About Black History Month and This Article
To fully appreciate the celebration of Black History Month - February - a review and reassessment of the social and academic climate is important for our background as teachers. One of the most important factors to our understanding is the fact that between 1619 and 1926, when Black History Month was established, African Americans and other people of African descent were classified as a race that hadn't made any contribution to human civilization.
So, prior to this celebration, the majority of thought was that there was nothing to celebrate. Within the public and private sector, people of African descent were in the position of non-citizens, often defined as fractions of humans. During this time, btween 1890 and 1925, it is estimated that an African American was lynched every two and a half days. Not even during the time of the witch hunts were a group of people so singled out and regarded as less-than-human, or not worthy of common respect.
Perhaps because they were not considered to be a "whole" person, most people of African descent were not educated in any manner.
Now, African American writers are some of the most renowned for their poignant voice and evocative imagery. This contribution to the world of literacy is one that is easy to focus on within the classroom. This article is dedicated to the African American voice, and how we can share that with our students.
Two Selected Works
The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Langston HughesI've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
From The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Copyright © 1994 the Estate of Langston Hughes.
