February 6, 2009

History of blacks celebrated during month of February

By Bill Highlander
Editor

Historian Carter G. Woodson came up with the concept of taking note of black history in 1926 with “Negro History Week.” The second week of February has the birth dates of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, two men who greatly influenced blacks in America.

Muhammad Ali

In 1976, it became Black History Month, with events to recognize the events surrounding African-Americans, celebrate achievements of blacks and to hopefully continue to erase bigotry and discrimination.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Feb. 12. Founded in New York on the 100th birthday of Abraham Lincoln by a multiracial group initially called the “National Negro Committee,” the NAACP advocates for equal rights for all peoples and seeks to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination.

The NAACP also hosts the annual Image Awards to recognize achievements and performances of people of color in the arts and those who promote social justice. The show airs on Feb. 12 and this year honors Muhammad Ali.

Fredrick Douglas

Black history is replete with educators, athletes, scientists, soldiers and artists who have contributed greatly to American culture. This February adds several notable firsts to the roster:

- The 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama

- Eric Holder, attorney general

- Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee

- Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers, youngest coach of a Super Bowl champion

- Tony West, who was raised in Evergreen and whose parents still reside in the area, has been named by President Obama to lead the Department of Justice Civil Division. He will oversee cases involving national security, consumer protection and constitutional issues. West holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard College, where he was the Harvard Political Review’s publisher and a law degree from Stanford University, where he was the Stanford Law Review’s president.

Brian Copeland, entertainer, talk show host and author has discussed his experiences of discrimination while growing up in the Bay Area. His book, “Not a Genuine Black Man,” is the choice of Silicon Valley Reads and Copeland is appearing at numerous venues locally to discuss the book.

Mike Tomlin

Black history and culture has much to celebrate, but it also has many challenges. Too many blacks are in prison, too many young blacks are in gangs, too many drop out of school and too many black fathers fail to meet responsibility.

It’s not only Bill Cosby who has spoken about these problems. Obama, Copeland and Tyson grew up in families with an absent father. Cicely Tyson, award-winning actress, spoke about the movie “Relative Strangers” that will air on the Hallmark Channel Mar. 14, “I can’t tell you, statistically, the number of males – particularly young black males – who father children and just walk away, with no sense of obligation or responsibility. Not even a remote sense that they’re responsible for bringing a life into this world. That child is part of your being. Rejecting that child is like rejecting your own person.”

A person to emulate is the father of Larry Fitzgerald, football player for the Arizona Cardinals. In an interview prior to the Super Bowl, he exhibited the qualities of an outstanding father and husband who headed a wonderful family.

The library and Internet are excellent references for those wanting to know more about black history.