Lathrop Intermediate

Black History Month CelebrationCollege Prep Period

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

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Purpose• SAUSD respects the culture, heritage, and

contributions of African-Americans in our community and across the country

• To learn about the History of Black History Month

• My People by Langston Hughes-acknowledging beauty in one’s own community

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The Origins of Black History Month• Where? Chicago• When? summer of 1915• Who? The leader was Dr. Carter G. Woodson.(Harvard University, and an alumnus of the University of

Chicago )• Who else participated?thousands of African Americans from across the country• Why? to see exhibits highlighting the progress their

people had made since the destruction of slavery• What happened next?• Dr. Woodson decided to form an organization to

promote the scientific study of black life and history, so he met at the Wabash YMCA with A.L. Jackson and formed the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

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Dr. Carter G. Woodsona.k.a. the “Father of Black History”

Why is February National Black History Month?• Dr. Woodson chose February for reasons of tradition

and reform.• Reform:

– President Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, 2/12/1809– Social reformer, Frederick Douglass’s Birthday,

2/14/1818• Tradition:

– Since Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, the black community, along with other Republicans, had been celebrating the fallen President’s birthday

– Since the 1890s, black communities across the country had been celebrating Douglass’s.

– Well aware of the pre-existing celebrations, Woodson built Negro History Week around traditional days of commemorating the black past.

• The 1960s had a dramatic effect on the study and celebration of black history.

• In 1976, the Association For The Study of African American Life and History influenced the shift from a week-long Negro History to a month-long Black History celebration.

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What is Black History Month?

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IThSKYxIjU

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My People by Langston Hughes, 1923

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The night is beautiful,So the faces of my people.

The stars are beautiful,So the eyes of my people.

Beautiful, also, is the sun.Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.

My People – Discussionby Langston Hughes, 1923

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The night is beautiful,So the faces of my people.

The stars are beautiful,So the eyes of my people.

Beautiful, also, is the sun.Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.

1. What does the speaker try to proclaim?

2. What comparisons do you find in this poem?

3. What is your interpretation of the poem “My People”?

My People

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The __________ is beautiful,so the __________ of my people.

The ___________ is beautiful,so the _________ of my people.

Beautiful, also is the ________

Beautiful, also are the _________

of my people.

Students:• copy the poem on the left onto page 73 in your agenda, and

• work with a partner to fill in the blanks

• what things do you find beautiful about YOUR community?

Source• For more information

regarding – The History of the Black

History Month– The Association for the

Study of African American Life and History – Founders of Black History Month

• Please visit: http://asalh.org/index.html

• www.google.com

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