B4 The Afro-American December 21, 2024 - December 27, 2024
National Park Service celebrates 149th birthday of Dr. Carter G. Woodson By J. Pamela Stills Special to the AFRO Dec. 19 marked the 149th birthday of Dr. Carter G. Woodson. In celebration, the National Park Service (NPS) hosted a birthday celebration on Dec. 14 at Dunbar High School located in Northwest, Washington, D.C. The location is significant, as Dunbar High School is the country’s first Black public high school. As part of the birthday celebration, the NPS presented the 2025 National Theme: African Americans and Labor. Dr. Carter G. Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History” because of his life’s work. In 1915, he co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History which is now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The organization informed society about the contributions of Black Americans in the formation of the country, its history and culture. He is also remembered as a renowned author, with one of his most notable titles, “The Mis-Education of the Negro,” still widely read today. John Fowler II, NPS supervisory park ranger, presided over the celebration, which kicked off with a jazz selection from the Finn Murphy Quartet. Members of the quartet are all under the age of 18. The musical tribute included a solo of the song, “My Funny Valentine,” by Layla Bunch. Layla, 16, is a student at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts and is the 2025 Virginia E. Hayes Williams opera prize winner. Featured speakers of the event included Robert C. Warren Jr.; Mr. Robert Stanton, a retired NPS director, and Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead, president-Elect of the ASALH. The keynote speaker, Dr. Pero Dagbovie, is the lead historian consultant for the restoration of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in Washington, D.C. Dr. Dagbovie is the former editor of the Journal of African American History, the leading scholarly journal in its field founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1916. He is the university distinguished professor at Michigan State University in
John Fowler, II (left), master of ceremonies for the Carter G. Woodson birthday celebration, stands alongside Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead, president-elect of ASALH; Dr. Pero Dagbovie the keynote speaker; Robert C. Warren, Jr. Esq.; Robert Santon, retired NPS director, and Michael Commisso, the deputy superintendent of National Capital Parks-East at National Park Service.
the department of history, vice provost for graduate and postdoctoral studies and dean of the graduate school. During his remarks, Dr. Dagbovie, spoke of Dr. Woodson in the 1930s, who served as caretaker of what is now the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in exchange for a place to live free of charge. Dr. Woodson used the home as his base of operations for the early Black history movement– a movement that required and depended upon a lot of Black labor. Born in New Canton, Va. in 1875, Dr. Woodson passed away April 3, 1950. The Woodson House was added to the national historic sites in February 2006. AFRO Photos/ J. Pamela Stills
Layla Bunch performs a rendition of “My Funny Valentine” for the audience.
Robert C. Warren Jr., former third district representative for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, delivers remarks during the birthday celebration Ayanna Toms, member of the Kiamsha Youth Empowerment Organization for Carter G. Woodson. introduces herself as the great, great grand-niece of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. Ayanna spoke on how her aunt fought for racial and gender equality– especially for Black women in the workplace.
Michael Bowie, musical director of the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra, introduces the Finn Murphy Quartet.
Park Ranger Inez Henry sings the Black National Anthem.
Whitney Croom, member of the Kiamsha Youth Empowerment Organization, speaks to descendents of notable Black figures who were present during the birthday celebration.
Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead, president-elect of ASALH, delivers a powerful message to the audience during the Carter G. Woodson birthday celebration.
Caleb Wilson is the great grandson of former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. Wilson told the audience his great grandfather created the summer youth employment program in D.C. He also spoke on how his great grandfather’s work has shown many that opportunities are key to building strong futures.
The Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site is located in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The house became a unit of the National Park Service in 2006.
Dr. Pero Dagvovie, keynote speaker and caretaker of Dr. Carter G. Woodson home, poses beside a display of the great historian’s postage stamp. Dr. Carter G. Woodson was recognized in 1984 Members of the Kiamsha Youth Empowerment Organization gather at the Carter G. Woodson birthday celebration. Shown here, with his own stamp in the Black Heritage Stamp Series, an Whitney Croom (left); Denise Nolan; Caleb Wilson; Miracle Davis; Marc MacAdams; Sarah Robinson; Samuel Bradley and Ayanna initiative popularized by the United States Postal Service. Toms.
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