Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami Athletics Celebrates Black History Month
1/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Jan. 31, 2008
On Friday, Miami University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics launches a series on www.MURedHawks.com to celebrate the achievements of its African-American sports pioneers. This four-week tribute is being highlighted in concert with the university-wide celebration of Black History Month at the Oxford, Ohio campus.
Miami athletic director Brad Bates spoke about Black History Month as a part of the RedHawk athletic department.
"We are extremely fortunate that our history has produced many courageous leaders willing to transcend cultural boundaries through intellectually creative, engaging and meaningful ways. Their legacy will forever be an extraordinarily elevated and evolving Miami University and, ultimately, every student, coach, alum and staff member benefits from their substantial and infinite contributions."
Americans first recognized the month of February as Black History Month in 1926. Dr. Carter Woodson, a noted historian, decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. Woodson originally 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.
Starting tomorrow, Feb. 1, Miami will pay tribute to its greatest black pioneers. The first feature will celebrate the life and accomplishments of Don Barnette, the university's first African-American basketball player (1955 and '56) who later went on to fame as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Three other Black History Month features will follow on Feb. 8, 15 and 22.
