Black History Month and Frederick Douglass

Many are aware that February is Black History Month, but have you ever practiced the intellectual virtue of Curiosity and Intellectual Thoroughness and asked why this is the case? Black History Month actually started as Negro History Week in 1926 by Carter G. Wilson. Wilson was an American historian, journalist, and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He started Negro History Week to honor and highlight contributions that black Americans had made to American culture. The week surrounding February 12th and 14th was chosen by Wilson to honor both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, since their birthdays fall in this range (Lincoln’s is February 12th, and Douglass’s is recognized as February 14th). In 1976, Negro History Week was extended to Black History Month.

However, in actuality, Douglass’s birthday may not have been on February 14th - Valentine’s Day - or even in the month of February at all! Later in life, he chose this day as his birthday because he did not know his actual birthday. He had specific memories of his mother calling him her “Little Valentine” during the few sporadic times he saw her during his childhood. He picked St. Valentine’s Day as his birthday to honor her.

At North Star, we acknowledge not only Valentine’s Day on February 14th, but also Frederick Douglass, since the school was named after his abolitionist newspaper, The North Star. Douglass was an exemplar of all of the intellectual virtues and learning dispositions we envision for our students. Additionally, he did not see his education as a vehicle for just his own advancement. He equipped himself so he could equip others. This is the vision we have for our students at North Star and why we want our students, teachers and families to know his compelling life story. So, next year, perhaps you can join North Star in saying, “Happy Douglass Day” in addition to “Happy Valentine’s Day”.