2008 Woodie Awards
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Pellom McDaniels hits home
Caroline J. Baehner
Issue date: 2/27/06 Section: Culture
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Still showing his form, a former Chiefs player returned to Kansas City to educate during February's African American History Month.
Pellom McDaniels, who is on the board of directors of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, played pro ball in Kansas City from 1992-1998. Last Thursday gave a presentation on Carter G. Woodson and the history of Black History Month.
McDaniels covered a lot of ground with his lecture, entitled "Still Moving The Masses: Reconsidering the Significance of Black History Month and the Progress of a People." He is studying for his Ph.D. in American Studies at Emory University and also serves as co-curator of the Carter G. Woodson Collection.
McDaniels told the audience that Black History Month, which was initially Black History Week, began 80 years ago.
"[Woodson] adapted strategies for racial uplift," said McDaniels, "therefore changing American society by providing scientifically based information in defense of blacks being inferior."
Woodson's ideas were grassroots, and McDaniels identified three dilemmas he faced before the invention of Black History Week and Month.
"One, the blatant lies that blacks were inferior," said McDaniels. "Two, the systematical omissions of African American contributions, and three, the need to repair the deep, deep sense of self-loathing of African Americans in America - their disdain and contempt."
Woodson was responsible for three tools used to further African Americans: the Journal of Negro History in 1921, the publisher's house he created for African American scholars and educators in 1921, and Negro History Week in 1926.
In 1937, he also created Negro History Bulletin, which eliminated the European influence of history and focused on African American philosophy and ideas.
African American History Month occurs in February because of two men whose birthdays are celebrated that month: Abraham Lincoln, the "great liberator," and Frederick Douglass, self-freed slave and abolitionist.
Pellom McDaniels, who is on the board of directors of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, played pro ball in Kansas City from 1992-1998. Last Thursday gave a presentation on Carter G. Woodson and the history of Black History Month.
McDaniels covered a lot of ground with his lecture, entitled "Still Moving The Masses: Reconsidering the Significance of Black History Month and the Progress of a People." He is studying for his Ph.D. in American Studies at Emory University and also serves as co-curator of the Carter G. Woodson Collection.
McDaniels told the audience that Black History Month, which was initially Black History Week, began 80 years ago.
"[Woodson] adapted strategies for racial uplift," said McDaniels, "therefore changing American society by providing scientifically based information in defense of blacks being inferior."
Woodson's ideas were grassroots, and McDaniels identified three dilemmas he faced before the invention of Black History Week and Month.
"One, the blatant lies that blacks were inferior," said McDaniels. "Two, the systematical omissions of African American contributions, and three, the need to repair the deep, deep sense of self-loathing of African Americans in America - their disdain and contempt."
Woodson was responsible for three tools used to further African Americans: the Journal of Negro History in 1921, the publisher's house he created for African American scholars and educators in 1921, and Negro History Week in 1926.
In 1937, he also created Negro History Bulletin, which eliminated the European influence of history and focused on African American philosophy and ideas.
African American History Month occurs in February because of two men whose birthdays are celebrated that month: Abraham Lincoln, the "great liberator," and Frederick Douglass, self-freed slave and abolitionist.
