Central Rivers AEA strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcomed and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Continuing work done by the Equity Committee, in partnership with the Leadership Academy, we will invest in employee development initiatives to foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
“Courageous Conversations” will be featured monthly in The Channel, offering staff opportunities for self-guided learning. Each month, there will be a Zoom meeting focused on the content shared the prior month.
If you would like to join us for a Courageous Conversation about Black History Month, please join the Zoom meeting on Friday, March 7 from 8:00 – 8:45 am.
February 2025 – Courageous Conversations: Black History Month
Black History Month, known in the United States as African American History Month, is an annual celebration of ‘the countless Black men and women who have contributed to the advance of human civilization,’ according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
In the US, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” which was created by historian Carter G. Woodson (son of former enslaved individuals) and other prominent African Americans in 1926. They chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. In 1976, President Ford officially recognized the month as an observance. Every American president since has designated February as Black History Month.
In 1979, the first-ever Canadian proclamation was issued by Toronto to formally proclaim February as Black History Month. In 1988, Nova Scotia observed its first Black History Month. In 1993, Ontario proclaimed February as Black History Month which then led the way for the House of Commons to officially recognize February as Black History Month across all of Canada.
Many countries celebrate Black history and culture with their own observances that range from a day to month-long celebrations. Here are some examples:
- In Germany, the organization Initiative of Black Germans began celebrating Black History in 1990. It’s observed each October.
- The UK started celebrating Black History Month in 1987 each October.
- Costa Rica – August 31st Black Peoples and Afro-Costa Rican Culture Day. In 2018, the month August was declared History of African-Descended Peoples in Costa Rica.
- Colombia – May 21st Afro-Colombian Day began 2021 and is an annual commemoration of the abolition of slavery on May 21, 1851.
- Brazil – November 20th Black Consciousness Day. Brazil has over 1 million people with African ancestry.
Interesting Firsts & Facts
- In 1956, Gladys West was hired as a mathematician by the U.S. Naval Proving Ground. There she invented an accurate model of the Earth, which then was used as the foundation for the Global Positioning System (GPS).
- In 1608, the first recorded Black person to arrive in Canada was an African named Mathieu de Coste who served as interpreter.
- Black History Month began as Negro History Week.
Helpful learning
