Black History: Why Does It Matter?
The late Dr. Asa G. Hilliard, III, was interviewed by Listervelt Middleton on a program on African History. The late Listervelt Middleton hosted the program. He was a well-known journalist who interviewed many African History Scholars. His question for Dr. Hilliard was: Why should the average person working at McDonald’s or any place else be concerned about Black History? Why is it important?
Dr. Hilliard answered by saying that “When other children go to school every day, they see images of themselves all of the time in every aspect of the curriculum. When Black children attend school, they see very few images of themselves. “Dr. Hilliard continued by saying that, “Speaking as an educator and a psychologist, the most urgent thing we have to do is to teach our children. Parents, children, and teachers alike have to be re-educated. They need new information and new insights. That means a study of history. That means a study of culture and that means creating the institutions that practice that culture. The goal should be unity and liberation as a people to be strong again. In order for that to happen there needs to be a systematic study to restore memory.”
Dr. Hilliard served as the Fuller E. Calloway Professor of Urban Education at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Hilliard also published widely on many topics in African and African American History.
The question posed by Listervelt Middleton is important and relevant today, especially as we begin another celebration of Black History Month in February. It is even more important now as we face an uncertain era in this country with so much right-wing propaganda. It is up to African Americans to make sure that our history is preserved and shared all year long and not just during Black History Month.
We must not forget the great work of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who was the founder of Black History Month in the 1930s. Dr. Woodson spent most of his life researching and documenting African American History. Dr. Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History.” In 1915, he started the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.” Today it is known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. In the beginning, people made fun of him. He needed money to continue his work, but it was difficult to get support. Dr. Woodson never gave up. His goal was to create an organization of scholars and intellectuals who would study and write about the African American past. His most famous book was called “The Miseducation of the Negro.” The book became a classic. It is still popular today.
Yes, Black History does Matter. We owe those who came before us to continue the tradition of teaching, studying, and sharing our history beyond February. The names of our great historians need to be honored. The end of February must be a beginning, not an end. We must salute Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Dr. Asa G. Hilliard for their hard work in reminding us and the world of the great contributions of African Americans.