What began as a weeklong celebration in February nearly a century ago is now a monthlong observance featuring films, books, lectures, exhibits and more under the umbrella of Black History.
The need to highlight the overlooked history and culture of Blacks was obvious, but why February?
The New York Times explains:
Scholar (and “father of Black History”) Carter G. Woodson “chose February because it was the month in which both (Abraham) Lincoln and (Frederick) Douglass were born. After Lincoln’s assassination, his birthday, on Feb. 12, had been celebrated by Black Americans and Republicans. Douglass Day, which was observed on Feb. 14, had grown in popularity since Mary Church Terrell had started it in Washington in 1897. Dr. Woodson saw Negro History Week as a way to expand the celebration of these two men and encourage Americans to study the little-known history of an entire people.”
And here we are on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the first Negro History Week (February 1926) with so much content to peruse. Let’s start with our state sites.
Cincinnati is home to two key destinations to further your knowledge of Black History.
1. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center ‘s “physical location in downtown Cincinnati is just a few steps from the banks of the Ohio River, the great natural barrier that separated the slave states of the South from the free states of the North,” according to the center which opened in 2004.
The February calendar is packed with special events, starting with “Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See,” an exhibition which recounts the story of a brave mother who insisted upon an open casket for her 14-year-old son who was brutally murdered for whistling at a white woman in Mississippi 70 years ago. (The exhibit runs until April 6.)
2. Harriet Beecher Stowe House is where this famous author spent her formative years. Stowe was an abolitionist and women's rights advocate who wrote the popular 19th century novel “Uncle Tom's Cabin.” The restored house features two eras – 1840 when Stowe lived in Cincinnati as a young teacher and mother and 1940 when Irene Bacon managed the house as the Edgemont Inn, a boarding house, community gathering space and tavern listed in the “Green Book.”
Other Black History destinations in Ohio include:
3. Paul Lawrence Dunbar House, which in 1936 became the first state memorial honoring African-American history. Dunbar was a poet who gained international acclaim for his work and appeal for equality.
4. National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center in Wilberforce is home to one of the nation's largest African American archives and collections, including Alex Haley's final draft of “Roots.”
Also in Wilberforce is the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, honoring the first African-American to attain the rank of colonel in the Army, to serve as a military attaché, and to be a national park superintendent.
5. Oberlin has several sites, including the home of John Mercer Langston, an attorney, abolitionist, diplomat, U.S. Congressman, and college president, and a self-guided walking tour of 11 historical sites and monuments, including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument created to honor his multiple visits to the college in the 1960s.
Your favorite library or bookstore likely has a display or list of books highlighting Black writers and Black history. For a comprehensive list check out the Library of America’s “African American Literature & History.” You can search by publish date or author’s last name.
The Lorain Public Library has partnered with the Oberlin Public Library and other organizations to offer several months of diverse programming for all ages inspired by Lorain native Toni Morrison’s “Beloved.” The Big Read kickoff is Feb. 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Lorain Public Library. Click here for the entire list of events held throughout Lorain County.
Ditto for you favorite streaming service and their list of films and documentaries highlighting Blacks. For instance, Kanopy, a free service that partners with public libraries and universities, has a Black History Month lineup listed by category – Black Cinema, Identity & Community, Arts & Culture, Social & Political Leaders, History, Pioneers in Sports and Activism.