The History of Black History Month and its Early Days Bossier

Why is Black History Month celebrated in February and not some other month, such as January, the month of Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Because February has the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and Black History Month began before MLK Jr. was even born. This special recognition of Black history was begun by Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875 – 1950), a Harvard-trained historian whose parents had been enslaved. Dr. Woodson believed black people had a culture and tradition that scholars should investigate and artists should use as inspiration. He challenged all Americans to understand their country by seeing beyond American culture as simply transplanted British culture.

Dr. Woodson’s challenge was an early example of multiculturalism. In 1915 he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. (ASALH), which debuted a “Negro History Week" in 1926. Negro History Week became Black History Month in 1976, the bicentennial of the U.S.A., by declaration of President Ford, a declaration that has been made by every U.S. President thereafter.

Negro History Week really took hold nationwide in the 1940’s, when it was already being celebrated in Bossier Parish. The History Center has in its archive a girls’ dormitory ledger from the Bossier Parish Training School in Benton, which was the earliest secondary school for African Americans in Bossier Parish. Once the dormitories were built, those who lived too far away to make the daily trek to school could board at the school.

The ledger from 1937-1938 included a mention of “Negro History Week” with the “C.C. High School Music Dept.”, which appears to be Central Colored High School in Shreveport, and possibly indicates that the schools collaborated in their celebration. We have not found Bossier newspaper accounts of early “Negro History Week” events, but there are reports for Shreveport. Perhaps the music program mentioned in the ledger was like the one reported in the Shreveport Journal on February 15, 1935. “A special program in observance of Negro History week was held at the West Shreveport negro school Friday morning. The history of outstanding members of the race was told and negro folk songs rendered by a chorus directed by H. Chambers and J.B. Morgan.“

Do you have any memories or memorabilia from local “Negro History Week” or Black History Month celebrations? If so, the Historical Center would love to hear from you. To be able to present the well-rounded view of American History that Carter G. Woodson promoted, the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center is always looking to add more photographs or documents of African-American life in Bossier Parish. We can always make copies and you keep the originals. We are currently focused especially on obtaining photographs and church histories from as many African-American religious congregations in Bossier Parish as possible.

The Bossier Parish Libraries History Center is located at 2206 Beckett St., Bossier City, LA. We are open M-Th 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-5. Our phone number is (318) 746-7717 and our email is history-center@bossierlibrary.org

For other fun facts, photos, and videos, be sure to follow us @BPLHistoryCenter on FB, @bplhistorycenter on TikTok

The Bossier Parish Libraries History Center is located at 2206 Beckett St., Bossier City, LA. We are open M-Th 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-5. Our phone number is (318) 746-7717 and our email is history-center@bossierlibrary.org

For other fun facts, photos, and videos, be sure to follow us @BPLHistoryCenter on FB, @bplhistorycenter on TikTok

Images: 

• Carter G. Woodson, Smithsonian Institution
• Expense Ledger from the Bossier Parish Training School Girl’s Dormitory, 1937-1938. Entry for Negro History Month is highlighted. History Center collection

Article by: Pam Carlisle