Black History Month 2013
Each February, Black History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of African Americans over slavery, prejudice, poverty as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life. Black History Month was the inspiration of historian Carter G. Woodson who instituted Negro History Week in 1926. He chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionist Frederick Douglass. In 1976 on the nation’s bicentennial, the celebration was officially expanded to last a month. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Presidential
Proclamation: National African American History Month, 2013
BY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, January 2012.
In
America, we share a dream that lies at the heart of our founding: that no
matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter how modest your
beginnings or the circumstances of your birth, you can make it if you
try. Yet, for many and for much of our Nation's history, that dream has
gone unfulfilled. For African Americans, it was a dream denied until 150 years
ago, when a great emancipator called for the end of slavery. It was a dream
deferred less than 50 years ago, when a preacher spoke of justice and
brotherhood from Lincoln's memorial. This dream of equality and fairness
has never come easily -- but it has always been sustained by the belief that in
America, change is possible.
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More…
100th
Anniversary of the Birth of Rosa Parks
A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
As
we mark the 100th anniversary of Rosa Parks's birth, we celebrate the life of a
genuine American hero and remind ourselves that although the principle of
equality has always been self-evident, it has never been self-executing. It has
taken acts of courage from generations of fearless and hopeful Americans to
make our country more just. As heirs to the progress won by those who came
before us, let us pledge not only to honor their legacy, but also to take up
their cause of perfecting our Union.
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more...
Facts
for Features: Black
(African-American) History Month: February 2013
To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our
nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson
established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12,
1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this
celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick
Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial,
the week was expanded into Black History Month. Each year, U.S. presidents
proclaim February as National African-American History Month.
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Making
Their Mark: Black Women Leaders
eJournal
USA
This
issue of eJournal USA profiles African-American women of the 20th and
21st centuries who have made significant contributions to many spheres of
American life. It also offers insights into how earlier generations of
African-American women serve as touchstones for the present generation.
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More…
Michelle
Obama Presents Modern Image for Black Women
On
January 29, President Barack Obama signed his first piece of legislation: the
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. The act is named for a woman who filed a
pay discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after
learning that her employer — Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company — had been paying
her less than it paid male supervisors for years
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more…
African American Members
of the United States Congress: 1870-2012.
Congressional Research Service, November 26, 2012
There are 43 African American Members serving in the 112th Congress, all in the
House of
Representatives. There have been 133 African American Members of Congress: 127 have been
elected to the House; 5 have been elected to the Senate; and 1 has been appointed to the Senate.
There have been 104 Democrats, 101 in the House and 3 in the Senate; and 29 Republicans, 26 in
the House and 3 in the
Senate.
Full report...
AfricanAmericanHistoryMonth.gov
February, 2013
The site contains several categories of resources:
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service,
Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in
paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with
adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.
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more...
2013
National Black History Theme: At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The
Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington
Association
for the Study of African American Life and History http://www.asalh.org/
2013
National African American Read-In
National Council of Teachers of English. February 2013.
It
is the Twenty-First National African American Read-In. Schools, churches,
libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested
citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month
by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities.
http://www.ncte.org/action/aari/packetinfo
African
American History Month
Law Library, Library of Congress. July 26, 2012.
National
African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that
African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom
and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.
Read more...
Black
(African American) History Month
Smithsonian Education. February 2013
The
Smithsonian Education site has many links to events, African American Virtual
Tour and other resources. See
resources here…
African American
History Virtual Tour
Celebrate Black History
The
Biography Channel. February 2013
The site includes interactive timeline, history, people, and others.
http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/index.jsp
Events in African American History ,2000+
Black History Month Honors Legacy of Struggle and Triumph
Beyond Dr. King: More Stories of African American Achievement
