Decolonize Black History Month

The Mission

In 1926 the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, led by Carter G. Woodson, inaugurated Negro History Week. This group believed in the importance of understanding Black history in order to value Black lives. When the achievements of Black people are erased or ignored, we lose out on gaining a full appreciation of American history and a full vision of what Blackness is. In the spirit of Sankofa, you have to know where you’ve been to know where you’re going.

Today’s Black History Month has been colonized by a white hegemony. The most prevalent story of Blackness that we share is one of oppression. This is a dangerous trend that declares suffering to be synonymous with Blackness. In reality, this is a story of whiteness. If the only Black achievements we learn are about reactions to whiteness, then Black History Month has failed.

Decolonize Black History Month was a series of 29 moments in US history. Each day in February 2016 I posted a story from United States history that centered a Black person. The original incarnation of this project was hosted on tumblr. On this blog, I shared other content relevant to the topic. This scalar is a permanent resource for the original 29 moments.

I hope that you find yourself reflected here.

 

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