February: A Month Of Forward Thinking Forefathers
February is the only month with a fluctuating number of days thanks to leap years. In America, the most infamous day is February the 14th. Valentine’s day, which started out as a feast to commemorate a martyred clergyman, somehow became a day many people put undue pressure on themselves to display love by way of gifts and services. For me, America’s most infamous day is February the 7th. It was the day a Harvard historian altered the views of an extraordinary underclass, and the day two music geniuses were born. With all the other celebrations that occur in this month, some important historical facts tend to get overlooked.
Did you know that Black History month started off as Negro History week? On Feb. 7, 1926, Carter G. Woodson initiated the first celebration of Negro History Week to extend and deepen the study of African American history. For decades Negro Americans held events such as picnics, poetry readings, storytelling to share and spread awareness of the accomplishments and resilience of their ancestors. By the late 1960s, Black Americans, in particular college students began to take on more pan-African ideology. With increasing pressure Black History Month replaced Negro History Week. This change allowed for international individuals to be honored as well.
Speaking of an international man that should be honored, born February 7, 1974, James Yancey better known as J Dilla had a style of production so unique, at one point everyone wanted ones of his beats. I could not do his catalog justice by trying to list it here, but he is literally the legend everyone is aware of but seldom speaks about it. But for those that are in the know, Dilla productions helped alter souls, by producing soothing complex sounds in a rough world.Many say that Dilla influenced Japanese DJ Nujabes, whose take on instrumental hip hop garnered him 1.7 million followers on Spotify. Sadly, both producers passed away. Dilla on February 10, 2006, from cardiac arrest after a long-time battle with lupus. Nujabes on February 26, 2010, in an automobile accident. Although they are no longer physically with us, we celebrate their 50th birthdays and remember their great contributions to hip-hop culture, posthumously.
Preserving a culture, is the reason Carter G. Woodson lobbied for Negro history week. He decided it should be in February because Black people were already having historical celebrations during that week. Abraham Lincoln birthday is on February 12. Many credit him with freeing the slaves. Fredrick Douglas was born in February. Although his exact day of birth is unknown. He picked February 14, as his birthday because his mother called him little Valentine. His speeches showcased that despite propaganda, Negroes were a proud and productive people, and with the removal of systematic racism, could accomplish great things. That why I considered February fantastical because many individuals that advanced or positively highlighted African American culture were birth during this month.
