Our African-American friends have wondered

[Jim Franklin]

why the shortest month of the year is the one designated as Black History month. Seems like it should be January with MLKs birthday right in the middle would be more logical. It seems like they correctly feel they got "short changed."

[Paula Karr]

I love Google. I typed in the question: Why is February Black History Month? Here's the first link:

Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as "Negro History Week" and later as "Black History Month."

Dr. Carter G. Woodson (the son of former slaves) chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. However, February has much more than Douglass and Lincoln to show for its significance in black American history. For example:

* February 23, 1868:
W. E. B. DuBois, important civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP, was born.
* February 3, 1870:
The 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote.
* February 25, 1870:
The first black U.S. senator, Hiram R. Revels (1822-1901), took his oath of office.
* February 12, 1909:
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of concerned black and white citizens in New York City.
* February 1, 1960:
In what would become a civil-rights movement milestone, a group of black Greensboro, N.C., college students began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter.
* February 21, 1965:
Malcolm X, the militant leader who promoted Black Nationalism, was shot to death by three Black Muslims.

[Jim Franklin]

Good info, Paula and it makes sense for February to have been selected. My question arose from the fact that I had heard black comedians put on a show of being taken aback and short changed.

[Bill Evans]

How many African-Americans are a part of Naznet? Just curious, I guess, but it would be interesting to know the demographics of the Naznet community with regard to categories of gender, age, ethnicity, etc.

[Dave McClung]

How many African-Americans are a part of Naznet? Just curious, I guess, but it would be interesting to know the demographics of the Naznet community with regard to categories of gender, age, ethnicity, etc.

Bill, we intentionally don't ask those kinds of questions. Some participants choose not to disclose that kind of information and none of us should expect them too. It is my hope that we will judge people by the content of their posts, rather than by the color of their skins. Doesn't that sound familiar?

[Bill Evans]

Dave, I couldn't agree with you more. My curiosity was simply wondering if the demographics of Naznet parallel the demographics of at least the North American CotN.