Carter Woodson
Carter G. Woodson was a pioneering African American historian, author, and journalist, often referred to as the 'Father of Black History.' Born in Virginia to formerly enslaved parents, Woodson faced numerous challenges in his early education but ultimately earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University, making him one of the first African Americans to do so. His commitment to documenting the contributions of African Americans led him to establish the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in 1915 and to initiate the celebration of Negro History Week in 1926, which later evolved into Black History Month. Woodson's most notable works include "The Mis-Education of the Negro," which critiques the educational system's failure to teach African American history and culture, and "A Century of Negro Freedom," which outlines the struggles and achievements of African Americans since emancipation. His scholarship emphasized the importance of understanding African American history as an integral part of American history, challenging the prevailing narratives that marginalized Black contributions. Woodson's legacy endures through his advocacy for the study of African American history, inspiring generations of scholars and activists to recognize and celebrate the richness of Black heritage.
Famous Quotes
View all 19 quotes“If you can control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do. If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one.””
“History shows that it does not matter who is in power or what revolutionary forces take over the government, those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end than they had in the beginning.””
“Philosophers have long conceded, however, that every man has two educators: 'that which is given to him, and the other that which he gives himself. Of the two kinds the latter is by far the more desirable. Indeed all that is most worthy in man he must work out and conquer for himself. It is that which constitutes our real and best nourishment. What we are merely taught seldom nourishes the mind like that which we teach ourselves.””
