Black History Month & Why It Resonates With Our Mission

What is Black History Month?

Black History Month is an annual recognition of the contributions, achievements, and history of Black Americans. What began as Negro History Week in 1926, was expanded to African American Month 50 years later, in 1976, by former President Gerald Ford.

Every year, the month of February arrives as an opportunity to educate and recognize the contributions of Black Americans throughout United States history, and celebrate the accomplishments of Black men and women who've enacted positive change in American society.

How Black History Month started

On February 7, 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson initiated the first official celebration of what was called Negro History Week. Woodson believed that young Black Americans in the early 20th century were not being adequately educated about their own heritage and the achievements of their ancestors. In February 1926, Woodson sent out a press release announcing the very first Negro History Week. The month of February was chosen because of two prominent men that had championed for Black Americans—President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Both Lincoln’s and Douglas’s birthdays occur in February.

In 1976, President Ford issued a proclamation, naming February African American History Month. Since then, every president has followed suit in proclaiming February as African American History Month.

The history of Black people in the United States is rife with injustice and hardship, and goes back hundreds of years. Since its first inception in 1976, African American History Month has continued to evolve in the decades since.

“Knowing the Past Will Open the Doors to the Future” was the name of an article written by the National Museum of African American History & Culture. The phrase itself cues people into the importance of this month of awareness, and what it means overall for America going forward. It was critical to talk about discrimination in this country and what the Black community endured as we continue to fight for more changes.

What Black History Month means to our mission

The NWA Center for Sexual Assault is able to provide healing and advocacy through a number of different programs and services for those traumatized by rape or sexual assault. Our center recognizes that minority communities are affected at a disproportionately higher rate, and that many issues surrounding sexual violence can be traced back generations.

We offer several outreach programs to help bridge the gaps that exist in prevention education and awareness for the diverse communities within Northwest Arkansas. One program, Let’s Talk NWA, is dedicated to serving and educating the Black community on a number of important issues. A primary goal is to facilitate discussions on issues that directly affect Black people by developing local partnerships, actively participating in community events, and continuously seeking out other opportunities.

Local Black History Month events

Black History Month provides a great opportunity to have the difficult conversations around discrimination in the United States, as well as the preponderance of racial trauma in American society, specifically as it pertains to Black Americans. The month of February provides a multitude of opportunities to get involved.

Several upcoming events happening in the greater Northwest Arkansas area include:

• Feb 1: Judas and the Black Messiah film screening, 6pm, Arkansas Union Theatre
• Feb 2: Reflecting on a Moment in History: A Conversation on Racial Injustice and the Murder of Emmett Till, 6:30pm, live-streamed
• Feb 3: Level-Up Career Fair Pre-Party, 6pm, Arkansas Union Theatre
• Feb 8: Black TikTok event, 6pm, Arkansas Union Theatre
• Feb 9: Letter From Birmingham Jail reading, panel discussion, 7pm, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
• Feb 17: Building Racial Equity Training, town hall, 2pm, live-streamed
• Feb 19: The Collective Expo, 1pm, Fayetteville Town Center
• Feb 21: Black Men Deserve To Grow Old, 6:30pm, live-streamed
• Feb 26: Leading With Excellence Awards Gala, 7pm, Fayetteville Town Center
• Feb 28: Black Culture Night, 6pm, Arkansas Union Theater

Black leaders who inspire our team

Maya Angelou
"She wasn't afraid to talk about the things no one wanted to talk about, including her own experiences of being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Her words brought calm and inspiration while demanding action and change."
—Julie K.

Tyler Perry
"He inspires me to work hard in order to get what I want and to go after whatever I want. Tyler Perry has 17 feature films, 20 stage plays, 7 television shows, and a New York Times bestselling book. He's built an empire that has attracted audiences and built communities. All his films have a beautiful lesson and are grounded in reality."
—Janerose R.

"Because of abuse at a young age, he learned to write everything down. That’s how he started doing entertainment. Perry has put multiple individuals in positions to be successful, in addition to the plays and movies. He purchased an old army base of 40 acres to grant individuals employment. Whether it's through the entertainment industry, housing, or shopping center. He guides us through lessons with laughter and I’ve enjoyed his character, Madea, so much that I wished she was real. I also think it’s so cool that he started watching Oprah, taking her advice at a young age, and is now best friends with her. She’s the godmother of his child, isn’t that crazy?"
—Naudia W.

Oprah Winfrey
"Her story is so inspiring that she came from a really tough background and became the first Black female billionaire. She also influences so much of American culture today with her talk show, philanthropy, and even her book club."
—Analisa C.

Tarana Burke
"She is an activist and founder of the #MeToo movement. She was one of the first to shed light on the prevalence of sexual violence, especially among women. Her ability to start the courageous conversation around the global issue of sexual violence has raised so much awareness on an international level. Fun fact: I had the opportunity to meet her in person a few years ago when she came to Fayetteville!"
—Samantha W.

Kobe Bryant
"I grew up watching and rooting for the LA Lakers. For Black History Month, I am inspired by Kobe Bryant who was a champion for gender equality in a field that has fundamentally lacked it. He used his platform to become a leading force in showing that girls can do anything boys can do. He prided himself in being a "Girl Dad" and when asked if he wanted a son to continue on his legacy, he proudly spoke of his daughters and how they were enough to continue it themselves. Coming from a cultural background that shows this same machismo attitude that Kobe fought against, it is inspiring to know that one of the biggest names in basketball actively fought for gender equality."
—Araceli G.

Jane Bolin
"Not only was she the first Black woman to attend Yale Law School, but she also was the first Black female judge in the US. I admire the fact that she worked with private employers to hire people based on their skills, rather than based on their race. I think she is brave and amazing!!"
—Lupe R.

Billie Holiday

"I've been a fan of Billie Holiday's music since I was a little girl, when my lola came over from the Philippines to live with my family. My lola didn't speak English, but she absolutely loved listening to vocalists like Billie Holiday and Patsy Cline, and her love for blues and jazz rubbed off on me. Billie had an incredibly difficult life—experiencing childhood sexual assault, early pregnancy, and drug and alcohol addiction (which did lead to her early death). She sang with a rawness and honesty to her voice that was born from the many hardships she endured in life, and she left a mark on jazz culture forever."

—Sandra G.

In closing, although having a month to honor the legacy of influential Black Americans is helpful and well-intended, it simply isn't enough to counteract the ongoing injustices and inequities that continue to be prevalent for the Black community.

During the month of February, we should all commit to taking the necessary steps to learn more about Black history and the experiences highlighted there, and celebrate Black Americans and the incredible accomplishments and contributions they've given to modern American society.