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History of Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual observance in February,
celebrating the past and present achievements of African Americans. In
February 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for
the Study of African American Life and History, proposed the
establishment of "Negro History Week" to honor the history and
contributions of African Americans to American life. Dr. Woodson, known
as the "Father of Black History", chose the second week of February
because it commemorates the birthdays of two men who greatly affected
the African American community: Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and
Frederick Douglass (February 14). Negro History Week became Black
History Week in the early 1970's. In 1976, the week-long observance was
expanded to a month in honor of the nation's bicentennial.
Black History Month is sponsored by the Association for the Study of
African American Life and History (ASALH). The Association
was founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter Woodson--historian, teacher, author
and publisher. Each year the Association designates the national theme
for Black History Month. In 2006, the association's theme was
"Celebrating Community: A Tribute to Black Fraternal, Social and Civic
Institutions," in recognition of the impact that these organizations
have had on the evolution of African American life and history. It also marked the 100th
anniversary of the founding of the first continuous, collegiate Greek letter fraternity
Alpha Phi Alpha. Serving more that just their own immediate members, fraternities and
sororities joined with the Urban League and other social and civic
organizations to address the Black community's social, economic and
political challenges.
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Living Legends
Since 1980, the County of Los Angeles Public Library has
honored African American leaders and role models during an annual
program.
You are invited to attend the 29th annual Black History Month celebration, African American Living Legends, at the AC Bilbrew Library on Saturday, February 23. The program is a joint effort of Supervisor Burke, Second District, and the County Library. Honorees this year are Angela Bassett, Della Reese, Alfre Woodard and Sheryl Lee Ralph with William Allen Young as the Master of Ceremonies. The program begins at 11:00 a.m. A signing and refreshments follow the program.
AC Bilbrew Library is located at 150 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles.
History &
Honorees of the Living Legends Series
Selected Images
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| 2008 Black
Resource Center Events |
Saturday, January 19
2:30 p.m. |
African American Genealogy Workshop
AC Bilbrew Library
(310) 538-3350
Presented by Charlotte Bocage, Family Historian & Professional Genealogist - African American Genealogy Society. |
Saturday, February 23
11:00 a.m. |
29th Annual Living Legends
AC Bilbrew Library
(310) 538-3350
This program is a joint effort of Supervisor Burke, Second District, and the County Library. Honorees this year are Angela Bassett, Della Reese, Alfre Woodard and Sheryl Lee Ralph with William Allen Young as the Master of Ceremonies. A signing and refreshments follow the program.
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| 2008 Library Events |
Saturday, January 19
11:00 a.m. |
Heroes Storytime
East Los Angeles Library
(323) 264-0155
This special storytime and art activity honors Dr. Martin Luther King and other community heroes. |
Tuesday, February 12
6:00 p.m. |
We Shall Overcome
Rivera Library
(562) 949-5485
Makinto explains the history of Black people in America through the evolution of Black music.
He uses costumes and music to illustrate the battle of Africans for their right to equality.
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Tuesday, February 12
6:30 p.m. |
About Africa
Anthony Quinn Library
(323) 264-7715
Musician, Paul Tracey, presents a fascinating lecture and demonstration of authentic African instruments.
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Tuesday, February 12
6:30 - 7:45 p.m. |
The Color of Water Book Discussion
Montebello Library
(323) 722-6551
The Asian Pacific Resource Center's book club will discuss The Color of Water: a Black Man's Tribute to his White Mother by James McBride. Copies of the book may be ordered through the information desk.
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Saturday, February 16
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism
Lancaster Regional Library
(661) 948-5029
The community celebrates Black History Month with a guest speaker and entertainment.
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Saturday, February 16
2:00 p.m. |
Reflecting on Our Past
Hawthorne Library
(310) 679-8193
Barbara H. Clark presents a program on black history and cultural awareness.
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Saturday, February 16
2:00 p.m. |
Music, Stories & Amazingly More!
Live Oak Library
(626) 446-8803
Asha's Baba presents music, games, storytelling and more! African history and culture are interwoven
into Baba’s energetic performance.
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| Wednesday, February 20
4:00 p.m. |
Black History Month Performance
Masao W. Satow Library
(310) 679-0638
Anji Reynolds presents a performance of dance, songs and drumming. |
Saturday, February 23
1:00 p.m. |
Black History Month Program
Leland R. Weaver Library
(323) 567-8853
The Sunshine Storyteller, Ina Buckner-Barnette, presents a Black History Month Program that includes facts,
tales, games and songs. Fun for the whole family!
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Saturday, February 23
2:00 p.m. |
Writing a Novel Despite Your Day Job
Culver City Library
(310) 559-1676
Essence magazine best-selling author and Sister in Crime member Pamela Samuels-Young shows you how to:
create a realistic writing schedule; outline your novel before you start writing; master the elements
of story structure; and finish your first draft in record time. Pamela is the author of two legal thrillers,
Every Reasonable Doubt, and In Firm Pursuit. |
| Saturday, February 23
2:00 p.m. |
Heritage
Duarte Library
(626) 358-1865
Presented by the Mocha House Dance Company, this program is a dance and spoken word expression
of Black history inspired by the novel and soundtrack Roots and The Middle Passage.
The Mocha House Dance Company performs traditional African, Caribbean, modern and jazz dances. |
| Saturday, February 23
2:30 p.m. |
Tuskegee Airman
Graham Library
(323) 582-2903
Retired Tuskegee Airmen share stories about their personal lives and their military
experience as the first African American WWII fighter pilots. Program includes video and a
question and answer period. |
Saturday, March 1
2:00 p.m. |
We Tell Stories
Culver City Library
(310) 559-1676
The storytelling troupe We Tell Stories will present the folklore-based plays: The Ballad of John Henry
(a tale from frontier days); The Lion in the Well (from the days of slavery); and Akimba and the Magic Cow
(an African tale of goodness and greed).Refreshments will be provided by the Culver City Friends of
the Library.
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Lift Every Voice and Sing
(Negro National Anthem)
Often referred to as the "Negro National Anthem", this song
was written by James Weldon Johnson and his brother J. Rosamond Johnson
in 1900 for the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. It was
originally performed by children at its premiere in Jacksonville,
Florida. James W. Johnson was a notable poet who later went on to
become one of the founders of the National Association for Advancement
of Colored People (NAACP). Rosamond Johnson was a successful composer
of music for Broadway.
Lift ev’ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.
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"I Have A Dream" Speech by Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
 One
of most indelible speeches of the Civil Rights Movement is Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr's eloquent speech "I Have a Dream" from the August 28,
1963, rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Dr. King and other Black ministers
formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957 to
expand
the struggle against racism and discrimination. By early 1963, Dr. King
and the SCLC launched non-violent demonstrations to protest racial
discrimination
in Birmingham, Alabama, then one of the most segregated cities in the
United
States. In reaction to the violent police actions, President John F.
Kennedy
proposed a wide-ranging civil rights legislation to Congress.
Dr. King along with other civil
rights leaders then organized a massive march on Washington, D.C., to
urge
Congress to pass Kennedy's bill. On August 28, 1963, nearly a quarter
of
a million people gathered at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to hear
King and others. The highlight of the rally was Dr. King's "I Have a
Dream"
speech which has since defined the civil rights movement, not only for
African Americans but for all people.
The civil rights movement won
a significant victory in 1964 when Congress passed The Civil Rights Act
of 1964, prohibiting discrimination in public places and promoting
equal
opportunities in education and employment. Dr. King received the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered today for his vision and his
legacy.
For more information:
"I
have a Dream" Speech
Provides the text of the speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln
Memorial on August 29, 1963. Also includes a bibliography of resources, a
photo gallery from the Seattle Times and links to other sites.
The King
Center
Dedicated to the preservation
and advancement of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s work, the King Center
offers
a wide range of informationbiographical information on Dr.
King and
Coretta Scott King, the King Holiday and other historical information.
The
Seattle Times: Martin Luther King
Contains stories and photos
from the Seattle Times as wells as time lines for Martin Luther King
and
for the Civil Rights movement. Click on the "His Words" to hear excerpts from King's most famous speeches,
including
two excerpts from "I Have a Dream" and one from the speech Dr. King
gave
the day before he was assassinated in 1968.
The
King Papers Project (Stanford University)
The project is a major research
effort to assemble and disseminate information about Martin Luther King
and the social movements he worked for. The Frequently Requested
Documents
include the "I Have a Dream" speech which can be viewed in multiple
languages
by clicking on the flag icons. The site also includes biographical
information,
King's sermons and other material.
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Reading Lists
Celebrating
the Cultural Heritage of African American Writers
LA's Own: Los
Angeles Through the Eyes of African American Fiction Authors
Selected Resources
for the Study of African American History and Culture
Tuskegee Airmen: A Selected Reading List
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For More Information Visit:
Black Resource Center, County of Los Angeles Public Library
Located at the AC Bilbrew Library, the Black Resource Center (BRC)was established in 1978 to support
research and study on the social, historical, musical and cultural aspects unique to the "Black Experience."
There are links to general African American web sites and topics such as Juneteenth and Kwanzaa.
U.S. Census Bureau,
Black History Month 2008
Facts and statistics about African Americans.
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Celebrating Black History Month | Living
Legends | Selected
Images
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