Keep. Inspired. and Never. Give. - Up

Remembering Carter G. Woodson

By: Christopher Callahan

Carter G. Woodson, 1875-1950
 FATHER OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Carter Godwin Woodson, known as the father of Black History, born December 1875, in New Canton, Buckingham County, Va., to parents who were former slaves–Anne Eliza Riddle and James Henry Woodson. Growing up in such a reality, helping out on the farm took priority over education. However, by the tender age of seventeen, Woodson had still found a way to master the fundamentals of common school subjects.

As a teen Woodson's ambition to continue his education would eventually lead him and his brother to Huntington West Virginia with hopes of attending Douglas High School. Carter soon found himself faced with a familiar situation; work would again call his full attention. This time around it would be the coal mines of Fayette County. Although his focus was diverted, the brother still made time; and a few months out of the years were devoted towards his schooling.

After a few years of this, in 1895, at the age of twenty, Carter finally enrolled in Douglas High School, and in less than two years he received his diploma. Carter began teaching in Winona, Fayette County in 1897–1900. Thereafter, returning to Huntington to become the Principal of Douglas High School. Subsequently he received his Bachelors of Literature Degree from Berea College in Kentucky, and, in 1903, he held residence in the Philippines, where he was a school supervisor until 1907. Carter would go on traveling throughout the continent of Asia; studying at Sorbonne University in Paris. He didn't dare to stop there, he returned to the states in 1908, and he would receive his Masters of Arts Degree from the University of Chicago; the following year, he went to work in DC as a school teacher and principal. Approximately three years later, in 1912, Carter received his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University.

Our brother and teacher served also as a warner; Carter professed once that "If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world and it stands in danger of being exterminated." This statement was made out of concern that if we didn't tell our own history then no one would! Thus, he was determined to keep the blacks' roles and contributions to this nation's wealth and history relevant to ensure that present day and future generations had knowledge of their ancestor's uniqueness and creativity, and knowledge of the pivotal role they played in the founding and prosperity of this country.

In 1915, Carter and several friends in Chicago established The Association for The Study of Negro Life and History; followed by the first periodic issue of The Journal of Negro History, appearing January 1, 1917. The Journal of Negro History became one of the oldest learnded journals in the US. Thereafter, Carter worked diligently with the legislators to establish an internationally recognized period where blacks would be recognized, paid homage to, and honored for their contributions to the growth, prosperity, and development of humanity the world over. Carter originally proposed the idea of having A Negro History Week, which was to be held in February, near the birthdays of Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Thus, after legislation was enacted, the first Negro Histrory Week was developed and celebrated in 1926.

Remaining steadfast and zealous towards the reality of ensuring Blacks that we would be remembered and recorded in our rightful and respectful position within the history of mankind, Carter found it very necessary to continue in this area of work. Therefore, in the year 1937, he published the first issue of the Negro History Bulletin; he worked day-to-day developing and providing materials that could be used in the elementary and secondary schools to teach Black History until his death in 1950.

As an author, editor, publisher, and historian, Carter G. Woodson has left behind a plethora of books and periodicals, thereby successfully carrying out his goal to keep us Blacks from being ostracized and eradicated from the history books and educational system of White America!

Moreover, Cater G. Woodson never lived to see Negro History Week expand to Black History Month in 1976, so let us keep alive what the brother started by properly educating our people.

Peace....