African-American History Month Celebration

African-American History Month is a national observance in February that recognizes the tremendous contributions African-Americans have made to America. It began with “Negro History Week,” in 1926 which was established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a well-known African-American historian and educator. Dr. Woodson specifically chose it to occur during the month of February to coincide with the birthdays of two prominent men who shaped the lives of African-Americans—abolitionist leader Frederick Douglas and President Abraham Lincoln. The week was changed to a month-long event in 1976, the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution.

Today, National African-American History Month is observed all over America, as schools, churches and communities honor the leadership and extensive contributions that African-Americans have made to our society. African-American History Month allows us the opportunity to focus on learning and celebrating the lives and achievements of African-Americans, past and present. It also awakens our collective social conscience to the importance of giving our children a complete and accurate record of their country’s history.

Today’s schoolchildren are fortunate to be growing up with classrooms where a more complete and accurate record is taught. They can learn to appreciate all the many heroes of American history, such as the Buffalo Soldiers and the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II fame. While previous generations were taught only part of our nation’s history, today’s students see a much more complete picture, one that includes learning about the many African-Americans whose lives have helped shape American history.

During February, we honor such outstanding African-Americans as:

• Mary McLeod Bethune, a leading political activist in the 1930s and 1940s
  
• Harriet Tubman, who led thousands of slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad
  
• Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who was the first African-American appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court and one of the plaintiff attorneys in the landmark case of Brown vs. Board of Education
  
• Jackie Robinson, who was the first African-American to play in the major leagues as a member of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers
  
• Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who was the first physician to perform open-heart surgery
  
• Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina, who was the first African-American Member of Congress in 1870, and
  
• Shirley Chisholm, who was elected in 1968 and was the first African-American congresswoman in the country
  

This month, we also pay tribute to the many African-American elected officials here in California. Today there are four African-Americans representing California in the U.S. Congress and six African-Americans in the California State Legislature, including former Lt. Governor Mervyn Dymally, who was the first African-American in California to serve in a statewide constitutional office. San Francisco’s own Willie L. Brown, Jr. previously served as Speaker of the State Assembly, longer than any other person in history, and just finished eight years as Mayor of San Francisco. San Francisco also boasts California’s first African-American District Attorney, Kamala Harris.

There are of course many others to list and discover. During this time, I encourage everyone to honor African-American History Month by taking the time to learn more about the history of African-Americans in our society. San Francisco’s libraries will be holding various opportunities to celebrate the month. Find out more by visiting your local branch, calling (415) 557-4400 or online at http://sfpl.lib.ca.us.

Another exciting new way to discover this history is through the recently opened Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). MoAD is located at 685 Mission Street at 3rd, just south of Market Street and will be hosting numerous activities and events during February’s month-long observation. I had the pleasure of recently attending the ribbon-cutting and inaugural tour of the museum and know that there is much to explore in our City’s newest museum. You can find out more about MoAD by calling 415-358-7200 or through their website at http://www.moadsf.org.

During February’s African-American History Month, we honor and pay homage to the rich tradition, culture, and leadership of the African-American community. I hope you will join me in the celebration.