From Birth of A Nation to Black History Month
~ Christopher Moore
In the East Room of the White House on the evening of February 18, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson gathered members of his cabinet and their families for a special screening of Birth of a Nation, D. W. Griffith’s silent film based on the Clansman, a novel by Thomas Dixon. After watching the film, Wilson declared it was “like writing history with lightning. My only regret is that it’s true.”
Historians like Carter G. Woodson saw the film as a major setback in the public’s awareness of the history and humanity of African Americans. Astutely aware that Wilson had chosen the February season of presidential birthdates to champion the racist film, Woodson proposed a full week, anchored by the birthdates of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14) to honor the history and contributions of African Americans.
With the support of black leadership and major collectors of black history, like Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, in 1926 Dr. Woodson organized the first Negro History Week. His goal was to educate all Americans about African American history, focusing on culture and achievements. Woodson was successful in his response to President Wilson’s perverse notion of American history. In 1976, the week expanded as President Gerald Ford declared February as Black History Month.
Check out New York Times article on DVD release of Birth of the Nation: A Leap Forward That Tugs Backward, Dave Kher.
