Monday, February 2, 2015

CARTER GODSON WOODSON, FOUNDER OF AMERICA'S FORMAL "BLACK HISTORY" CELEBRATIONS

The man! Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, and of "Black History Month, née, Negro History Week," in 1916, after reading and being inspired by THE NEGRO IN AMERICAN HISTORY;MEN AND WOMEN IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN OF AFRICAN DESCENT (1913) by John Wesley Cromwell, a graduate of Howard Law School, whose wonderful book I am now reading. Black History Notes Carter Godwin Woodson - Father of Black History 1875-1950 Carter G. Woodson, historian, educator, and editor. His life achievements are varied and many. He was the second African-American to earn a PhD in History from Harvard in 1912 after W. E. B. Du Bois. In 1915, along with several other scholars, founded the Association for The Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). During the period of 1903 to 1909, he served as supervisor of schools in the Philippines. He traveled to Asia, North Africa, and Europe, completing extensive course work and becoming proficient in Spanish and French. Back in the states, while in residence at Harvard University, he taught English, Spanish, French, and history at Dunbar High in Washington, D.C., from 1909 to 1918. While teaching, he also did research at the Library of Congress for his doctoral dissertation, "The Disruption of Virginia," and received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1912. ASNLH'S publishing subsidiary, Associated Publisher's, was for many years the leading African-American-owned press in the U.S. The following year he founded the Journal of Negro History. It was the premier professional journal of African-American history. He retired from the academy in 1922 to concentrate on the journal and ASNLH, both of which he headed until his death, as well as his own historical writing. He also worked passionately on stimulating popular interest in African-American History. This initiated Negro History Day; then Week (which later became Black History Month) in 1926 and founding the Negro History Bulletin (for the use in primary and secondary education) in 1936. Dr. Woodson's scholarly works, research and books are numerous. His early life is also very interesting. One of my favorites by him is "THE MIS-EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO". The philosophical quote most often used in reference to this book is; "If you can control a man's mind, you do not have to worry about his actions. If you make him feel inferior, he will seek inferior status. If you tell him to go to the back door and there is none, he will make one". As a result of his years of study and research, Dr. Woodson came to realize that the Black man's and women past contributions had to be documented and taught. He concluded that "if a race had no recorded history, its achievements would be forgotten and, in time, claimed by other groups." He found that many of the achievements by Black were overlooked, ignored and even suppressed by writers of history textbooks. It was his dream that the truth would be revealed as to Afro-Americans' contributions to the discovery, pioneering, development, and continuance of America. His prime ambition was that "young Blacks would grow up with a firm knowledge of their ancestors." One of his most popular textbooks, "The Negro in Our History," was widely used for years in high schools, colleges, and universities. Time Line: Born on December 19, 1875 in New Canton, Virginia. Worked in the coal mines as a young child instead of attending school. Family moved to Fayette, Virginia when Carter was 20 years old; he was able to attend Douglas High School. Graduated from Douglas High School on one and a half years, then attended Bera College in Kentucky. Supervised schools in the Philippines from 1903 to 1906; traveled throughout Asia, Northern Africa and Europe. Returned to Douglas High School in Fayette, Virginia as a teacher and subsequently became a principal. Received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Chicago in 1907, and a Master’s Degree in 1908. Taught English, French, History and Spanish at Dunbar High School in Washington, DC from 1909 - 1918. Earned a Ph.D. from Howard University in 1912. Started the "Journal of Negro History" and established the Association for the Study of Negro Life while teaching at Dunbar High School. Served three years as Dean of the West Virginia Collegiate Institute where he organized the Associated Publishers, one of the most famous black publishing companies ever. Published a book "The Negro In Our History," which became one of the most popular textbooks in high schools and colleges. In 1926, Dr. Woodson started Negro History Week, which included the birthday of Frederick Douglass. Dr. Woodson received the NAACP Spingarn Awards in 1926. Dr. Carter G. Woodson died of a heart attack on April 3, 1950 at his home in Washington, DC. In 1976, Negro History Week became Black History Month. Brother William William Holman Black History Notes Carter Godwin Woodson - Father of Black History 1875-1950 Carter G. Woodson, historian, educator, and editor. His life achievements are vari... See More