Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the role of African Americans in US history. The event grew out of 'Negro History Week', the brainchild of noted historian Mr Carter G Woodson and other prominent African Americans.
Since 1976, every US president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.
Black History Month is now recognized and widely celebrated by the entire nation on both a scholarly and commercial level. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History continues to promote, preserve and research black history and culture year round.
This year, the United Steelworkers is honoring the Buffalo Soldiers with a series of events. The Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the US 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21st 1866 at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.
Although several African American regiments were raised during the Civil War to fight alongside the Union Army (including the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and the many United States Colored Troops Regiments), the Buffalo Soldiers were established by Congress as the first peacetime all black regiments in the regular US Army.
Black History Month calendar of events being celebrated by the United Steelworkers:
February 1st 2011 to February 28th 2011 - Pictures and articles of the Buffalo Soldiers displayed in the lobby of the USW
February 9th 2011 - the Brown Bag Lunch Series at 12:30 pm in the 4th floor conference room, the documentary is on the Buffalo Soldiers
February 16th 2011 - the Brown Bag Lunch Series at 12:30 pm in the 4th floor conference room - the documentary is on Brother Outsider: the Life of Bayard Rustin (part 1)
February 22nd 2011 - the Brown Bag Lunch Series at 12:30 pm in the 4th floor conference room, the documentary is on Brother Outsider: the Life of Bayard Rustin (part 2)
