February - Black History Month

Our students have noticed a great feeling of sadness as they have viewed the Civil Rights era display. The events of the civil rights movement are highlighted by books such as: Getting Away With Murder - The True story of the Emmett Till Case, Rosa Parks - My Story, Hoods - The Story of the Klu Klux Klan, Martin Luther King - Stride Toward Freedom, The Power of One - Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine, Freedom Walkers - The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Riders, and Freedom's Children. As we delve into these stories we gain a solemn understanding of how much effort and sacrifice was required for every little bit of progress achieved. We need to express our gratitude for the courageous efforts of so many who helped America move closer to living the principles upon which our constitution is based.

Now, in February we can celebrate Black History Month. We owe the celebration, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G Woodson. The son of former slaves, Woodson spent his childhood working in Kentucky coal mines. At the age of twenty he enrolled in high school, graduated within two years and went on to earn a PHD from Harvard. In his studies he was disturbed to find that history books largely ignored the black American population, and when they did enter the picture they were seen only in the positions of inferior social standing that they were assigned at the time.

Woodson, one who acted on his ambitions, took on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. In honor of the work Dr. Carter G. Woodson has done to promote the study of African American History, an ornament of Woodson hangs on the White House Christmas tree each year.

Our display for Black History Month features many "firsts" for black Americans and highlights how they have enriched our society once they were allowed the opportunity to participate in the various fields of endeavor: Sports, Music and Dance, Film and Television, Military, Science and Medicine, Scholarship, Literature, Government, Law and Diplomacy. Come in and read about some truly awesome individuals.