This year's Black History Month more meaningful than ever

ByCQ-Roll Call, adapted by Newsela staff02.14.17Word Count770

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Black History Month has added importance this year. More African-Americans are in Congress than ever before. Congress is made up of two groups, representatives in the House and senators in the Senate.

The Senate has 100 members in total and this year there are three African-American senators — the highest number of black senators the United States has ever had. One is Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina. The two others, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, are Democrats.

Rosa Parks Has Place Of Honor In Statuary Hall

In the House, there are 435 members. Democrat John Conyers Jr. of Michigan has served in the House for more than 50 years. Now he is joined by 48 other black lawmakers. There are 47 Democrats and two Republicans. Conyers came to Congress in 1965. Rosa Parks, famous for her stand against segregation, was on his staff and worked with him until 1988. Parks now has a place of honor in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall.

This is a special year for another reason. It concludes the presidency of the first African-American commander in chief, Barack Obama, who left office on January 20.

Representative Cedric L. Richmond, from Louisiana, chairs the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which works on issues important to African-Americans. He said that the reason he went to the inauguration of Donald Trump was to see Obama off.

“I was there strictly to say goodbye to the old guy and to thank the president for eight years of hard work, of grace, of class, and not embarrassing the country, and increasing our standing around the world. It was an emotional moment because it reminds you that we can achieve anything,” Richmond said.

“I was sad, and I think I would not have felt that sad if Trump wasn’t replacing him. I thought about all that he had done. I thought about all the fights he had fought. I thought about how the Republicans resisted him at every turn, and that he was still able to achieve a lot,” explained Representative Elijah E. Cummings, a Maryland Democrat and former CBC head.

Obama's Place In History

Even with those fights, Obama’s place in history is one that crosses the line that separates Democrats and Republicans. Senator Scott, a Republican, described an emotional moment he shared with his grandfather on Election Day 2008.

Taking him to vote, Scott remembered, “He just could not believe that there was a chance that this country, his country, would elect a black man to be president." His grandfather had tears in his eyes. “It was only the second time I’d seen him cry. In 2001, when his wife died, and in 2008, to go vote for President Obama.”

The Capitol now honors several black heroes. It is amazing to know that this building, a world-famous symbol of freedom, was built with the help of slaves. Black history and U.S. history are tied together. There are the statues of Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth in the Capitol Visitor Center. The bust of Martin Luther King Jr. is in the Rotunda. Rosa Parks, seated as she was in desegregating Montgomery’s buses, is in Statuary Hall.

Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black is the first African-American to hold that position. A highlight of his time as chaplain, was when he offered the prayer for Parks when she lay in the Rotunda after her 2005 death. He grew up in Alabama in the '60s, when segregation was the law. "Years later, I’m standing in the Capitol Rotunda, and I’m able to frame that moment with a prayer,” Black said.

Hollywood Recognizes Record Number Of African-Americans

Black history also has a place in one of America’s most famous industries, Hollywood. A record six African-Americans actors were nominated for Academy Awards in 2017. Three movies about African-Americans have been nominated for best picture of the year: “Fences,” “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight.”

In addition, four of the five films nominated for best documentary were directed by blacks. One of those directors is Raoul Peck. He came to Washington last week to screen his film “I Am Not Your Negro,” about the late James Baldwin, a world-famous black writer.

Carla Hayden is the first African-American to be the Librarian of Congress. She says, “African-American history is American history. The fact that African-Americans were brought to this country to build this country is reflected in so many of the documents, photographs, everything that the Library has collected over time.”

Parts of black history can be found in the U.S. Capitol. It is also seen in those that work for our government every day.

  1. Which statement would be MOST important to include in an accurate and objective summary of the article?
  2. Congress finally has an equal number of African-American members representing Democrats and Republicans.
  3. For many people, Barack Obama's presidency is a symbol of the significance of Black History Month.
  4. James Baldwin deserves more recognition for being one of the first to argue that U.S. history is black history.
  5. Hollywood is recognizing African-American actors for their phenomenal contributions for the first time in 2017.
  6. Fill in the blank. The central idea of the article is developed by ......
  7. explaining the functions and makeup of the Senate and House of Representatives.
  8. explaining how young students view the importance of Black History Month.
  9. describing how the history of segregation impacted politicians in Congress.
  10. describing recent African-American political and cultural achievements and honors.
  11. According to the article, African-Americans have been a very important part of the development of the U.S. throughout its history. Which of the following paragraphs provides the BEST piece of evidence to support this idea?
  12. In the Senate, there are now three black members. There is Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina and Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California.
  13. Even with those fights, Obama’s place in history is one that crosses the line that separates Democrats and Republicans. Scott, a Republican, described an emotional moment he shared with his grandfather on Election Day 2008.
  14. The Capitol now honors several black heroes. There are the statues of Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth in the Capitol Visitor Center. The bust of Martin Luther King Jr. is in the Rotunda and Rosa Parks, seated as she was in desegregating Montgomery’s buses, is in Statuary Hall.
  15. “African-American history is American history. The fact that African Americans were brought to this country to build this country is reflected in so many of the documents, photographs, everything that the Library has collected over time.”
  16. Which section of the article highlights the magnitude of the challenges that African-Americans have overcome throughout U.S. history?
  17. Introduction [paragraphs 1-4]
  18. "I Thought About All That He Had Done"
  19. "A Lawmaker Tells Of His Grandfather"
  20. "Hollywood Celebrates Black History And Culture"

Answer the following question on the left page with a complete paragraph:

  1. Using OREOS, take a stand on whether or not we should continue, as a country, to celebrate Black History Month. Use evidence from the article to support your claim.