Volume 2, No. 2 (Winter 1998) -- Black History Month Issue

This issue of the Brown Quarterly is devoted entirely to celebrating African American history. Millions of Americans celebrate African American History month by taking time to remember and reflect on the nearly four centuries of achievement and participation by African Americans in the history and culture of the United States.

African American History month owes its origins to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of African American histoxiography. A prolific writer and founder of the Association for the Study of Negro History and Life, Woodson made numerous contributions to the study of African American History and Culture during the early years of this century. In 1921, Dr. Woodson established Associated Publishers, which published the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he proposed and established an annual observance, "Negro History Weeks" which eventually evolved into African American History Month.

The celebration African American history month fulfills the original intention of Dr. Carter G. Woodson. By raising our historical awareness, it reminds us that the preservation of American democracy requires informed and knowledgeable citizens. Only through the understanding of the history of our nation's diverse peoples can we establish a framework for our continuing discussion of how this generation of Americans will implement the principles of liberty and equality into the political architecture of our nation.