Carter G. Woodson 1875-1950
Often referred to as "the father of black history," writer, journalist, and historian Carter G. Woodson was one of the first African American intellects to study black history and to challenge the widely held assumption that African Americans had no history. It is to Woodson we owe the tradition of African American History Month.
Born to former slaves in New Canton, Virginia, Woodson was self-taught, having mastered a rudimentary education by the age of seventeen. At the age of twenty, Woodson earned a high school diploma in the span of two years at Fayette High School(1).
According to the website, African American History Month: Profiles, Carter G. Woodson, "In 1915, Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). The organization was the platform that launched Woodson's mission to raise awareness and recognize the importance of Black history. He believed that publishing scientific history about the black race would produce facts that would prove to the world that Africa and its people had played a crucial role in the development of civilization. Thus he established a scholarly journal, The Journal of Negro History, a year after he formed the ASNLH"(2).
In honor of Woodson's legacy, and that of all contributors to African American History and historical research, my colleague, Dr. Malinda Wade is hosting a "Read-In" in which volunteers may come and read a sample from any text in the African American literary or historical canon. The Read-In takes place on February 14th at 10:45 a.m. in the Verities Sales gymnasium. I urge all who are interested to take part if at all possible.
