In Woodson's view, that
which was called 'Negro History'
was only a missing segment of
world history."5 The bulk of Dr
Woodson's hie was committed to
restoring this "missing segment "
Carter Woodson founded the As¬
sociation for the Study ol Negro
Lile and History in 1915, the
Journal of Negro History in 1916,
and the Negro History Bulletin in
1937 Largely through his efforts,
Negro History Week was estab¬
lished in 1926 With Woodson's
direction and the many contribu¬
tions of other Black thinkers,
scholars, and freedom fighters,
Negro History Week was initiated
on a serious platform. Meetings,
exhibitions or lectures were geared
toward analyzing or exposing con¬
tradictions confronting the Black
community The intention was not
to initiate one week's study of
Afro-American history. Instead, the
observance protrayed. the climax
ol a scientific study of Black people
throughout the year. Over the
years, Negro History Week has
undergone a redefinition of term¬
inology Today, this national ob¬
servance has been expanded to
encompass the entire month of
February and referred to as Black
History Month. This redefinition of
terminology is a positive exercise
in self-definition and possibly a
reflection of political growth.
The toil, spirit and creative
beauty of the masses must dom¬
inate and dictate any historical
affirmation of a people. Black
History Month should not be the
unconditional celebration of "great
Negro contributions" to the Ameri¬
can mainstream. It is important to
record Black achievement in the
sciences, humanities, the business
world, athletic arenas or any other
area of endeavor. However, we
must realize the Black folk in Amer¬
ica (individually and/or collective¬
ly) have never received their just
rewards lor any contribution to
America. Dr. W. E. B. DuBois, the
first formally trained Black histori¬
an, realized this contention when
he elegantly stated in in 1903,
"Your country? How come it's
yours? Before the pilgrims landed,
we were here. Here we have
brought our three gifts and
mingled them with yours . Our
song, our toil, our cheer . . . Would
America have been America with¬
out her Negro people?"* Unfortu¬
nately, some of us feel that the only
"relevant" Black History is a list of
"great Negroes" who have received
white credibility or recognition. As
a people, Afro-Americans must
acknowledge the creative beauty_
and genius of those vast numbers of
Black folk who have fought the
day-to-day struggle of survival. A
serious look must be directed to¬
ward the substance of the collect¬
ive cultureal and political experi¬
ence of Black people. Survival
skills and the collective ingenuity
of the masses of Black Americans
must take priority over an "elite list
of great Negroes."
History is a potent and powerful
tool. A significant portion of the
struggle for Black liberation must
take place within the intellectual
arena. We must understand that
the world is controlled by ideas.
Dr. Woodson sufficiently supports
this position when he indicated
that,
Object Description
| Title | 1980_02 The Daily Collegian February 1980 |
| Alternative Title | Daily Collegian (California State University, Fresno) |
| Publisher | Associated Students of Fresno State, Fresno, Calif. |
| Publication Date | 1980 |
| Description | Daily (except weedends) during the school year. Microfilm. Palo Alto, Calif.: BMI Library Microfilms, 1986- microfilm reels; 35 mm. Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- |
| Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodicals. |
| Contributors | Associated Students of Fresno State. |
| Coverage | Vol.1 no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- to present |
| Format | Microfilm reels, 35 mm. |
| Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
| Language | eng |
Description
| Title | February 19, 1980, Uhuru Na Umoja Page 1 |
| Alternative Title | Daily Collegian (California State University, Fresno) |
| Publisher | Associated Students of Fresno State, Fresno, Calif. |
| Publication Date | 1980 |
| Description | Daily (except weedends) during the school year. Microfilm. Palo Alto, Calif.: BMI Library Microfilms, 1986- microfilm reels; 35 mm. Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- |
| Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodicals. |
| Contributors | Associated Students of Fresno State. |
| Coverage | Vol.1 no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- to present |
| Format | Microfilm reels, 35 mm. |
| Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
| Language | eng |
| Full-Text-Search | UHURU na UMOJA Tuesday FREEDOM AND UNITY California State University.Fresno February 19, 1980 THE OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE BLACK HISTORY MONTH The Association for the Study ol Aire American Life and History has designated the entire month of February for the annual na tional observance of Black History Month As activities are organized and initiated on our campus and throughout the country, it seems only proper to reflect upon the historical elgacy and significance of Black History Month. Black History Month was a pro duct of the eliort and dedication ol Black scholars and Freedom Fight¬ ers who sought to confront the contradiction oi_Js«iaci_ Black in "Democratic America." In 1926, Negro History Week was estab¬ lished as a reaction to American racism and an attempt to defend Black humanity, it is difficult to recaptuie the climate and trauma of this era. However, it is important to recall that from 1890 through 1925 a Black American was lynched every 2Vi days Within the public and private sector, Black folk were continually dehumanized and relegated to the position ol non-citizen and often defined as an unwanted alien! The white academic and intel¬ lectual community was no different than the bulk of mainstream Amer¬ ica. People of African descent and especially "American Negroes" were classed as "a race unable to subordinate emotion to reason" and negligible factors within the development of world civilization Professor John W Burgess, the founder of Columbia University's graduate school of political sci¬ ence and an important figure in American scholarship, amply ad vocated the "working definition" ot Afro-Americans and people ol Al rican descent throughout the world "The claim that there is nothing in the color of the skin . is a great sophism. A black skin means membership in a race of men which has never creat ed any civilization ol any kind."' A response to this climate and situation was generated by the tal¬ ented Black scholar. Dr. Carter God- Reprinted, courtesy of Black Collegian win Woodson in 1933, Dr. Wood¬ son characterized the American educational community by indicat¬ ing that, "the philosophy and eth¬ ics resulting from our educational system has justified slavery, peon¬ age, segregation and lynching."* As the Director of the Associa¬ tion for the Study of Negro Life and History, Dr Woodson led the struggle to institutionalize Negro History Week and what was then called Negro History As a Harvard trained Ph D and a former Dean of How¬ ard University, Woodson "dropped out" of mainstream academia to devote his life to the scientific study of the Black Community in America, Africa and throughout the world According to the noted Black historian, John Henrik Clarke, "Woodson believed that there was no such thing as 'Negro History ' In Woodson's view, that which was called 'Negro History' was only a missing segment of world history."5 The bulk of Dr Woodson's hie was committed to restoring this "missing segment " Carter Woodson founded the As¬ sociation for the Study ol Negro Lile and History in 1915, the Journal of Negro History in 1916, and the Negro History Bulletin in 1937 Largely through his efforts, Negro History Week was estab¬ lished in 1926 With Woodson's direction and the many contribu¬ tions of other Black thinkers, scholars, and freedom fighters, Negro History Week was initiated on a serious platform. Meetings, exhibitions or lectures were geared toward analyzing or exposing con¬ tradictions confronting the Black community The intention was not to initiate one week's study of Afro-American history. Instead, the observance protrayed. the climax ol a scientific study of Black people throughout the year. Over the years, Negro History Week has undergone a redefinition of term¬ inology Today, this national ob¬ servance has been expanded to encompass the entire month of February and referred to as Black History Month. This redefinition of terminology is a positive exercise in self-definition and possibly a reflection of political growth. The toil, spirit and creative beauty of the masses must dom¬ inate and dictate any historical affirmation of a people. Black History Month should not be the unconditional celebration of "great Negro contributions" to the Ameri¬ can mainstream. It is important to record Black achievement in the sciences, humanities, the business world, athletic arenas or any other area of endeavor. However, we must realize the Black folk in Amer¬ ica (individually and/or collective¬ ly) have never received their just rewards lor any contribution to America. Dr. W. E. B. DuBois, the first formally trained Black histori¬ an, realized this contention when he elegantly stated in in 1903, "Your country? How come it's yours? Before the pilgrims landed, we were here. Here we have brought our three gifts and mingled them with yours . Our song, our toil, our cheer . . . Would America have been America with¬ out her Negro people?"* Unfortu¬ nately, some of us feel that the only "relevant" Black History is a list of "great Negroes" who have received white credibility or recognition. As a people, Afro-Americans must acknowledge the creative beauty_ and genius of those vast numbers of Black folk who have fought the day-to-day struggle of survival. A serious look must be directed to¬ ward the substance of the collect¬ ive cultureal and political experi¬ ence of Black people. Survival skills and the collective ingenuity of the masses of Black Americans must take priority over an "elite list of great Negroes." History is a potent and powerful tool. A significant portion of the struggle for Black liberation must take place within the intellectual arena. We must understand that the world is controlled by ideas. Dr. Woodson sufficiently supports this position when he indicated that, |
