By Amanda Tomec

With the inauguration of our nation’s first African American President and the celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, the United States has come a long way. Carter G. Woodson knew the importance of focusing the public’s attention on a specific theme when establishing Negro History Week in 1926. During the 1970s, The Black Power Movement influenced the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASNLH) to change Negro History Week to Black History Week, which was then extended to a month.
     
Special events are occurring all throughout south Florida in honor of Black History Month. The African American Film Festival is taking place from March 12 through March 26 in the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. This is the festival’s fourth season and has recently added a segment targeting high school students. “Black History Month isn’t what it used to be. In high school we would usually read a book and discussed its relevance,” said Allie Mintz, junior at Lynn University. “I never hear my professors talk about it.”

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach is celebrating Black History Month with its lecture series, Connecting Culture and Community. The lectures, which touch on an array of topics, began in early February and will continue until March 3. The lectures are free to attend and include a question-and-answer session, which has been known to create animated debates in the past.

“Black History Month is a month to honor history,” said Amanda Silbert, Lynn University senior. “It is very interesting to learn and see recognition for this time in history.”

The Palm Beach County Convention Center is hosting an expo sponsored by the Black Shopping Channel, a television, Internet and online shopping source which allows small business owners a chance to promote their products to the African American market. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 7.

Black History Month’s purpose is to remember and commemorate the important people and events in the history of African American culture. It is celebrated in February to mark the birthdays of two great Americans who played an important role in influencing the lives of African Americans: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. “I think it is messed up that they picked the shortest month of the year to celebrate and study the rich history of African Americans in the United States,” said Patrick Bernhard, senior at Lynn University.

Help celebrate Black History month by taking part in cultural events throughout the South Florida area.