The Month of February has been recognized as Black History Month by every president since 1976, 50 years after the first designated celebrations of Black History in America by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926.
Brittany Broussard, the Director of Culture and Climate at Northwestern State University (NSU), and Dr. Jasmine Wise, Coordinator for the Center for Inclusion and Diversity and Coordinator for Black Studies at NSU, say they are celebrating this Black History Month in many ways.
One way that NSU is celebrating this month is by hosting the Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels on campus on February 24. The traveling Sankofa Museum goes to college campuses and public spaces to give people the opportunity to look at artifacts from Black American history. The museum displays pieces of history from slavery to the Civil Rights movement to the election of former president Barack Obama.
“Black history is when we touched down on American soil. I believe that we look over the contributions of Black people even in slavery, and how we not only worked alongside of white indentured servants, but also created inventions that helped our slave masters,” Dr. Wise says. “We were making moves in America since the very beginning.”
Some inventions by Black Americans include the modern ironing board, home security systems, three-light stop lights and important agricultural processes.
“Even through adversity that Black people had to face through barriers, Black people were still, hundreds of years ago–even though they were enslaved–were still able to have the … It’s crazy to me…to have the wherewithal… to have the intelligence to be able to create some of these things,” Broussard says. “And that should be inspirational, not just to Black people, that should be inspirational to people, right? Just showing that people can go through things that are horrific, that seems like it’s insurmountable, and still come up with the most fascinating, the most intellectual products to help society. And, we’ve just got to give people credit where credit is due.”
For many Black American inventors, the credit was not bestowed during their lifetime. However, today their hard work is recognized and celebrated during Black History Month.
“And, I think that it’s also important as well to recognize that there were barriers that didn’t even want them to succeed, or want them to excel, and they still did,” says Dr. Wise.
Dr. Wise also says she celebrates Black History Month in a non-traditional way, acknowledging people who are making history today.
For example, Dr. Wise has posted Black influencers with online platforms, athletes, and musicians.
“So, one is Tank from Tank and the Bangas. She is located in New Orleans. I just think, like, what she represents and what she embodies, just being an unapologetic Black woman who is creative and just puts herself out there. I think she’s dope. And, then I have some friends that I love that I post as well.”
Broussard says she celebrates Black History Month by being intentional in learning Black history.
“Reading books, consuming information or consuming products by Black people, or visiting Black-owned businesses, maybe watching movies, what have you…just, kind of, learn about the Black culture.”
Black history is a big part of American history. Whether it’s creating everyday tools and processes that benefited future generations or leading the Civil Rights Movement and LGBTQ Pride, Black Americans have made major contributions to the country. Broussard and Dr. Wise say that while they acknowledge the hard parts of this history, Black History Month is a celebration of how far Black Americans have come.
“You don’t mourn at a celebration. You can’t do both,” Dr. Wise says. “Because, we have all year long to think about all the bad things that have happened to Black Americans in this country. But, I think February is a time to remember, and Black History Month is a celebration. And, I want people to remember that you can recognize that these things happened, but this month we are celebrating. And we are honoring.”
“February for me is about Black joy, you know? Our history goes beyond slavery,” Broussard says.
This is Alaina Atnip with Red River Radio.