The District theme for the month of February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution, which focuses on the need for peace in the world. February is also National Black History Month, the primary objective of which is to draw attention to the struggles of African American people for freedom and equality and to highlight the 
contributions that African Americans have made, and still make, to society and the world.
contributions that African Americans have made, and still make, to society and the world.Black History Month had its initial orgins in 1915 when Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland founded what is known today as the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other peoples of African descent who had been forgotten or left out.
In 1926, Dr. Woodson pioneered the first celebration of Negro History Week in February. This month was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of two particular men, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, both widely celebrated in the black communities. Woodson wanted to change the world’s perception of African Americans and recognize their contribution to American society and culture. Woodson said, “We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”
In 1976 President Ford officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and Germany in February and the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands in October, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
It is important to note that in 1996 President Clinton issued a Presidential Proclamation creating National African American History Month and he believed it was important to provide a yearly theme to focus the public's attention every year, emphasizing important developments throughout Black history. This year’s theme is "African Americans and the Arts" spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more.
As Club President, take an opportunity to talk to your club about Black History Month and proactively celebrate it by sharing examples of movies, music, and art by African Americans that have been impactful and meaningful to you and to members of your club.
As always, we would welcome the opportunity to come speak with your club. If you are interested, please reach out to:
Peter Jones, Co-Chair DEI Committee
Respectively submitted in joint collaboration by:
Gayle Rogers and Peter Jones
DEI Committee
GR- Easton Rotary Club
PJ - Bluebell Rotary Club