Celebrate a Rich Culture!

Feb. 1 marks the first day of Black History Month, a federally recognized, nationwide celebration honoring the triumphs and struggles of African-Americans throughout U.S. history. Be a part of this rich history and tradition at these wonderful Fairchild Celebrations:

Jan 13      Martin Luther King Jr Observance | FREE Event & FREE Food | The Chapel |         11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Jan 27      Black History Month Paint 'n Sip | Arts & Crafts | 6 p.m.

Feb 17      2023 Basketball Tournament | Fitness Center | 1 p.m.

A little history, in 1926, Carter G. Woodson, who many consider a pioneer in the study of African American history, wanted to find a way to bring attention to Black history and culture, so he established Negro History Week, which was celebrated the second week of February.

During the 1960s, Negro History Week evolved into Black History Month, and in 1976, then-President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month during the country's bicentennial.

10 BLACK CULTURAL MOMENTS

Barack Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gives his famous "I Have a Dream" speech

Rosa Parks refuses to vacate her seat to move to the back of the bus

Ruby Bridges walks into William Frantz Elementary school becoming the first African American child to desegregate the all-white school in New Orleans

James Brown sang "I'm Black and I'm Proud

Ryan Coogler gave us the historic "Black Panther"

Oprah Winfrey becomes the first African American to have a syndicated talk show

Formation of The Black Lives Matter Movement

The Opening at the Smithsonian the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Hymn for the Hurting, May 27, 2022, by Amanda Gorman

Everything hurts,
Our hearts shadowed and strange,
Minds made muddied and mute.
We carry tragedy, terrifying and true.
And yet none of it is new;
We knew it as home,
As horror,
As heritage.
Even our children
Cannot be children,
Cannot be.

Everything hurts.
It's a hard time to be alive,
And even harder to stay that way.
We're burdened to live out these days,
While at the same time, blessed to outlive them.

This alarm is how we know
We must be altered —
That we must differ or die,
That we must triumph or try.
Thus while hate cannot be terminated,
It can be transformed
Into a love that lets us live.

May we not just grieve, but give:
May we not just ache, but act;
May our signed right to bear arms
Never blind our sight from shared harm;
May we choose our children over chaos.
May another innocent never be lost.

Maybe everything hurts,
Our hearts shadowed & strange.
But only when everything hurts
May everything change.

Looking for more reading? Please take a moment to see some other great resources:

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

Here's the link:

https://blackhistorymonth.gov/

Other Dedicated Web Sites

Black History Month Resources

National Endowment for the Humanities – African American History and Culture in the United States

National Park Service – Black History Month

Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of African American History and Culture

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Black History Month

Many thanks to those who contributed to this story: Sarah Dewberry, Channel 7 Denver, Taylor Handberry Staggers.