The Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC), in collaboration with its global membership and affiliates, is pleased to join with other organizations, associations, agencies and individuals in observance of the 48th anniversary of Black History Month in the USA, honoring the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history.
The celebration of Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,” created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator, and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass (born February 1818) and President Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809).
The African Americans population of USA in 1870 was 4.8 million; in 2022, the number of black residents of the US, including those of more than one race, was 50.1 million which accounts for 15% of the US population of 333.3 million. (Black Demographics https://blackdemographics.com/
For example, the banjo is based on an African stringed instrument, while the blues combine themes from African and European music. Another example is food: yams and okra came from Africa and remain popular parts of African-American cuisine, or ‘soul food.
Examples of pioneering high achievers among African Americans are many. In 1968, Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to US House of Representatives and in 1972 she broke ground again when she was the first major party African-American candidate and the first female candidate for president of USA.
Barack Obama became the first African-American president in U.S. history and served for two consecutive terms (from 2009 to 2017
Jesse Owens, world record-setting Olympic athlete, said, “We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of
determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.”
For more information, please contact Ashook Ramsaran @ ashookramsaran@gmail.com
Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC), established in 1997, is an international non-profit organization with global affiliates and membership in 21 countries with the objective to embrace, engage, and enhance the shared heritage, aspirations, and interests of persons of Indian origin with optimum inclusivity.