Black 365

It's no just a McDonald's tag-line, it is what was meant to be by the brother Carter G. Woodson himself. This post, my first post, is about the Story of Black History itself and the need to read much more deeply into it.



Imagine my surprise -- as I sit at a recent Conference by the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice -- listening to the global travels of brothers and sisters in the 1920's, trying to garner support for an international (diasporic) Black History movement and the neglected evolution of the ideas of Carter G. Woodson in regards to Black History.

Actually, it confirmed a feeling that I had long held within my heart. Here the sister, a representative of Carter G. Woodson's longstanding organization was explaining to me that following Negro History Week, February was intended to become the Month that would kick-off a year-long celebration of Black History, based upon a theme, which had been assessed and decided upon in January. Imagine that.

For this purpose, he established the organization ASALH, One of the oldest organizations, totally dedicated to the study and teaching of "Black History." ASALH would continue his thrust far beyond his own individual time on this Earth.

"When Carter G. Woodson established Negro History week in 1926, he realized the importance of providing a theme to focus the attention of the public. The intention has never been to dictate or limit the exploration of the Black experience, but to bring to the public's attention important developments that merit emphasis. For those interested in the study of identity and ideology, an exploration of ASALH's Black History themes is itself instructive. Over the years, the themes reflect changes in how people of African descent in the United States have viewed themselves, the influence of social movements on racial ideologies, and the aspirations of the black community.The changes notwithstanding, the list reveals an overarching continuity in ASALH--our dedication to exploring historical issues of importance to people of African descent and race relations in America." ~ Daryl Michael Scott, Howard University

This year's theme? "2009: The Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas."

That is an interesting theme, which various different sectors of the Black populace would have very different perspectives on -- all relevant. Another historical father, Martin Delaney, had some of the most dynamic writings on this subject. Check him out! He even went so far as to break down Roman law and it's relationship to America's system of civil empowerment. Drew Ali is another oft-overlooked figure in our history, who had very interesting and different views of citizenship.

In fact, here are the yearly themes, from 1926 through this past December:

1926 The Negro in History
1927 Negro Accomplishments
1928-*
1929-*
1930-*
1931-*
1932-*
1933-*
1934-*
1935-*
1936-*
1937 American Negro History from the Time of Importation

from Africa up to the Present Day

1938 Special Achievements of the Race: Oratory, Drama,

Music, Painting, Sculpture, Science and Inventions

1939 Special Achievements of the Race: Religion, Education,

Business, Architecture, Engineering, Innovation, and
Pioneering

1940 Negro Labor
1941 The Career of Frederick Douglass
1942 The Negro in Democracy
1943 The Negro in the Modern World
1944 The Negro and the New Order
1945 The Negro and Reconversion
1946-*
1947 Democracy Possible only Through Brotherhood
1948 The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
1949-*
1950- Outstanding Moments in Negro History
1951 Eminent Negroes in World Affairs
1952 Great Negro Teachers
1953 Negro History and Human Relations
1954 Negro History: A Foundation for Integration
1955 Negro History: A Contribution to America's Intercultural

Life

1956 Negro History in an Era of Changing Human Relations
1957 Negro History
1958-*
1959 Negro History: A Foundation for a Proud America
1960-*
1961- Freedom and Democracy for the Negro after 100 years

(1861-1961)

1962 Negro History and a New Birth of Freedom
1963 Negro History Evaluates Emancipation (1863-1963)
1964 Negro History: A Basis for the New Freedom
1965 Negro History: Freedom's Foundation
1966 Freedom from Racial Myths and Stereotypes Through

Negro History

1967 Negro History in the Home, School, and the Community
1968 Negro History and the Fourteenth Amendment
1969 Creating a New Image of Afro America through History
1970 15th Amendment and Black America in the Century

(1870-1970)

1971 African Civilization and Culture: A Worthy Historical

Background

1972 African Art, Music, Literature: A Valuable Cultural

Experience

1973 Biography Illuminates the Black Experience
1974 Helping America Understand
1975 Fulfilling America's Promise: Black History Month
1976 America for All Americans
1977 Heritage Days: The Black Perspective; the Third Century
1978 Roots, Achievements and Projections
1979 History: Torch for the future
1980 Heritage for America
1981 Black History: Role Model for Youth
1982 Afro American Survival
1983 Afro Americans in the United States
1984 Afro Americans and Education
1985 Afro American Family
1986 Afro American Experience: International Connection
1987 Afro Americans and the Constitution from Colonial

Times to the Present

1988 Constitutional Status of Afro Americans in the 21st

Century

1989 Afro Americans and Religion
1990 Carter G. Woodson
1991 Educating America: Black Universities and Colleges,

Strengths and Crisis

1992 African Roots Experience New Worlds, Pre-Columbus to

Space Exploration

1993 Afro-American Scholars: Leaders, Activists and Writers
1994 Empowering Black Americans
1995 Reflections on 1895: Douglass, Du Bois & Washington
1996 Black Women
1997 African Americans and Civil Rights; a Reprisal
1998 Black Business
1999 The Legacy of African American Leadership for the

Present and the Future

2000 Heritage and Horizons: The African American Legacy

and the Challenges for the 21st Century

2001 Creating and Defining the African American Community:

Family, Church Politics and Culture

2002 The Color Line Revisited: Is Racism Dead?
2003 The Souls of Black Folks: Centennial Reflections
2004 Before Brown, Beyond Boundaries: Commemorating the

50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

2005 The Niagara Movement: Black Protest Reborn, 1905-2005
2006 Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal,

Social, and Civic Institutions

2007 From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas
2008 Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of

Multiculturalism