FEBRUARY:
African American History Month
In 1926 Dr. Carter G. Woodson
instituted the first week-long celebration to raise awareness
of African Americans’ contributions to history. Prior
to this time, little information could be found regarding
African American history. Important achievements were left
out of history books, and there was a general misconception
that African Americans had made little contribution to U.S.
society or history. 50 years later, the week became a month,
and today February is celebrated as African American History
Month. The month of February was chosen because it celebrates
the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass,
both of whom dramatically affected the lives of African
Americans. Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was a writer,
lecturer, editor, and civil rights activist who escaped
slavery at age 21 and went on to campaign for the abolition
of slavery, establish a newspaper, and hold the office of
Minister to Haiti. He was a major voice in the anti-slavery/civil
rights movement of his time. Abraham Lincoln (born February
12, 1809), as the sixteenth president of the United States,
issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863,
thereby declaring that all slaves within the Confederacy
would be permanently free. Each year, the Association for
the Study of African American Life and History, founded
by Dr. Woodson, sets the theme for the month.
MARCH:
National Women's History Month
National Women's History
Month was established by presidential proclamation in order
to draw attention to and improve the focus on women in historical
studies. It began in New York City on March 8, 1857, when
female textile workers marched in protest of unfair working
conditions and unequal rights for women. It was one of the
first organized strikes by working women, during which they
called for a shorter work day and decent wages. Also on
March 8, in 1908, women workers in the needle trades marched
through New York City's Lower East Side to protest child
labor, sweatshop working conditions, and demand women’s
suffrage. Beginning in 1910, March 8 became annually observed
as International Women's Day. Women’s History Week
was instituted in 1978 in an effort to begin adding women’s
history into educational curricula. In 1987, the National
Women's History Project successfully petitioned Congress
to include all of March as a celebration of the economic,
political and social contributions of women.
MAY: Asian/Pacific
American Heritage Month and Older Americans Month
The roots of Asian/Pacific
American Heritage Month can be traced back to 1976, when
Jeanie Jew, president of the Organization of Chinese American
Women, contacted government officials in response to the
lack of Asian Pacific representation in the U.S. bicentennial
celebrations that same year. The observance began in 1979
as Asian Heritage Week, established by congressional proclamation.
In May 1990, the holiday was expanded further when President
George Bush signed a proclamation making it month-long for
that year. On October 23, 1992, Bush signed legislation
designating May of every year Asian Pacific American Heritage
Month. The month of May was chosen to commemorate two significant
events in history: the immigration of the first Japanese
immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the
completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869
(Golden Spike Day). The diversity and common experiences
of the many ethnic groups are celebrated during Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month with numerous community festivals
as well as government-sponsored activities.
JUNE:
Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
In recent years, gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) individuals did not have
a specific month during which to celebrate and commemorate
Pride Days in the United States. On June 11, 1999 President
Clinton issued a proclamation designating June as Gay and
Lesbian Pride Month. In the spirit of honoring equality
and freedom, the president said, "I encourage all Americans
to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies,
and activities that celebrate our diversity, and to remember
throughout the year the gay and lesbian Americans whose
many and varied contributions have enriched our national
life." The most significant June event in GLBT history
was the Stonewall Inn Rebellion, a three-day protest in
1969 in New York City’s Greenwich Village during which
patrons protested against unfair police discrimination and
harassment. It marked the first time the gay community joined
together to fight for its civil rights, earning national
attention and gaining a foothold in the struggle for equality.
This month is dedicated to appreciating the contributions
and significance of the GLBT community, and applauding gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, and transgender pride.
OCTOBER:
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Congress, with the aim of
helping disabled veterans, designated the first week of
October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week
in 1945. Seventeen years later, the word "physically"
was removed from the phrase in order to recognize the needs
and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities.
In the 1970s, a shift in disability public policy led to
further emendation. For the first time, it was viewed as
discriminatory to exclude or segregate people because of
a disability, and activists were fighting strongly for legal
revisions. As a result, the U.S. saw changes such as the
passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and
the designation, by presidential proclamation, of a full
month to increase public awareness of those with disabilities
and appreciate the capabilities of the 30 million people
in the U.S. of working-age who are disabled. Various programs
throughout the month headed by The Office of Disability
Employment Policy emphasize specific employment barriers
that still need to be addressed and eliminated.
SEPTEMBER:
National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
National Hispanic Heritage
Month honors the culture, heritage, and contributions
of Hispanic Americans each year. The event began in 1968
when Congress deemed the week including September 15 and
16 National Hispanic Heritage Week to celebrate the contributions
and achievements of the diverse cultures within the Hispanic
community. The dates were chosen to commemorate two key
historic events: Independence Day, honoring the formal
signing of the Act of Independence for Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (September
15, 1821), and Mexico’s Independence Day, which
denotes the beginning of the struggle against Spanish
control (September 16, 1810). It was not until 1988 that
the event was expanded to month-long period, which includes
El Dia de la Raza on October 12, which celebrates the
influences of the people who came after Christopher Columbus
and the multicultural, multiethnic society that evolved
as a result; Chile’s Independence Day on September
18 (El Dieciocho); and Belize’s Independence Day
on September 21. Each year a different theme for the month
is selected and a poster is created to reflect that theme.
NOVEMBER:
National American Indian Heritage Month
In response to an effort
by many to gain a day of recognition for the great influence
American Indians have had upon the U.S., Congress designated
a week of October to celebrate Native American Awareness
Week in 1976. Yearly legislation was enacted to continue
the tradition until August of 1990, when President Bush
approved the designation of November as National American
Indian Heritage Month. Each year a similar proclamation
is issued. President Clinton noted in 1996, "Throughout
our history, American Indian and Alaska Native peoples have
been an integral part of the American character. Against
all odds, America’s first peoples have endured, and
they remain a vital cultural, political, social, and moral
presence." November is an appropriate month for the
celebration because it is traditionally a time when many
American Indians hold fall harvest and world-renewal ceremonies,
powwows, dances, and various feasts. The holiday recognizes
hundreds of different tribes and approximately 250 languages,
and celebrates the history, tradition, and values of American
Indians. National American Indian Heritage Month serves
as a reminder of the positive effect native peoples have
had on the cultural development and growth of the U.S.,
as well as the struggles and challenges they have faced.
References:Honoring Differences
Calendar from ProGroup
Multicultural Calendar from International Training and Development,
LLC
Multicultural Resource Calendar from Diversity Resources,
Inc.
