SAN DIEGO -- Sailors and civilian employees at Navy Region Southwest held a Black History Month celebration at the command, Feb. 14.
Black History Month, also known as National African American History Month, is held in February every year to celebrate the numerous achievements and contributions by African Americans. This year’s theme is “Crisis in Black Education,” a very important and personal topic for guest speaker retired Cmdr. Harold G. Murray.
During his speech, Murray spoke about the importance of educational opportunities and the many barriers African Americans have overcome throughout history in order to pursue an education.
“The American miracle is that you can get an education and uplift yourself and your family,” said Murray. “My parents didn’t have a college education, but because of their hard work I was able to go to college and also law school.”
Murray mentioned some of the influential African Americans who fought for equal rights. More specifically, he talked about Frederick Douglass, who escaped slavery at the age of 20 and became an abolitionist. Murray discussed the discriminations that have taken place against African Americans throughout history as a reminder to the audience that acknowledging the dark times in America’s past is a way to recognize how much the country has evolved.
“I think it is important to celebrate not only the good times, but also the bad ones,” said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Cody Leduff. “If we can remember where we have come from and remember the obstacles we have overcome then we can continue to progress and knock down those last few walls.”
The creation of National African American History Month dates back to 1915 when historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Through this organization Woodson started the first Negro History Week in February 1926. He chose the week in February that included the birthdays of two key figures in African American history, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
| Date Taken: | 02.14.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 02.14.2017 19:59 |
| Story ID: | 223565 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NRSW Celebrates Black History Month, by PO2 Anthony Hilkowski, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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