(Originally shared February 27, 2023)
Black History Month celebrates the contributions of Black and African Americans and recognizes their role in American history. Carter G. Woodson, the son of enslaved parents and a Harvard-trained historian, first held a seven-day Negro* History Week in 1926, choosing February as the month when both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were born. In the 1960’s, college students and teachers rallied for Black History Month, which was finally recognized nationally in 1976.
If you grew up in the United States, you likely associate Black History Month with a handful of famous individuals cast in an almost saintly light: Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and George Washington Carver spring to mind. While these luminaries certainly deserve study, focusing only on a few individuals ignores both the daily challenges and victories in the lives of Black Americans, who have persevered through slavery, Jim Crow, red-lining, lynchings, and other means of systemic oppression that have prevented full participation in American democracy.
The theme for Black History Month 2023 is Black Resistance, celebrating the will and determination that has allowed Black Americans to claim an equitable place in society. Black history is American history, and it has often been underreported. In 2020, 12% of Americans self-reported as Black, including 13.7% of New Yorkers and 8.3% of City of Geneva residents. Their stories, and those of their ancestors, include tales of bravery, strength, and joy that should be celebrated in February and throughout the year. As we come to the end of the month, we encourage you to continue learning all year long.
*Though common until the 1970’s, the term ‘Negro’ is considered inappropriate today, and ‘Black’ or ‘African-American’ are preferred. If you’re not sure how a Black person identifies, it’s ok to politely ask.
Ways to learn about and celebrate Black American culture:
- Learn from our colleagues. Cornell has one of the nation’s first departments of Black History, the Africana Studies & Research Center, and offers many in-person and virtual programs. Professor Riché Richardson, in particular, has written extensively about the way American culture influences gender roles for African-American men and women.
- Look for entertainment made by and about Black Americans. Learning about black culture doesn’t have to be academic work! Shows like `black•ish, South Side, and Abbot Elementary use humor to approach Black cultural issues.
- Explore the history of Black Genevans. Ontario County had the largest Black population in Western NY in the mid-1800’s, comprised of descendants of the enslaved people at Rose Hill, freed former slaves from surrounding farms, and fugitives from the Southern US. Historic Geneva has a collection of written and oral stories about the thriving Black communities in town. This Wednesday, March 1, you can attend a local presentation of “One City, Many Stories: Geneva’s Diversity” at the Boys and Girls Club as part of the City of Geneva’s 125th Anniversary celebration.
- Learn the complicated history of Black American farmers. From the history of enslaved farmworkers through the inequities of share-cropping and discrimination by farm lending agencies, agriculture carries heavy baggage for many Black Americans. Understanding this history can help researchers and extension educators approach Black audiences with cultural sensitivity.
At AgriTech, we grow things- including a nuanced understanding of American agriculture’s racially-charged past and present.
Sincerely,
Anna Katharine Mansfield and Amara Dunn
AgriTech DEI Council co-chairs