Author Archives: Cassandra Pye

February is Black History Month in the United States. Its origin can be traced back to scholar Carter G. Woodson, who, on February 7, 1926, led the first celebration of “Negro History Week” to help rectify the omission of African-Americans from history books. Today, the observance of Black History Month provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of African-Americans and to recommit to making the teaching of history more honest and inclusive. The theme of Black History Month 2012 is “Black Women in American Culture and History.” African-American women are members of two traditionally excluded groups in the United States and have faced overwhelming odds in making their names and stories known. In spite of those barriers, the deeds of women like Harriett Tubman, Rosa Parks, Barbara Jordan and Condoleeza Rice now grace the pages of history books. There are singers and writers and poets and artists who also left their mark on American culture and who helped make this country great. But there are countless others whose stories have never been told. And, in spite of civil rights laws and affirmative acts on the part of government, employers and educational institutions to curb discrimination, African-American women continue to face obstacles on the path to the American dream.