Black History Month 2023: Black Resistance
“There is no American history without African American history.” -Sara Clarke Kaplan, executive director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center
February marks a month of celebration for the contribution and life of African-Americans and their central contribution to the history of the United States. The implementation of Black History Month, widely acknowledged as the idea of historian Carter G. Woodson, dates back to 1915. It was around this time, nearly half a century after the abolishment of slavery in the US Constitution, that an emphasis was first placed on the achievements of Black Americans. It wasn’t, however, acknowledged by every US President until 1976 onward.
African Americans in the United States: A Brief History
In 1619, due to the exponential growth in demand for labor in the North American colonies, the Portuguese first kidnapped Angolans and brought them to the British colony of Virginia. This is where the English colonists first began the slave owning of African people, continuing on until 1863- before which, the Civil War divided the entire Nation.
The Civil War did not initially begin as a fight for or against slavery; at the time, President Abraham Lincoln’s Civil War-era sights were set primarily on preserving the Union. Despite his anti-slavery stance being well known, the fact that he was the Nation’s first Republican president was the primary reason that the first few states in the South seceded from the Union. After the Union’s victory at Antietam, President Lincoln gave his first issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation, stating on January 1st, 1863, that all enslaved people, “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”
While undoubtedly a pivotal moment in American history, the Nation and the free African Americans residing in it, would face and continue to face extreme systemic racism and bias. Even as recently as the 1960’s, there still existed the “separate but equal” segregation implementation- rooted in the belief that black and white people could not coexist. The Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination, wasn’t signed into action until 1964. The damage of segregation and hate rhetoric has long since permeated throughout the Nation’s history, making change a relatively slow moving process. Although slow moving, it is not impossible as long as we continue to educate ourselves and work toward being active participants.
This February, we honor Black people from all years of United States history- from those enslaved peoples to African Americans in the US today. This month-long observance offers all of us a chance to celebrate Black achievement and contributions as well as shine a light on where systemic racism still exists.
For more information on a timeline of Black History milestones, click here.
Black History Month This Year
The theme of Black History Month in February of 2023 has been declared “Black Resistance.” Black Resistance can be interpretted as: “exploring how "African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms and police killings," since the nation's earliest days.`` The United States touts the ideals of ‘freedom, justice and liberty for all’- however, Black Americans have had to fight for this to include their lives as well.
‘Black Resistance’ highlights the Nation’s history of systemic oppression and how America still has a long way to go in terms of eradicating, or even beginning to treat, this ever persistent national issue.
Talking to Your Children about Black History Month
In the PBS article, “Connecting Your Kids with Black History,” children’s author Cheryl Willis Hudson offered these and other suggestions to help you connect your kids with Black history:
Buy a book by a Black author or illustrator and make it a part of your child’s permanent collection. Books offer a fun and easy way to introduce your children to new cultures and to help them explore the experiences of people from different backgrounds.
Look for books that are inclusive and reflect the diversity of our communities. Books help illustrate that diversity is a natural part of everyday life.
When and if children ask questions about race, don’t sweep differences under the rug. Give children simple, concrete explanations when they have questions. Select books that affirm a valued place for all children. Try to find books that will help prepare children for the complex world in which they live.
Make sure your selections include contemporary stories. Celebrate Black culture and experiences, in addition to history, through picture books, chapter books, and poetry.
Seek the suggestions and guidance from knowledgeable cultural experts, booksellers and librarians. Coretta Scott King Award-winning titles are always a good place to start for excellence in text and illustrations.
Celebrating Black History Month in Texas This February
There are many way to celebrate Black History Month; for more information on ways to celebrate this February locally in Texas, here are a few references:
TASTE OF SOUL FOOD COOK-OFF highlighting local chefs and businesses at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center on Saturday, February 25 from 11am- 3pm in Dallas, TX. A soul food cook off.
MOON MAN WALK AT JUBILEE THEATER Jubilee Theater January 27 - February 26 Upon hearing about the sudden death of his mother, Spencer returns to his home in Philadelphia to plan her funeral. Along the way Spencer falls in love, discovers the truth about his absent father, and learns that his past is also the making of his present. This magical journey through space and time takes audiences literally from Philadelphia to the moon and back.
SWING OUT TO BLACK MUSIC AND DANCING Ritzy's, Thursdays- Sundays Swing out with the finest Fort Worth/Dallas dancers and enjoy some Black Culture.
BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION AND BOOK FAIR The Dock Bookshop Saturday, February 18 - 1:00 p.m. African Heritage / Black History Month Community Celebration with a book fair, guest authors, speakers, drumming, family story time and more!
BLACK HISTORY MONTH KID'S DAY at the Carver Museum has crafts, storytelling and activities to learn more about Black Heritage. This celebration is FREE for the public with registration and will take place on Saturday, February 25 from 11am – 3 pm.
SIX SQUARE: Austin’s Black Cultural Historic District comprises six square miles of East Austin, and is home to numerous sites of significance featuring landmarks of Black architecture and design, historic cemeteries, sites of slavery and emancipation, churches and more. As part of their community programming, you can BOOK A TOUR that features landmarks and stories of more than 150 years of Black life and culture in Austin.
For more options to celebrate BHM, please click here.
References:
- Bridgeport, Connecticut. “Black History Month 2023: Black Resistance- Bridgeport, CT.” February 2023.https://www.bridgeportct.gov/bhm2023#:~:text=The%20Black%20History%20Month%202023,since%20the%20nation's%20earliest%20days
-Johnson, Brittney. “Black History Month: Events That Celebrate Black Culture in North Texas” Feb 3rd, 2023.https://www.nbcdfw.com/discover-black-heritage/black-history-month-events-that-celebrate-black-culture-in-north-texas/3183793/
-“Celebration of Black History Month in Austin.” Feb 1st, 2023. https://do512family.com/celebrating-black-history-month-in-austin/
