Black Heroic Month: PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

This National Black History Month, we celebrate the vast contributions of Black Americans to our country and recognize that Black history is American history and that Black culture, stories, and  triumphs are at the core of who we are as a Nation.

President Joe Biden stated in A Proclamation on National Black History Month, 2024, and X and Facebook that Black History Matters The Proclamation states, “This National Black History Month,  we celebrate the vast contributions of Black Americans to our country and recognize that Black history is American history and that Black culture, stories, and triumphs are at the core of who we are as a Nation.”

The president’s proclamation states, “NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the  laws of the United States, do hereby proclaimFebruary 2024 as National Black History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with relevant programs, ceremonies, and activities.”

On X and Facebook Book Biden wrote Black History matters. The origins of the annual celebration can be traced back to 1926 when it began as Negro History Week, later evolving into Black History  Month in the 1970s. This year’s theme highlights “African Americans and the Arts.”

February signifies Black History Month, a tradition rooted in the Jim Crow era and formally recognized in 1976 during the nation’s bicentennial celebrations. Its purpose is to pay tribute to the  noteworthy contributions and acknowledge the sacrifices made by African Americans.

In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, often hailed as the “father of Black history,” initiated Negro History Week to bring attention to Black contributions to civilization. Woodson, the offspring of formerly enslaved individuals, emphasized the significance of preserving history, stating, “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.”

Woodson selected February for the commemoration, aligning with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln on Feb. 12 and Frederick Douglass on Feb. 14. Douglass, born into slavery with an unknown  birth date, opted to celebrate on Feb. 14.

According to a report of Jefferson Public Radio, W. Marvin Dulaney, the president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), founded by Woodson in 1915 and  now the official promoter of Black History Month, emphasizes the pivotal roles of Lincoln and Douglass in securing freedom for Black individuals.

In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially designated February as Black History Month, urging the public to recognize the often-overlooked achievements of Black Americans across various fields  throughout history.

Presently, Black History Month is observed not only in the United States but also in Canada every February and in the United Kingdom during October. The Association for the Study of African  American Life and History (ASALH) selects a distinct theme for Black History Month each year. The current theme, “Black Resistance,” underscores the historical and ongoing efforts of African  Americans to resist oppression, particularly in the face of racial terrorism, including lynching, racial pogroms, and police killings.

According to the ASALH, the resistance has aimed at advocating for a dignified, self-determined life within a just democratic society in the United States and beyond its political jurisdiction.

W. Marvin Dulaney, president of ASALH, notes that this year’s theme was chosen partly due to the heightened political tension surrounding race. He highlights setbacks in states like Florida, which rejected a new Advanced Placement course covering African American studies, and Alabama, where the State Board of Education restricted discussions about race in classrooms. Dulaney views these  actions as a significant regression in facing the realities of Black history, making the theme particularly relevant this year.

While acknowledging that some might perceive this year’s theme as politically charged, Dulaney emphasizes that it attempts to shift the narrative around Black history towards empowerment, reframing the conversation rather than provoking political discord. He expresses that resistance inherently acknowledges the existence of oppression, often confronting a portion of the population  unwilling to accept these historical realities. Despite this reluctance, recognizing resistance becomes pivotal in comprehending the historical power held by Black individuals, challenging the  narrative of victimhood commonly associated with Black History education. Dulaney sees the current cultural battles over how students learn about race as a repetition of history. Recent events,  such as the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, along with the ongoing debate surrounding critical race theory—a framework asserting that systemic racism has benefited white  individuals in American institutions—appear to form a recurring pattern, he notes.

Having grown up in Ohio, Dulaney reflects on the lack of exposure to African or African American contributions in history during his early education. He recalls the successful efforts from the ‘60s  through the ‘70s to integrate African American history and culture into the curriculum. Nevertheless, he laments the present need to advocate for this agenda once again, facing resistance from those  attempting to suppress the teaching of African American history and culture.

Despite these challenges, Dulaney believes that Black History Month has been and can continue to serve as a powerful catalyst for fostering better understanding.