Monday, February 02, 2009

Black History Month: Day Three--The Truth Should Set You Free


*Note: For The Journey: Day Fifteen see my earlier post today.

Black History Month: The History and Controversy

Day Three: The Truth Should Set You Free

A decade before he conceived of Negro History Week, African American historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) launched the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (1915).

Dr. Woodson believed that publishing scientific history about the Black race would produce facts that would prove that Africa and its people had played a crucial role in the development of civilization. As a Harvard-trained historian, Woodson believed that truth would prevail over prejudice.

Based upon his conviction, he established The Journal of Negro History in 1916. However, a decade into his work, he recognized that scholarship alone was not defeating the race problem. Unfortunately, many white historians were not promoting the truth even when they read its riches.

So what next? If the scholarly community would not be moved by truth, then how could the legacy of Black achievements ever become appreciated?

Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story...

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