We are proud to announce that the entire month of February, YWCA Charleston Racial Justice Program has partnered with WRVZ 98.7 FM to bring to light amazing African American cultural, legal, and business leaders from the great state of West Virginia. Every day a different person is being showcased to celebrate Black History Month during a series of public service announcements on the radio.
National Black History Month celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history and deepens all of our understanding of our Nation's history.
Black History Month originated in 1915 when historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In February 1926, Dr. Woodson initiated the first Negro History Week. This week was purposefully selected by Dr. Woodson since it included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two key figures in the history of African Americans. This Black History Week was expanded and proclaimed Black History Month by President Ford in 1976 and has been celebrated every year since.
Born to parents who were former slaves in Virginia, his family moved permanently to Huntington West Virginia in 1893 after Dr. Woodson and his brother, Robert, had migrated to Fayette County, West Virginia to work in the coal mines.. His fellow miners in instilled a love of black history through long conversations on the subject. After moving to Huntington, Dr. Woodson attended Douglass High School where he graduated in 1896. He studied at Berea College in Kentucky, and returned to Huntington as the principal of Douglass High School in 1900. He traveled around the world, studied at the Sorbonne, and returned to continue his education at the University of Chicago and at Harvard, receiving a doctorate from in 1912.
The Carter G. Woodson Memorial Foundation erected a life-sized statue of him on Hal Greer Boulevard in Huntington.
To learn more about Carter G. Woodson and the genesis of Black History Month:
We will be exploring amazing citizens of West Virginia who have accomplished all month celebrating Black History Month. Please keep checking in to read more! Let us know if you have questions or would like to learn more about YWCA Charleston Racial Justice Program.
And save the date for YWCA Charleston's 2nd Annual Race to End Racism 5K Run/1 Mile Walk at Magic Island on the West Side!