I just came across the
announcement that according to the
Association for the Study of African American Life and History who founded Black History Month, the theme for 2011 is "African Americans and the Civil War." I am so pleased that the ASALH, will also focus on educating everyone about the contributions African Americans made as soldiers in the Civil War.
It is equally wonderful to see they are already counting down to Black History Month on
Facebook and
Twitter! I have connected in both places so that I will be able to keep up with the great information and resources they share during February.
Hopefully we will make great strides toward correcting all the
misconceptions out there such as:
- African Americans did not participate to a great extent in the war that won their freedom Wrong!
- A significant number African Americans willfully fought on the side of the Confederacy Wrong!
- African Americans were not able to understand the concept or principles of freedom. Wrong!
- President Lincoln entered the war for the purpose of ending slavery. Wrong!
- African Americans were not involved in fighting for liberty before the Civil War.Wrong!
These are
all fallacies. We will work to correct them and the other untruths which are prevalent today. We must work to restore our own stories so the correct version of history is told.
Countdown: 3 DAYS until Black History Month!