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Slide5NEXT BRANCH MEETING:
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 @ 6:30 p.m. on Zoom & at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33111
RSVP for ZOOM meeting invitation:  asalhsouthflorida@gmail.com
Become a member or make a donation here.

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Welcome to the South Florida Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).  Our chapter was chartered on October 6, 2016, in Richmond, VA, with 22 chartered members.

Our mission is “To promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, history, and culture to the global community while bridging the gap between university and community.”

To join our branch, you must be a member of National (www.asalh.org) and click here to pay local dues, once you have joined National.

DID YOU KNOW?

When Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded ASALH, one of his main thoughts was harmony among the races. He set out to document the true account of the history of African Americans in the United States and his hope was that other cultures, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans would do the same, so the history of the United States that is taught to children in our schools would be complete and correct, without distortion. Beginning in the 60s, his dream became a reality, several years after his death. Other cultures began to lobby Congress to put in place celebrations for their history as well. Ironically, most of them followed the same plan by starting with a week, then, expanding to a month.  For instance:

  • Did you know that in 1968 Congress authorized the celebration of Hispanic American Week that was expanded in 1988 to Hispanic American History Month?
  • Did you know that in October 1978 a bill was signed designating the first ten days of May to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and in 1990 the celebration was expanded to a month-long celebration?
  • Did you know that the public celebration of women’s history in this country began in 1978 as “Women’s History Week” in Sonoma County, California? The week including March 8, International Women’s Day, was selected. In 1981, Congress proclaimed a national Women’s History Week — Then, in 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to a month, and March was declared Women’s History Month?
  • Did you know that August 1990 established the first celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month?

Now, do you understand how significant the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson is? He should not only be remembered as the Father of Black History, but also a pioneer of multiculturalism. Dr. W.E.B. DuBois once said, “No one has ever brought the entire nation’s attention to the contributions of Blacks in America like Dr. Carter G. Woodson.” And no one ever has. Dr. Woodson’s work was not just for African Americans in the United States. His work was for all people around the world so we could learn to live in harmony, one with another.

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