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Airianna Thompson February 1, 2012 Mrs. Clark- Vipers 4 What Black History Month Means to Me To me, black history month means hope for the people. The origins of black history month date back to 1926, when Carter G. Woodson, director of the Association of the Study of Negro Life and History, established what was known as “Negro History Week.” Dr. Woodson's aspiration was to draw attention to the intentional miseducation of Blacks, and the misrepresentation of the great achievements of Blacks. It was said that Dr. Woodson specifically selected a week in February because both Fredrick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln were born in that month. When Woodson died in 1950, Negro History Week had become a cultural institution within the black community. In the 1960s, as the Black Power movement grew, many people complained that one week was not long enough to celebrate the many great achievements of blacks. In 1976, the celebration was expanded to cover the entire month. The reason I said I believe black history month means hope for the people is because, when there was no hope and blacks were controlled every second of every day people thought things would never change. Look at the way things are now! Before, people thought they would never be able to get a good job and make more money than a white person. But now, race has been set aside, and there are new laws that prohibit discrimination of race, religion, and culture. Discrimination of any kind is not legal in the U.S. Which is, absolutely amazing compared to how things used to be. Dr. Martin Luther King said “A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.” So many people died to get equal rights amongst all people! I am so grateful that we get to celebrate them and their accomplishments. I honestly, don't think we should celebrate it just once a month either, we should celebrate it everyday! Black History month helps people to understand that there is hope and you should never lose it. I am the daughter of a bi-racial couple and I am so blessed to have had people fight for what they believed in. Because, if they hadn't, I might not have had the chance to be here today. Black History month was a great contribution to all of the holidays and important events in which we celebrate. Now, after reading my paper.... What does black history month mean to you?