DIDYOUKNOW?OMI

BLACKHISTORYMONTH

OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL INITIATIVES’ MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

VOL. 3ISSUE 1

WHY WE CELEBRATE

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The month of February is Black History Month. It’s been a celebratory month for decades, starting out as a week long celebration. Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week in the 1920s to promote and preserve African-American history and culture, fi nally making it American history. He purposely chose February because it coincided with the birthdays of two iconic Americans - Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. With the powerful response the week initially received, February would be dedicated the month of Black History.

So, why it is important to celebrate and recognize Black History Month? It should be commonsensical that a signifi cant and pivotal time in American history be acknowledged. However, some people may fi nd the past too diffi cult to discuss and would rather “leave it in the past.” Some may even argue that refraining from discussing shameful or diffi cult portions of history provides closure and healing. The fact is, ignoring such topics does not bring closure; it actually demonstrates dominance of a majority

to determine which parts of history are worthy of coverage and acknowledgment.

Black History Month is something that ALL Americans should observe because it:

1) Highlights the great achievements of the Black community

2) Showcases the Black community’s perseverance and leadership

3) Gives information and personal accounts of American history

4) Showcases the art, intellect, leadership and innovation of African-Americans

The importance of the month has varied meaning among the American people. Opinions range from the month meaning absolutely nothing, to meaning everything. No matter the personal opinion, African-American history is OUR history. The challenges, injustices, tribulations and triumphs of the Black community reveal a history of pride and resilience. It is the same sentiment that inspires our nation to persevere with every passing generation.

African-Americans weren’t the only group of people who were fed up with how they were treated and perceived in their homeland. Throughout history, there have been countless movements in diff erent countries to prevail the natural born rights of all people. With, most notably, Gandhi and the 190-year Indian Independence movement; Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani child forced into child labor who became an activist and leader in the 1990s against child slavery in Pakistan; and the People’s Movement in the Middle East and North Africa, where the citizens in the two

By reliving and remembering history, we create awareness of the struggles and challenges that African-Americans overcame in this country. // Regina Edmondson - “Why it’s important to observe Black History Month”

CIVIL RIGHTS AROUND THE GLOBE regions began protesting against the government for unfavorable living, social, and political conditions.

These three movements are just a small fraction of all the protests, movements, and leaders who all are making a change for the better. With every movement in history, we as humans learn something. It tells us a story. It shows us how evil mankind can be, but it also shows us the strength we have when we come together or just speak out when something isn’t right. Each story gives hope, instruction, and perseverance to another band of people who are ready fi ght for what’s right - their rights.

BLACKHISTORYMONTH

DID YOU KNOW?

BILL GOINESFirst African-American Navy SEAL; enlisted after high school and was the only Black man out of 13 that completed the grueling training

THURSDAYFEB. 23, 2017

UPCOMING EVENT

DUANE JONESFirst Black actor with a starring role in a horror fi lm - Night of the Living Dead

JACK JOHNSONFirst African-American boxing heavyweight champion; had a total of 103 fi ghts. Of those, he won 73, lost 13, and had 10 draws and 5 no-contests

EMILY PEREZFirst Black woman at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to reach the rank of Corps Commander Sergeant Major; 64th woman to be killed in Iraq

STETSON KENNEDYCaucasian author and folklorist who exposed the Ku Klux Klan via infi ltration

DR. WANGARI MUTA MAATHAI 2004 - First Black African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize; 1971 - became the fi rst Eastern African woman to earn a Ph.D.; 1977 - created the Green Belt Movement to combat vast deforestation in her country

WALLACE

RICHARD & MILDRED LOVINGInterracial couple in the 1960s sentenced to jail because of their “illegal” union; 1967 - the Supreme Court ruled, in the case of Loving v. Virginia, that banning interracial mar-riage was unconstitutional, overturning Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1924

REV. DR. PAULI MURRAYFeminist and civil rights icon, blazing a trail for racial and gender equality; fi rst African-American woman to be ordained an Episcopal priest; fi rst African-American deputy attorney general in the state of California; fi rst African-American to earn a J.D. degree

WILLIAM CARNEY1900 - First African-American to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor; a member of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment in the Civil War, one of the fi rst offi cial African-American Units in the U.S.

HENRY JOHNSONMember of the 369th Infantry Unit, the “Harlem Hellfi ghters,” who were sent to France to support American troops during WWI; fought off two dozen German soldiers; awarded France’s Palm and Star medal, but not the U.S.’s Purple Heart medal; 2015 - President Barack Obama presented Medal of Honor to Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson on Johnson’s behalf

NAOMI SIMSHas been called “the fi rst Black supermodel” by fashion industry; fi rst face of the term “Black is Beautiful” and in 1968, Sims was the fi rst Black woman to appear on the cover of Ladies Home Journal

LEARN ABOUT MORE PIONEERS OF BLACK HISTORY AT WWW.KENT.EDU/STARK/MULTICULTURAL-INITIATIVES

UPCOMING EVENT...

COLEMANB A N D ELEC

TRICBLUES 6 P.M.

MAIN HALL AUDITORIUM

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My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.// Desmond Tutu“

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MULTICULTURAL INITIATIVES Kathy Kinzer-Downs , Outreach Program Coordinator kkinzerd@kent.edu