The origins of Black History Month date back to 1915 with the founding of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, an organization dedicated to promoting the achievements by black Americans and others of African descent.
The group sponsored a national Negro History week in 1926, the second week of February, to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. This event was the precursor to what has evolved today into Black History Month.
Black History Month was officially recognized in 1976 by President Gerald Ford, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
The Department of Defense is commemorating the 75th Anniversary of World War II by recognizing the contributions and sacrifices made by service members, as well as those who served on the home front. The DOD looks to remember the legacy of the “Greatest Generation” by Honoring the Past, Securing the Future. More than 2.5 million African American men registered for the WWII draft, and black women volunteered in large numbers.
During the anniversary, tribute is paid to Maj. Charles B. Hall, an iconic fighter pilot with the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first Tuskegee Airman to shoot down an enemy aircraft in WWII. In his military career, he flew 198 combat missions over Africa, Italy and other parts of Europe and was the first African American to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross. A few years after his military career ended, he relocated to Oklahoma City and devoted 18 years to Tinker Air Force Base.
Tinker AFB, with the African American Heritage Committee, is planning activities to honor the contributions of African Americans to our country, Tinker AFB and the U.S. Air Force.
The AAHC would like to invite the Tinker community to come out and enjoy this year’s Black History Month luncheon at 11 a.m. Feb. 13 in the Deployment Processing Center in Bldg. 260 to help celebrate Black History, education and cultural diversity. This year’s guest speaker is Oklahoma State Sen. of District 48, Rev. George E. Young Sr.
For more information, contact Master Sgt. Jonathan Taylor at 734-9575 or email jonathan.taylor.11@us.af.mil.