The Importance of Black History
As we know, February is the month when we celebrate Black history in all areas. There’s so much of it to be recognized. Whether that be about powerful stories about slavery, racism, or even achievements in the Black community, these are all important and allow us to learn more about Black history and understand it. It also allows us to celebrate and honor Black leaders who have shaped our world while enduring sacrifice and suffering.
Black history is American history and deserves to be celebrated not just for 28 days but year-round. I definitely think the importance is rooted in celebrating and honoring African-American icons, their lives, and their achievements. They’ve made huge impacts on American society today.
Why is Black History Month in February
I’m sure many people have wondered why February was chosen as the month to celebrate Black History. Even I was curious! After digging up a little research, I found some very interesting things.
In an article on OprahDaily, according to Daryl Michael Scott, a professor at Howard University, Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-educated historian, is known and credited for creating Black History Month. His idea came about in 1915 after attending a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the 13th amendment.
This amendment abolished slavery under Abraham Lincoln’s presidency in 1863. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until June 9, 1865, when people held as property in The U.S. finally saw freedom. This is how the holiday Juneteenth was born and why we celebrate it. The celebration and other festivities following the good news lasted for three weeks. Woodson would then create the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH).
According to Scott, Woodson wrote The Journal of Negro History in 1916 and achieved tremendous success. With the help of his fraternity, they created “Negro Achievement Week” in 1924. Because the Black Community celebrates Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, Woodson chose February as Black History Month to align with Douglass and Lincoln’s birthdays on the 14th and the 112th, respectively. President Gerald Ford officially declared February to be Black History Month in 1976.
My Grandmother’s Favorite Piece of Black History
I thought my grandmother would be the perfect person to interview for this article, so I decided to ask her a few questions about her favorite piece of Black History. Growing up in Louisiana in the 50s and 60s, she definitely experienced some struggles and has seen enough. When asked about her favorite piece, she thought hard for a second and proceeded to say, “It would have to be Rosa Parks.”
This was a historic moment for the African-American community and America as a whole, so I thought this was a great answer. I then asked her to explain why it was her favorite. Speaking passionately, she explained how Rosa Parks was the first lady of the Civil Rights Movement.
“What stands out in my mind is Rosa Parks and the fact that she wouldn’t give up her seat. When it all started, that led to other things moving,” she said. “When she refused, they met at the church to boycott the buses once she got arrested and the Black people protested.”
Explaining how they boycotted the buses, she said they refused to ride anything white people owned. This led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted for over a year. “Black people decided that they would rather walk 20 miles than ride a bus or any white-owned transportation. That really happened.”
My grandmother also described how she had a very relatable experience.
“As a little girl, I remember being in the car with my mom, dad, and brother. My dad walked into a small store, and he was taking a very long time coming out. After a while, he walked out, and I saw there was blood running down the side of his head,” she said. “Because we were taught to not ask questions and never talk about it, it wasn’t until years later that I found out what really happened. He had actually walked through the wrong door and got hit in the head for doing so. That’s why I thought of Rosa Parks because I had actually lived through something similar.”
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Local Business Celebrates Black History Month
Many Black-owned businesses have been on the rise lately, and I love to see it. So, I conducted a quick interview with Natasha Woodruff, owner of Paws Off The Table, a business all about hand-crafted delicious, healthy treats for dogs.
It must be super fun running a dog treat business making specialty cakes, gourmet treats, and cookies. So, I asked her a few questions about who inspires her most from Black history, what inspired her to start her business, the impacts of the pandemic, and how she celebrates Black history through her business.
Woodruff’s Biggest Inspiration in Life
“Nina Simone is a huge inspiration in my life. She played a huge role as an extraordinary artist and paved the way for so many artists to follow. She used her talent to create a legacy of empowerment, passion, and love,” Woodruff said. “Nina Simone also used her art as a vehicle for social commentary and change. During the 1963 racial injustice, [she] used her platform to challenge the belief that race relations could change. As Simone stood strong, I used her as an inspiration to stand strong as a Black female business owner within a market that is not diverse. I continue to use my art to chase my dreams, same as The Great Nina Simone.”
Starting Her Own Busines
When asked about what led her to start up her own business, Woodruff said, “I came to a point in my life where I decided to focus on my health and gain a better understanding of what I was putting in my body. I furthered this education to what ingredients make up the food I was giving Prince. Looking at the back of food packages can be discouraging, but with the help of this thing called Google, you can find substitutes. And that I did. I started making my own dog treats to know what exactly goes into them. That’s when the vision started. When you have an idea and the passion behind it, anything is possible.”
She then shared how the idea for the mobile treat trailer came to her one day while at a food festival.
“I had my dog Prince with me in one hand and stuffing my face with a vegan taco in the other hand,” she said. “A wave of guilt came across me as Prince watched me with his puppy eyes. I felt guilty that he didn’t have anything to enjoy while at the festival. So the idea came: “why not have a food truck for dogs?”
Impacts of the Pandemic
The pandemic greatly impacted businesses in the community, including Paws Off The Table.
“The pandemic allowed me to pivot from what my original vision was to where I am today. I downsized from a food truck to a food trailer,” Woodruff said. “Which was actually the best move for me at the time.”
While her mobile treat trailer was customized, Woodruff used that time during the pandemic to drive the exposure for her business.
“The pandemic canceled all the pop-up events; it left me no choice but to go back to my roots of bootstrapping. I had to get in front of my customers. What better way to [do that] than at the dog parks?” she said. “The pandemic forced people to spend more time outside walking their dogs and spending more time at dog parks. So, I was able to provide them with teats at their convenience and drive visibility of my brand.”
Celebrating Black History Through Her Business
Lastly, I asked Natasha if there are any ways she’s celebrating Black History Month through her business. She answered, “Yes, I offer an Affirmation Cookie Box that centers around Black History. These affirmation words such as “Strong,” “Creates,” “Power,” and “Dope” are all empowering words that drive me as a Black woman business owner.“
Show your love and support for Natasha Woodruff and order some sweet treats for your pups through her website.
Black History Month: A Celebration Everyday
There are so many important and powerful pieces of Black History to honor, recognize, and commemorate.
African American men and women like Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Harriet Tubman, Barack Obama, Rosa Parks, and many others have made their marks in the Black community and America. They are true icons who’ve made impressive, meaningful, and remarkable achievements in fields like politics, science, entertainment, sports, and so on. Their contributions matter to the greatest extent.
Black History will always be part of American History and deserves recognition at all times. To honor Black History Month all year long, support local Black-owned businesses, purchase and read books written by Black authors, and even participate in/attend events like poetry slams or art exhibitions hosted by Black artists.
