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black history month

Schedule of events [Link] [Printable Calendar PDF]

Feb. 1 - 28

• South Africa School Supply Drive, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., daily, Department of Africana Studies, sponsored by the Association of Africana Studies Majors and Minors

Feb. 1 - 7

• Feb. 1: Gospel Fest, 4 - 7 p.m., Smith Recital Hall, sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies and the Intercultural Relations/Cross-Cultural Center
• Feb. 2: Carter G. Woodson presents "The History of Black History of Black History Month," 6 p.m., Casa Real, sponsored by the Student African American Brotherhood (S.A.A.B.)
• Feb. 3: Film Screening: "The Spook Who Sat by the Door," time/location TBD, sponsored by S.A.A.B.
• Feb. 4: Library Exhibit: "Creating Community: African Americans in San Diego," lecture by Africana Studies professor Shirley Weber from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in Love Library's Leon Williams Room (4th floor); sponsored by SDSU Library and Information Access
• Feb. 5: Free Library Course: "NAACP 100 years later," 6 - 8 p.m., Malcolm X Library, sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies; Lecture/exhibit, "Black at SDSU - Part 1," 4 p.m., Casa Real, sponsored by S.A.A.B.
• Feb. 6: Jazzy Nights, 7 - 9 p.m., Faculty-Staff Club, sponsored by the Association of Africana Studies Majors and Minors

Feb. 8 - 14

• Feb. 9: Lecture/exhibit: "Black at SDSU - Part 2," 6 p.m., Casa Real, sponsored by S.A.A.B.
• Feb. 10: Film Screening: "Imitation of Life," 6:30 p.m., Intercultural Relations/Cross-Cultural Center, sponsored by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
• Feb. 12: Free Library Course: "NAACP 100 years later," 6 - 8 p.m., Malcolm X Library, sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies; SDSU Black Out - Wear All Black Day, all day on campus, sponsored by S.A.A.B.
• Feb. 13: Jazz Concert, 7 p.m., Smith Recital Hall, sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies and the School of Music and Dance

Feb. 15 - 21

• Feb. 16: Black History Bowl, 4 p.m., Back Door in Aztec Center,  sponsored by the Afrikan Student Union, the Association of Africana Studies Majors and Minors, and the Intercultural Relations/Cross-Cultural Center
• Feb. 17: Film Screening: "Lady Sings The Blues," 7 p.m., Council Chambers in Aztec Center, sponsored by the Association Africana Studies Majors and Minors
• Feb. 18: "Black is the New Color: HIV/AIDS in the Black Community," 6 p.m., Casa Real, sponsored by S.A.A.B.
• Feb. 19: Free Library Course: "NAACP 100 years later," 6 - 8 p.m., Malcolm X Library, sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies; SDSU Black Out - Wear All Black Day, all day on campus, sponsored by S.A.A.B.
• Feb. 20: Theatre: "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf," 7 p.m., Back Door in Aztec Center, sponsored by ASDA

Feb. 22 - 28

• Feb. 23: "40 Years after Black Studies Protest," 4 - 6 p.m., Casa Real, sponsored by the Association of Africana Studies Majors and Minors and the Intercultural Relations/ Cross-Cultural Center
• Feb. 24: Film Screening: "Something the Lord Made," time TBD, Intercultural Relations/Cross-Cultural Center, sponsored by the Black Student Science Organization and National Society of Black Engineers
• Feb. 25: RBG from Marcus Garvey to the Black Panther Party, 6 p.m., Casa Real in Aztec Center, sponsored by S.A.A.B.
• Feb. 26: Free Library Course: "NAACP 100 years later," 6 - 8 p.m., Malcolm X Library, sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies; SDSU Black Out - Wear All Black Day, all day on campus, sponsored by S.A.A.B.
• Feb. 27: Closing Celebration with Music, Dance & Art, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Arts & Letters quad, sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies

Carter Woodson’s Passion for Black History

The story of Black History Month begins with historian Carter G. Woodson. Woodson was passionate about black history. His passion, however, evolved in the most unlikely place. While working at a coal mine when he was twenty, the daily conversation of the black Civil War veterans often focused on interesting historical facts not recorded in history books. Woodson realized that despite the constantly evolving history of the African American experience, documentation was sparse.

Woodson’s enthusiasm led him to college where he earned a bachelor degree in European history and a Ph.D. in history. As a new graduate, he managed to earn a living as a high school teacher and later as a professor of history at Howard University. Yet, his desire to document black history remained. He co-founded and financed the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 with the lofty goal for it to both publish and fund research and writing projects about black history.

Carter Woodson Works Toward Documenting Black History

Black History Month Takes Root

In 1926, Woodson finally came across an idea that would forever associate his name with Black History Month. Negro History Week, as it was called by the black fraternity Omega Psi Phi, was a week in February dedicated to celebrating the achievements of blacks. Their celebration was somewhat stagnant until Woodson offered to put the Association’s name behind the idea in February 1926. Woodson chose the second week in February because it marked the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Through Woodson’s promotion of the celebration in the Journal of Negro History and the creation and distribution of kits for children, Negro History Week gained in popularity. In 1976, it evolved into Black History Month.

Source: Gates, Henry Louis and West, Cornel, The African American Century, Touchstone, 2002.