Origins and Significance of Black History Month
In February 1926, Carter G. Woodson initiated the celebration of Black History Week to honor the achievements and contributions of Black Americans, which had largely been overlooked in mainstream history. Woodson specifically chose February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, which fall on February 12th and 14th, respectively. Fifty years later, in 1976, the observance was officially expanded to cover the entire month of February. Subsequently, in 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244, formally designating February as National Black History Month.
Challenges in the Observance of Black History Month
While the idea of highlighting the achievements and contributions of Black Americans is admirable in theory, its practical implementation has faced many challenges. Primarily, dedicating only one month to Black history can inadvertently marginalize it, sending the message that Black history is not significant enough to be taught outside of February. This approach also implies that Black history is separate from, rather than an integral part of, American history. In reality, Black History is American history and should be incorporated into history classes and taught throughout the entire year in all schools.
Even well-intentioned efforts by schools, corporations, and other institutions often result in celebrations that are problematic. One common issue is tokenism, where only a handful of Black individuals—usually the same ones each year—are highlighted. This not only leads to repetition but also suggests that only these select few are worth mentioning, ignoring the vast number of other significant contributions. Moreover, many organizations limit their recognition to performative gestures, such as posting graphics or hosting a single event, rather than offering in-depth exploration of Black history and the many contributions Black people have made to both American and world history. As a result, most meaningful engagement with Black history occurs within families or through the efforts of individuals who are driven to research and learn on their own—a process that can be quite challenging.
The current political climate has further complicated the teaching and recognition of Black history. In many states, new restrictions limit how history is taught and specifically target what are deemed “divisive concepts.” Books that discuss structural racism and Black history have been removed from many libraries, and colleges and universities have faced pressure to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and discontinue Black studies programs. Black history content has also been removed from government websites and national museums. These developments make it more critical than ever to learn and share Black history whenever possible. On a personal level, I have found great value in learning about Black history and my own family’s connection to it through genealogy.
Genealogy and the Discovery of Family History
Growing up, I did not have the benefit of knowing my grandparents, as the last of them—my father’s mother—passed away thirteen years before I was born. I missed the opportunity to hear my grandparents reminisce about their childhoods or tell stories about the “old days.” In addition, both my parents lost their parents at young ages. My mother lost her mother at age six and her father at sixteen; my father lost his father at twelve and his mother at twenty-two. Consequently, it often felt as though my family’s story began with my parents.
In my mid-twenties, I developed a fascination with genealogy. This curiosity may have stemmed from a desire to understand more about my roots and those who came before me and perhaps was intensified by the loss of my mother when I was twenty-five. My journey into genealogy began during a consulting assignment in Salt Lake City, where I discovered that I was staying just two blocks from the Family History Library. I decided to visit the library every night I could during my stay.
Initially, I did not expect to find much information, since I assumed records pertinent to Black Americans would be scarce. However, after a brief lesson in research methods, I began searching through the available files. To my surprise, I quickly found my grandparents on both sides of my family in the 1920 Census records, which were the most recent records available at the time. I was thrilled to see my family documented in historical records. Excitedly, I called my father to share my findings and asked him for any information he could provide about his parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Although he, too, had grown up without grandparents and had limited information, he told me about his grandfather, Prestly Dawson, who had been a soldier in the Civil War and whose badge he still had. He also revealed that the family name had changed from Dorsey to Dawson, though he did not know the reason. On my next visit home, my father showed me the badge and asked me to uncover its history.
Family Discoveries and Historical Connections
With newfound motivation, I continued my research, also reaching out to my mother’s older sister, Aunt Jewel, for information about her side of the family. During one of our visits, Aunt Jewel showed me an old family Bible containing a list of names and dates. Although she was unsure who many of the people were, she knew they were relatives.
I spent many nights and weekends at the library and the National Archives, searching through microfilm and microfiche, as records were not yet digitized at that time. Through this research, I not only uncovered historical records of my family but also learned that my family actively participated in shaping history. My great-grandfather, Prestly Dawson, served in the 43rd Infantry during the Civil War and trained at Camp William Penn, the largest training facility for the United States Colored Troops (USCT), located just outside of Philadelphia. The badge my father possessed had been created for my great-grandfather after the Civil War to commemorate his service. According to documents I found in the National Archives, Prestly Dawson wore this badge when attending meetings of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), an organization for Civil War veterans. I also discovered that my mother’s grandfather, Frederick Shaw, served in the 6th Regiment of the USCT. I take great pride in knowing that two of my great-grandfathers were members of the USCT, which played an instrumental role in winning the Civil War.
Recent Family Contributions to History
In more recent history, I learned that my mother’s sister, Aunt Opal, worked as a welder during World War II. Though I only knew her in her later years, I can imagine her as a young woman making her own contribution to history—my family’s version of “Rosie the Riveter.” Even more recently, in 1966, my first cousin, Annette Hightower, became the first African American nurse anesthetist in West Virginia. Her son, Pastor Frederick Hightower, is both a pastor in West Virginia and a talented sculptor who has created statues of notable African American historical figures such as Katherine Johnson (of “Hidden Figures” fame) and Bill Withers.
For me, celebrating Black History means recognizing the contributions of my ancestors to American history and honoring my family members who are currently making history. I am confident that if we all took the time to explore our family histories alongside American history, we would discover that our families, too, are part of the nation’s story.
Photo by Anthony McKissic on Unsplash
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