For Black History Month,
children’s books can be enlightening
February 1st, 2012
By Tracy Grant for The Washington Post
February is Black History Month, but you probably already knew that.
But do you know why February and not March or May?
In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson decided that the contributions of African Americans should be recognized as a way to overcome prejudice that existed in the country. He thought that one week in February that included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, the president who freed the slaves, and Frederick Douglass, the famous former slave, would be the perfect week. (Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, and Douglass was born in February 1818; the exact date isn’t known, but he came to celebrate his birthday on February 14.)
Fifty years after Woodson’s first celebration and to mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of the United States, President Gerald R. Ford declared February as Black History Month.
If you want to learn more about the experiences of African Americans in this country, here are some great books to explore — this month or any month.
