|
Sweetwater celebrates Black History Month |
|
Written by Amanda Moreno
|
|
Monday, 23 February 2009 |
February is Black History Month. It is a time that is meant to remember all the important people and events in our history that have to deal with the African heritage. Another important part of Black History Month, is to give recognition to significant contributions made by black slaves.
Greater Zion Baptist Church, located at the corner of Tom Green and West Avenue B in Sweetwater, hosted a Black History community celebration in honor of Black History Month this past weekend. Many attended the event.
Rev. Timothy Jackson, new pastor at Mount Rose Baptist Church in Sweetwater was the guest speaker.
Crystal Goodman, principal in Fort Worth, also spoke at the event themed “Yes We Can.”
The event also hosted music from Tanya Gaines of Snyder. Also providing music were the youth choirs from Mount Sinai Church in Colorado City and Greater Zion Baptist Church. A number was also performed by the choir of Lighthouse Assembly of God Church.
Food was provided by Greater Zion Baptist Church, Mount Rose Baptist Church and Lighthouse Assembly of God Church.
According to Wikipedia, Black History Month can be traced back to 1926. Carter G. Woodson, a historian, chose the second week of February to celebrate Negro History Week. Two great Americans, with great influence on African American lives and social conditions, happen to have a birthday during that week. One is President Abraham Lincoln, who brought an end to slavery after he was elected. The other is Frederick Douglass, a former slave and abolitionist. Douglass was also editor of The North Star, an abolitionist newspaper.
W.E.B. DuBois was another important figure in black history. He was a co-founder of the NAACP and served as an important civil rights leader and was born on Feb. 23, 1868. The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was founded on Feb. 12, 1909. Both black and white citizens of New York City took part in founding the group.
Even though Black History Month was taking off in the U.S., the academic world was barely giving recognition to exploring black history. The majority of history referring to blacks in history books was describing their low social position. The main population was not acknowledging the importance of black history at this time. In an article by Elissa Haney, it said that it wasn't until the 20th century that the history books presented a respectable history of African Americans.
Woodson not only brought about the idea of Black History Month, but he also founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, the name has been changed to Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History. The name change took place in 1915 and not long after, came out with the Journal of Negro History.
February also marks other important events such as the passing of the 15th Amendment, which allowed blacks to vote. Hiram R. Revels, the first black U.S. senator took his oath of office on Feb. 25, 1870. Malcolm X, a militant leader, was shot and killed by three Black Muslims on Feb. 21, 1965.
Brief Timeline of Important Events
1831 — Nat Turner's Revolt. He led the only effective slave rebellion in U.S. history.
— Abolition and Underground Railroad: Harriet Tubman served an important part in helping over 300 slaves find freedom.
1896 — Plessy v. Ferguson. Separate But Equal rights were granted. Even though blacks and whites could still be separated they had to have the same conditions.
1909 — NAACP founded
1947 — Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play professional sports.
1954 — Brown v. Board of Education. Court ruling ending segregation.
1955 — Rosa Parks and Bus Boycott. Rosa Parks earned the name, "mother of the civil rights movement." She refused to give up her seat to a white man and was arrested.
1957 — Central High School, The Little Rock Nine were escorted into the school by armed forces. It was the first time that the military had protected blacks since Reconstruction against racial violence
1960 — Sit in movement. Four black students sat down at a lunch counter and were refused service and continued to stay there until closing. The next day they came back and brought more people. Helped change segregation policy in hotels, restaurants, etc.
1961 — Freedom Rides
1963 — Birmingham church bombing. Four young African American girls were killed in the bombing.
— March on Washington: I Have a Dream speech
1964 — Civil Rights Act signed. July 2 Johnson used 75 pens to sign the Civil Rights Act.
1965 — Selma to Montgomery March
— Malcolm X Assassinated
— Voting Rights Act
1968 — Fair Housing Act
— Martin Luther King Assassinated
1972 — Shirley Chisholm becomes first African American woman to run for president
2009 — Barack Obama elected as the first African-American President. |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 February 2009 )
|
