Black History Month: What's Wrong with February?

In an earlier blog post, I argued that we should change black history month from February to August, not only because the first black President was born in that month and Dr. Martin Luther King gave his great "I Have a Dream" speech during that month, but also because it's a longer, warmer month. I, of course, was joking, but other blacks have seriously complained about our history being assigned to the shortest month in the year. Still others have complained about having our history assigned to any single month, however long or short it is. Celebrities like actor Morgan Freeman and the woman who helped integrate New Orleans schools when she was a child, Ruby Bridges, have argued that we should study black history every month. They argue (and I agree) that black history is American history.

As I was discussing black history with a couple of facebook friends, I realized that I didn't know why or even when February had been chosen as the month in which we discuss and celebrate black history. I remember being asked why February was the chosen month by a student in one of my black literature classes. I was explaining to the class that I liked to teach black literature in winter quarter because in February there were always many television programs focusing on black history and culture. After initially joking about February being the shortest month, I suggested that it was probably because Frederick Douglass was born in February. I didn't realize that Douglass had also died in February.

When I researched the origins of black history month yesterday, I discovered that it was not only Douglass' birthday but also Lincoln's that led to the black history month founders choosing February. I also discovered that black history month was originally black history week, starting in 1926. The expansion to black history month happened fifty years later, in 1976.

During my research, I found many reasons to keep February as the month to celebrate black history and culture. First, not only were Douglass and Lincoln born in February but so were W.E.B. DuBois, Rosa Parks, and my favorite writer, Toni Morrison. Next, the NAACP was founded on Lincoln's birthday in 1909. And, finally, even Obama made February a special month by announcing his run for presidency during that month in 2007.

I agree with Morgan Freeman and Ruby Bridges that we should discuss black history and culture every day and every month. We can't really separate black history from American history. But if we need to set aside a special month to celebrate black contributions to American culture and history, February is the appropriate month.