Happy February, everyone! St. Louis is once again preparing to honor Black History Month, and SBLF is joining in the celebration. Before we dive into the activities planned for this month in St. Louis, let’s take a moment to discuss the history behind Black History Month.
Black History Month ironically originated in Chicago, about 300 miles from St. Louis, during the summer of 1915. Carter G. Woodson, a University of Chicago graduate, traveled from Washington, D.C. to take part in a national event commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation, organized by the state of Illinois. Thousands of African Americans from across the nation attended to view exhibits showcasing the advancements made by their community since the end of slavery. Motivated by this three-week celebration, Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) to promote the scholarly examination of Black life and history.
He encouraged black civic organizations to highlight the achievements uncovered by ASNLH and other researchers, leading to the creation of Negro History and Literature Week in 1924, which was later renamed Negro Achievement Week. The ASNLH took on the task of disseminating knowledge about black history. The inaugural Negro History Week was declared in February 1926, resulting in the formation of Black history clubs, demands from teachers for educational materials, and support from progressive white individuals.
Black History Month in St. Louis
During Black History Month in St. Louis, you can find a variety of events focused on African American history at institutions like the St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum, and the St. Louis Public Library, including film screenings, family days, and special collection tours, all highlighting significant figures and moments from local Black history; a key focal point is often the Griot Museum of Black History, which specifically preserves and showcases the rich narratives of African Americans in the St. Louis area through exhibits and programs. Check out some listings in the City of St. Louis.
St. Louis Mo GOV
Explore St. Louis: Black Culture
St Louis SC: Celebrating Black History Month in our CITY
In the 1940s, the African American community began to gradually push for the inclusion of Black history in schools and public celebrations. During the Civil Rights Movement in the South, Freedom Schools integrated Black history into their curricula to foster social change. The Negro History movement evolved into an intellectual uprising that contributed to broader efforts to improve race relations.
The 1960s significantly impacted the study and celebration of Black history. By the end of the decade, Negro History Week was on its way to becoming Black History Month. In Chicago, a lesser-known cultural activist named Frederic H. Hammurabi Robb began celebrating Negro History Month in the mid-1960s. After adopting an African name in the 1930s, Hammurabi utilized his cultural center, the House of Knowledge, to merge African awareness with the study of Black history. By the late 1960s, as young Black students in colleges became more aware of their African heritage, Black History Month rapidly replaced Negro History Week. In 1976, fifty years after the first celebration, the ASNLH leveraged its influence to formalize the transition from a week to a month and from Negro history to Black history. Since the mid-1970s, every U.S. president, regardless of party affiliation, has issued proclamations supporting the ASNLH’s annual theme. Carter G. Woodson would likely appreciate the ongoing efforts to study and celebrate Black history seriously.
