Poetic Tongues/Fabu
I Love Black History Month
I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who, because he was the historian who founded Black History Week in February 1926. He used his profession to research and offer factual evidence of the accomplishments of Black people in the United States and in the world. His proof of our past, that we, as a people have never been inferior, in any way to other races, was his lasting legacy He started with a week, but it changed to a month to include Black people around the world and in 1976 was officially recognized as a month during our nation’s bicentennial (200 year celebration). .
Growing up in 1968 Memphis, Tennessee, I always loved Black History Month. I was new to the city, arriving with my mom, brother, and sister, because my dad, like too many Black soldiers, was ordered to fight on the front lines in Vietnam. I felt sad and confused. We previously traveled with him every place he was stationed as an Army Sergeant. At first, I did not know he was leaving us to fight in a war, I just wondered where Vietnam is and why we could not go with him this time too. War is a different kind of chaos for the families of soldiers, particularly children, and I missed my daddy. As I write this, long ago feelings return and I want to cry. My daddy returned a changed, wounded man, after fighting in two tours in Vietnam.
This was also the same time as a powerful Civil Rights Movement, and the Black Power Movement was gaining momentum too. As a people, we went from accepting the definition of us as “Negros” to defining ourselves as “Black people.” Everybody’s family members were involved with one or both movements. My mother was marching with the Reverend Dr. King, and my auntie was a member of the Black Power Movement. I watched history/herstory being made, through young eyes, in Memphis, Tennessee. It was dangerous for Black folks, yet oppressed lives made the yearning for freedom so strong that they decided to be free or die. Countless Black people died in 1968, fighting for the freedoms we now must guard and protect in 2026.
I am an adult living in Madison, Wisconsin and I love Black History Month even more. I brought the celebration with me, carrying it securely in my heart. Over the decades here, I performed poetry during Black History Month, organized several events making sure to include historical facts, assisted others in their Black History Month occasions, set on panels answering Black trivia, written commissioned poems for Black History Month celebrations, taught my son and community children the importance of immersing oneself in your people’s accurate past, eaten so much delicious soul food from local Black cooks and chefs from different US regions lovingly prepared and shared, written columns on encouraging everyone to learn more about us in February and most importantly, to celebrate ourselves.
This year is extremely special because 2026 marks the 100th celebration of Black History that Dr. Carter G. Woodson began in February 1926. A hundred years of showing the United States and the world factual proof of the accomplishments of Black people. His concrete evidence of our past, that we, as people, have never been inferior, in any way to any other race, continues as a great gift. While living in Madison, a Black elementary student once told me that there were no Black doctors, and even a White adult said that she did not know Black poets existed. Dr. Woodson pioneered the way to knowledge that Black people first traveled to North America, to what is now the United States, as free African explorers and our history/herstory does not begin in enslavement. It is true that Black History Month is every day because we are productive human beings every day, yet to take a whole month to focus, reflect and enjoy ourselves is a tremendous blessing. Make sure you learn new facts, do self-care, attend events, eat traditional soul food and remember Dr. Carter G. Woodson who loved and appreciated his people enough to create and give us Black History Month celebrations.