Norfolk District celebrates African American/Black History Month

Posted February 2, 2010
By Jerry Rogers
Norfolk District Public Affairs

2/2/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk District will salute African American/Black History Month with a special program Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m., in the multipurpose room of Waterfield Building.

The guest speaker will be Mr. Marvin Lake, who retired in 2007 as the public editor of the Virginian-Pilot. He was known as the newspaper's arbiter of fairness, accuracy and balance, and will share his thoughts and experiences in keeping with this year's national theme: "History of Black Economic Empowerment."

The program will also feature a 30-minute film, entitled "Church Street: Harlem of the South," showcasing black economic prosperity of downtown Norfolk, specifically Church Street.

The film was produced by Vandora Williams, who is one of the district's small business historically black colleges and universities contractors from Hampton University. Lake will talk about a time when Church Street was the black economic mecca not only for Norfolk, but Hampton Roads, and nationally known for its entertainment industry from the 40s through the 60s.

"In fact, Norfolk was the standard-bearer in gauging economic wealth for black Americans," said Gregory E. Headen, the district's equal employment opportunity manager.

In his proclamation honoring African American/Black History Month, President Barack H. Obama wrote: "In the centuries since African Americans first arrived on our shores, they have known the bitterness of slavery and oppression, the hope of progress, and the triumph of the American dream. African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our nation's enduring struggle to perfect itself.

"Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a nation, and what challenges remain. This year's theme, "The History of Black Economic Empowerment," calls upon us to honor African Americans who overcame injustice and inequality to achieve financial independence and the security of self empowerment that comes with it," Obama added.

American educator and historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), considered a pioneer in the study of African American history, is given much of the credit for Black History Month, and has been called the "Father of Black History." The son of former slaves, Woodson spent his childhood in New Canton, Va., working in coalmines and quarries.

He received his education during the four-month term that was customary for black schools at the time. At 19, having taught himself English fundamentals and arithmetic, Woodson entered high school, where he completed a four-year curriculum in two years.

He went on to receive his Master's degree in history from the University of Chicago, and earned a PhD from Harvard University.

Disturbed that history textbooks largely ignored America's black population, Woodson took on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. To do this, Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. He also founded the group's widely respected publication, the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he developed Negro History Week.

Woodson believed that America "should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate and religious prejudice."

Woodson chose the second week of February for the celebration because it marks the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the black American population:

• Frederick Douglass (February 14), an escaped slave who became one of the foremost black abolitionists and civil rights leaders in the nation.
• President Abraham Lincoln (February 12), who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in America's confederate states

In 1976, Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month. The month is also sometimes referred to as African American History Month.