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Celebrate Black History Month
WSSU’s Schedule of Events
February 14 9:00 pm Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Ball
February 16 Visual Art Series-Mr. Van Hinnant
February 16 3:00 pm Black History Methodist Church
February 16 7:00 pm Movie - “Cotton Club”
February 17 1:00 pm Black History Month Film
February 18 7:30 pm Lecture: The Possibility of An African World
Union Speaker: John Henrik Clarke
February 19 10:00 amCommunication Arts Majors’ Seminar
February 20 7:00 pm Patterson Assembly Series, Speaker: Sonia
Sanchez
February 23 7:00 pm Movie-“Soldier’s Story”
February 24 1:00 pm History Month Film
February 24 7:30 pm SGA Gospel Extravangza
February 25 8:00 pm Seminar: Understanding the Middle East: An
, Afro-American View-Khalid Fattah
February 26 10:00 am Annual Black Book Reviews
February 27 8:00 pm Lyceum Event-Pearl Williams Jones Gospel
Trio
February 28 9:00 pm SGA Dance
Place-TBA
Univeristy
Art Gallery
Auditorium
S.U.
Ballroom
S.U. Lobby
228 CB
228 CB
228 CB
S.U.
Ballroom
S.U. Lobby
Auditorium
Atkins Hall
228 CB
Auditorium
Whitaker
Gym
Black History Month is an annual event and is celebrated during the month of
February. A series of programs have been developed to provide an educational forum
for the increased awareness of the black struggle and to provide comprehensive ef
forts which recognize the contributions of Black Americans.
(For information - Contact Ms. Elaine Browne, Asst. Director of Student Activities, 27
Student Union, 761-2044)
Black History
IVlonth. How did
it all begin?
by Debbie A. Smith
It was through one man’s desire for all
Americans, Black and White, to know the
truth about the role of the Negro in
American history, that started the celebra
tion now known as Black History Month.
Carter G. Woodson, also known as the
father of Black History, was an educator
and historian. He received his Doctoral
degree from Harvard University in 1912.
Woodson was the second black man to
receive this distinction (W.E.B. Du Hois
was the first). He dedicated his life to study
ing the history of the Negro people, and con
sequently, became the distinguished author
of numerous books on this topic.
It was Carter Woodson who founded the
organization that drastically changed the
image of the Negro in American history.
The Association for the Study of Negro Life
and History was founded in 1915 with only
five members. The purpose of the organiza
tion was to clarify the prevalent misconcep
tions and myths concerning the Negro.
Negroes were perceived in the lowest possi
ble light. They were considered second
class citizens and most of all inferior to the
Whites with whom they shared a nation.
It was through the ASNLH that Woodson
gathered all available information concern
ing the role that Negroes played in the
history of the United States. Through Wood
son and his organization a great deal of
previously ignored historical people and
events were rediscovered and revealed to
the public. This information dealt with the
achievements and struggles of Negro
Americans who had contributed enormous
ly to making this great country. It was
through the efforts of proud Negroes such as
Dr. Woodson and others that history was
rewritten. Therefore we are able to
celebrate blacks’ contributions to history.
Today black history is celebrated during
the entire month of February, but this was
not always so. Black History Month grew
out of what was earlier known as Negro
History Week, which was celebrated for the
first time in February 1926. Woodson, who
conceived the idea, set the date for this
week to coincide with the birth dates of both
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
The idea of Negro History Week was receiv
ed with great enthusiasm, but Woodson
knew that the idea needed time to catch on.
Eventually the ingenious idea of Negro
History Week did catch on and later became
Black History Month. The aim of thi^
celebration continues to educate people on
the many achievements and successes of
Black Americans. Not only are blacks
acknowledged for their contributions to the
Negro race, during Black History Month,
but also their contributions to the history of
America.
Various activities have been scheduled
throughout the month in celebration of
Black History Month, all WSSU students are
encouraged to participate.
The News Argus
Salutes
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Angela Corbett
Born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta,
Georgia the child progidy of the equal rights
movement was listed officially at birth as
Michael Luther King, Jr. However, in 1957
when he received his first passport the
world came to know this great civil rights
leader as Martin Luther King, Jr.
As a youth. King watched his father and
other ministers dominate audiences with
their stimulating words. This along with
other occurances encouraged King to
become a great orator. The power of the
spoken word fasinated Martin Luther King
and eventually inspired him to become a
Baptist Minister.
King entered public school in 1935, but
was later transferred to a private
laboratory school in Atlanta. Later he
entered Booker T. Washington High School
where he skipped both the ninth and twelfth
grades.
At the age of 15 King entered Atlanta’s
Morehouse College. Attending Morehouse
from 1945-1949, he chose sociology as his
Black History Trivia
(compliments of Black Collegian
January/February 1986)
1. Prior to Curtis Mayfield, who was the
lead singer of the Impressions?
2. Name the largest Black church
organization in America.
3. Who was generally considered the first
jazz musician to use the organ as a serious
instrument?
4. Name the founder of the National
Association of Colored Women in 1896.
5. Shirley Verrett is famous for her perfor
mances in what type of production?
6. As of 1985, the only fully Black owned
soft drink franchise is associated with what
major soft drink company?
7. What genre of entertainment were Bert
Williams and George Walker best known
for?
8. Name the organization of Black
members of the U.S. House of Represen
tatives.
major, but finally in his junior year decided
to give himself to the ministry. At the age of
17, he gave his first sermon and in 1947 was
ordained as the assistant pastor of his
father’s church.
As years passed. King began to visualize
race as the root of all evil. He therefore felt
pressed to voice his opinions on equal rights
for black Americans.
In 1948, King moved to Crozer Theological
Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, where
he was one of six Negro students enrolled.
Although King studied the philosophy of
Marx, Sartu, Jaspers, Heidegger and
Neebuhr, he treasured the suffering and
self-sacrifice of Gandhi’s philosophy most.
The style and tolerance of Gandhi inspired
King to use similar techniques in acquiring
his goals.
The fated meeting of Coretta Scott and
Martin Luther King led to their marriage on
June 18,1953. At this moment King realized
he must plan for his future, whereupon he
was offered a deanship, an administrative
position and invitations from two churches.
These offers flattered King, but did not
sway his ambition to become a minister-
teacher-prophet.
9.- Ralph Bunche received what prize for
his Palestinian mediation efforts in 1950?
10. Rome defeated Hannibal at Zama in 202
B.C. with the aid of what Black warrior?
11. Who was the first Black man to lead the
American League in home runs?
12. What organization did Malcom X form
after leaving the Nation of Islam?
13. Who is known as “The Mother of
African-American Dance?
14. What day, each year, will Martin Luther
King Jr.’s birthday be celebrated as a U.S,
Federal Holiday?
15. Roy de Carava is famous for his work in
what artistic medium?
Answers on Page 4 and 9
1. Jerry Butler
2. National Baptist Convention of the
U.S.A.
3. Fats Waller
4. Mary Church Terrell
5. Opera
6. Seven-Up
7. Comedy
8. Congressional Black Caucus
Grandmet
and
The National Urban
League
Will Sponsor A
1986 Essay Contest
(enter by March 28, 1986)
Fifteen $1,000 Academic Scholarships
Will be Awarded
Essay Topic:
“The Minority Viewpoint: The Role of Fami
ly, Community and Student in Motivating
Minorities Toward Achieving Academic
Excellence”
interested?
Contact -
Dr. James Dervin
224 Hall-Patterson Bldg.