Graphic courtesy of DEOMI

Benelux community to recognize Black History Month

CHIÈVRES, Belgium -- Black History Month is celebrated in February each year. It was originally established in 1926 as Negro History Week. In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford expanded the celebration to include the entire month of February.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans, and a time for recognizing their immeasurable impact on U.S. history. This year’s theme is “Black Migrations.” It emphasizes the movement of people of African descent to new destinations (from farms to cities), and subsequently to new social realities. While inclusive of earlier centuries, this theme focuses especially on the 20th century through today.

THE GREAT MIGRATION

The “Great Migration Timeframe” is between 1915 and 1970, when more than 6 million African Americans moved out of the South to cities across the U.S. in search of higher wages in industrial jobs, and for better social and political opportunities. The relocation was called the “Great Migration,” and it resulted in a massive demographic shift across the nation. Historians divided the migration into two periods: 1910 to 1940 and 1940 to 1970, with a pause in migration which took place during the 1930’s Great Depression.

There were several things that impacted the Migration. World War I saw that the industrialized urban areas in the North, Midwest and West faced a shortage of industrial laborers. The war put an end to the previous steady tide of European immigrants to the U.S. Additionally, millions of men left to serve in the Armed Forces which opened up jobs. Cities like New York, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis and Cleveland saw their African American populations increase 40% between 1910 and 1930, and the number of blacks employed in industrial jobs doubled.

In addition to the demographic shift during this time, African Americans began to build a new place for themselves in public life. They were actively confronted with racial prejudice as well as economic, political and social challenges to create Black urban culture that would have an enormous influence in the decades to come.

NOTABLE FIGURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

During the Great Migration, African Americans found doors opened into areas that had previously been denied which resulted in an explosion of opportunities in the arts, sports, science, technology and politics. New music genres emerged like ragtime, blues and jazz.

Notable individuals of the time period were:

W. C. Handy – He helped to introduce his people’s music to the world. He took the blues from a regional music style (Delta Blues) with a limited audience to a new level of popularity and became known as the “Father of the Blues.”
Langston Hughes – He was one of the most important writers and thinkers of the “Harlem Renaissance.” His literary works helped shape American literature and politics. He wrote poetry, novels, plays, essays and children’s books. He promoted equality, condemned racism and injustice, and celebrated African American culture, humor and spirituality.
Dr. Charles Drew – He pioneered methods of storing blood plasma for transfusion and organized America’s first large-scale blood bank. His research allowed military medics to save lives during World War II. One of his other innovations was the mobile blood donation station, later called “bloodmobiles.”
Jackie Robinson – His parents migrated to California, where he earned four letters in athletics in a single year at University of California, Los Angeles. He then served in the U.S. Army, and he broke down the color barrier to become the first African American to play Major League Baseball in the 20th century.
Army Brig. Gen. Clara Adams-Ender – She was the first woman to receive a master’s degree in military arts and sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. She was also the first Black Nurse Corps officer to graduate from the U.S. Army War College.

These are only a few of the individuals that impacted the Black Migration period, and there are so many others you can read about by visiting the local libraries.

In the 2018 Presidential Proclamation, President Donald Trump wrote “African Americans triumphed over ignorance, oppression, and injustice to make indelible contributions, not only to our military history, but even more importantly to our American history. They are an integral part of our Nation’s story.”

Black Americans continue to write our nation’s story with their commitment to the arts, sports, science, technology, politics and defense of the U.S.

The U.S. Army Garrison Benelux community will host the following events and activities in observance of Black History Month:

1)   Book Reading at the Chièvres Family and MWR Library: Feb. 12 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
2)   Open Mic Comedy Night at B3’s on SHAPE: Feb. 16 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
3)   SHAPE High School hosts “Who Am I” at the SHAPE Alliance Auditorium: Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
4)   African-American Music Migration at the 3 Star Recreation Center in Brussels: Feb. 22. There will be an exhibition from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a meal from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The SHAPE International Jazz Band will perform from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
5)   TASTE of Soul Event at the SHAPE Chapel Fellowship Hall: Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
6)   USAG Benelux will publish and provide copies within the Benelux footprint of “Black History: A Conscious Cuisine” by Chef Gary Neff.

Therese Ayers, USAG Benelux Equal Employment Opportunity Office