The Labour Spokesman Editorial
Once again it is that time of year when we observe Black History Month. Ever since US President Gerald Ford in 1976 officially designated February as ‘Black History Month,’ he and his successors have annually done so without failing. In time other countries around the world also began to celebrate Black History Month: The United Kingdom in 1987, Canada in 1995, and Ireland and The Netherlands in 2010. When President Ford made the declaration he called on the American public to seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavour throughout that nation’s history.
The event as we know it may be said to have had its origins in September 1915, when Reverend Jesse Moorland and Dr Carter G Woodson, a noted historian, organised The Association For The Study Of Negro Life And History (ASNLH), dedicated to researching and promoting the achievements of Black Americans and other peoples of African descent. Woodson contended that if a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, and eventually becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, in danger of becoming exterminated. Such was the interest stimulated by The ASNLH that they organised the first ‘Negro History Week’ in 1926, choosing the second week of February because it coincided with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (12 February) and that of Frederick Douglass (20 February). Over time the activities extended over the whole of February, becoming Black History Month.
The contribution of black people has extended to our country and others in The West Indies. Their observations and experiences propelled men like Marcus Garvey, and Joseph Nathan and George Wilkes of St Kitts, to agitate for the betterment of fellow black persons across the region. Nathan and Wilkes played leading roles in the enlightenment and organisation of our people, paving the way for the successful formation of The Workers League (1932) and eventually The St Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union (1940). It therefore behoves us always to be mindful of this very significant event, and we should forever be grateful to those who went before and helped to lay the ground work for our advancement.