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Posted 2/8/2010 @ 9:56:56 am by reverseages.com
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February is Black History Month, and the credit to establishing its presence goes to Dr. Carter G. Woodsen.
Carter G. Woodsen was born into a family of slaves who taught him to read. While Woodsen worked in the coal mines in Virginia, he was determined to finish high school so he taught himself. At twenty years old, he was graduated from high school. Then, he went on to Berea College in Kentucky in 1903. From there, he taught English in the Philippines.
While in the Philippines, Woodsen continued his studies in correspondence school specializing in Romance languages. After returning to the U.S., he began teaching at Dunbar High School in Washington, DC.
In 1912, he earned a PhD from Harvard University. He was the second African American to earn a Harvard doctorate. It bothered Dr. Woodsen that Blacks were omitted from history books. And when Blacks were mentioned, it was in regards to being in an inferior position.
Dr. Woodsen took it upon himself to honor Blacks in history, and he choose the second week in February. He choose this week because this was the week that the two greatest men in history were celebrated - Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. February is also a pivotal month for other milestones, as well. These milestones are listed on the website http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmintro1.html
