2008 Speeches

Black History Month Celebration Opening Remarks (February 20, 2008)

George Price Centre for Peace and Development
Belmopan

U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter

I would like to start off by thanking the staff of the George Price Center, and in particular, Elsie Apulche, for helping us to make this event possible today.   Elsie has always been very generous in making this facility available to us for various programs and we are extremely appreciative.

February marks the beginning of Black history month, a celebration honoring the contributions the black community has made to the United States and to the world.  Many of these achievements would not have been possible without the educational opportunities presented by Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which is the theme of this year's celebration and featured on the display boards.  These panels highlight the tremendous influence these educational institutions have made by developing outstanding graduates who continue to provide inspiration and leadership in the United States and throughout the world.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities are a great source of accomplishment and pride not only for the African American community in the United States but for our entire nation.  Martin Luther King Jr.; Thurgood Marshall, our first black Supreme Court Justice; and Barbara Jordan, graduate of Texas Southern University who was the first black woman elected to the Texas Senate (and later elected to Congress), are a few examples of exceptional civic and government leaders who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  The panels displayed highlight the achievements of Olympic athletes, famous musicians, performers and writers, as well as scientists and physicians.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have not only developed great leaders in the United States, but their graduates have been influential worldwide.  Many have returned to influence and guide their home countries.  Nnamdi Azikiwe, a graduate from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, went on to become the first President of Nigeria.  Kwame Nkrumah, also from Lincoln University, later became the first President of Ghana.  It is evident even in this small exhibit presented here that Historically Black Colleges and Universities have transformed the image of the United States and the African-American community throughout the world.

The inspiration for celebrating black history emerged from noted scholars and intellectuals dating back more than 100 years.  Notable scholars including W.E.B. Dubois, the first African American to receive a doctoral degree, and Randolph Bourne an intellectual and essayist, inspired Dr. Carter Goodwin Woodson to create the first black history celebration in 1926.  It originated as a week-long celebration designed to unite people and to improve race relations in the U.S.  In 1926 Woodson stated, “What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”   

Early in life, Dr. Woodson saw the importance of education and despite his family’s poor economic situation, made every effort to attend school.  He saved the meager amount of money he earned to attend school even for a few months per year.  He struggled for years, finally receiving a Bachelor of Literature degree from Berea College in Kentucky.  He later received his Master’s degree from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University.  Later he went on to become the Dean at the School of Liberal Arts, Howard University.

In the 1960’s the week-long celebration expanded to a month-long celebration.  During this same decade, President Johnson articulated the need for more higher education opportunities for lower and middle income families and program assistance for small and less developed colleges.  The Higher Education Act of 1965 was a response to this need and created what is known today as Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  Historically Black Colleges and Universities offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents.

Both the United States and Belize are countries with diverse populations – with racial, cultural and religious differences that live and work in relative harmony.  As Dr. Woodson, the creator of black history month believed, we should welcome racial and cultural differences – they make us stronger as democratic nations.  This month – Black History Month – we are celebrating these differences and our commonalities by marking the significant contributions of the black community to our two great nations.

Thank you and I hope you will enjoy the poster display today.