Carter G. Woodson and the Roots of Black History Month
Black History is American History
Submitted by Library Committee
As we enter the month of February, Stony Run Friends Meeting joins people across the country in observing Black History Month. Honoring Black History Month, our Library Committee is displaying books along the theme: Black History is American History. Please visit our Library to see the display, and take a book home for both yourself and a child in your life.
While this month is often filled with celebrations of iconic figures, it is also a time for us to reflect on the why and how of this tradition—specifically the life and leading of the man known as the "Father of Black History," Dr. Carter G. Woodson.
The Vision of Carter G. Woodson
Born in 1875 to parents who had been enslaved, Carter G. Woodson understood early in his life that education was a path to liberation. Despite working in coal mines to support his family, he eventually became the second African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University.
Dr. Woodson observed a painful Truth: that the history of Black Americans was being systematically ignored or misrepresented in the American narrative. He famously said, "If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated."
In 1915, he helped found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. By 1926, he launched "Negro History Week," choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. His goal wasn't just to celebrate a few, but to ensure that the ongoing contributions of Black people to every facet of civilization were recognized as essential to the human story.
From a Week to a Month
Over the decades, the awareness Woodson championed grew. By the late 1960s, largely influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement, college students and educators began expanding the celebration to a full month. In 1976—the nation's bicentennial—President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month.
A Quaker Reflection
For Friends, the legacy of Carter G. Woodson speaks directly to our Testimonies of Equality and Truth.
- Equality: We believe that the Light resides in every person. To truly honor that Light, we must acknowledge the full history, struggles, and triumphs of our Black brothers and sisters.
- Truth: Our commitment to Integrity requires us to look honestly at history, even when it is uncomfortable. By learning the "hidden" histories of Indigenous and Black people, we move closer to a more perfect understanding of our world and our neighbors.
Recommended Reading from Stony Run's Library
Forgotten Founders by Mifflin Lowe with Illustrations by William Luong. Everyone with any interest in American history should read this collection of short biographies written for readers from 3rd or 4th grade on. Parents, this is an excellent history book to read with your children on this 250th anniversary of America.