Episode 125: CWG Celebrates Black History Month

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Ian: Hey everyone, you are listening to “Coffee with Gringos.” I'm Ian Kennedy.

Paige: And I'm Paige Sutherland.

Ian: Today's episode, we are here in the month of February, and in February, in the United States and in Canada, February is the month in which we celebrate Black History Month. And for those who don't know Black History Month, essentially this is a month to celebrate all the accomplishments and achievements of black people, African Americans, and basically celebrate what they have done to better the world. So, today, Paige and I thought we would discuss that as it's something that's pretty common in the United States for us to celebrate and for us to know these black figures, but we understand it's pretty unknown to a lot of people outside of the country. So, we thought today would be a great opportunity to talk about Black History Month, what it's about, and some really important black people from history. So, as always, listeners, if you get lost, go online to www.dynamicenglish.cl, where you can check out that audio guide and transcript. Before we jump into talking about some really important figures, just to talk a little bit about the history of Black History Month—it was actually started as Negro History week in 1926 in the US by Carter G. Woodson, who was a famous African American historian scholar, educator, and publisher. And later on, in history, under President Gerald Ford in the US, it became an official celebration for the entire month of February in 1976. And people might ask—why does it coincide with the month of February? The reason it was chosen to be celebrated in February is because it coincides with the birthdays of former President Abraham Lincoln—who's known for freeing the slaves—and also Frederick Douglass, who was one of the important figures that we're going to talk about today. So, Paige, this is a month that we recognize in the US. We're very familiar with it, and there are plenty of famous and accomplished black people from history that we can talk about who have really benefited the world. So, to start out with, who's somebody that you can think of who was a prominent black figure in history?

Paige: Yeah, definitely Ian. I mean, it's been a month that we've celebrated ever since we've been alive and I remember learning about this one figure in elementary school who really stuck with me. I even remember on “dress-up day” that I dressed up as this figure—obviously no blackface, just normal dress attire—because he really stuck out for me as a big leader, he was an amazing speaker and that is Martin Luther King Jr., which a lot of people probably know worldwide. He was the prominent figure of the Civil Rights Movement which was during the fifties and sixties. And just to give a little context for our listeners, the reason his work was so important is because, during this time period In America, black people were not given the same rights as white people. They had separate bathrooms, separate water fountains, separate schools, they couldn't sit in certain sides of the bus. It was pretty awful to be a black person in America and here Martin Luther King Jr. was a big figure, who led nonviolent marches to really get rights for people and it worked. And I think that's what inspired a lot of people was that he never used violence, even though violence was really used against him and his people. You saw tons of videos and photos of black people peacefully marching, and being beaten up by police, arrested, and it really was amazing to see the change that came out of the movement that he started. And another figure that you hear often a lot with this movement is Rosa Parks who was this black woman in the South who just refused to give her seat to a white person where at that time where she was sitting was designated for white people. And she got arrested for something so small today, just where you can sit on a bus. And so, these brave people really risked their lives. I mean, a lot of people were killed during this time period just for getting the rights they deserve. And I think because of his nonviolent approach and because his words were so moving. If you ever have a chance, please listen to some of his speeches like “I Have a Dream,” They really will stay with you. So, he's one of the figures that I've always admired for his work, in his ability to really create change in our country. What about you, Ian? What kind of figures stick out to you during this month?

Ian: Well, the two that you mentioned I think are really great. I think it's impossible to grow up in the US and not know who Martin Luther King Jr. was and what he stood for. Like you mentioned, I do remember the first time hearing that “I Have a Dream” speech and I got goosebumps. He was such an amazing speaker.  His messages were so progressive and so amazing for that time. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago, and it really wasn't that long ago in the span of history. It's very hard to think about in that time how blacks and whites couldn't mix or do anything together like you mentioned. We can't highlight the importance of this enough for our listeners, how important these people became for the Civil Rights Movement, for equality. Some others that I can think of, one that I mentioned at the beginning of our podcast today was Frederick Douglass. And Frederick Douglass was an American reformer, abolitionist—meaning someone who fought for the freedom of slaves—a speaker, a writer, and also held positions in government. He was born as a boy into slavery back in the early eighteen-hundreds, so before the US Civil War, back when we all still had slavery in the US and he escaped from slavery in the South. He became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in both Massachusetts and New York, and he became very famous for his speaking abilities. And for this time, it was very, very progressive for a black person to speak their mind and just to say that they were anti-slavery when we were living in a world when slavery was the norm. It was all over the country and there were already a couple of hundred years of history with slavery. So, for him to come out as a black man, as a free black man to support these anti-slavery movements, and to be such an intelligent, charismatic speaker, it was an incredible thing for this time. And so, he just sticks out in my mind as someone who is someone really honorable, who really stuck to his guns at a time when his people were so oppressed, and no one in his position had these sorts of opportunities or spoke their mind in this way. So, to me, he just sticks out as a really prominent figure to celebrate. And Paige, what is another prominent person you can think of?

Paige: Yeah, I mean, Frederick Douglass obviously is someone we all learn about and in US classrooms. Someone who really stuck out to me is Jesse Owens. I grew up running track, I ran track in college—track was a big part of my life—and Jesse Owens was one of the most talented track and field athletes in the world and he was competing at a time where blacks really didn't have any rights. This was in the nineteen-thirties that he was competing. He was setting world records left and right. I think there was this one race, he went to Ohio State, where he, I think, had three world records in the same day, in the same race. That's pretty amazing that he was able to set world records in college, and the same meet, and then he went on to the Olympics. This was in 1936, and he won four gold medals in the one hundred meters, the long jump, the two hundred meters, and the four-by-one meter relay. Which is just amazing that he was able to win four gold medals in one summer Olympics. And this was in Germany, in Berlin, where in the thirties, as we all know, World War Two was coming up, and we have Hitler who was in power who thought white people were the only good people around. And so, he was able to really show this superpower that black people are amazing and can get four gold medals in one race and it really stuck it to Hitler in that time for him to go to Germany—a place that was not safe for black people or Jewish people—and to just do such an amazing job there. But what's really sad about some of his story, given the time, is that he was this amazing athlete who set all these world records, won gold medals and yet, as we all know, a lot of athlete’s, the tradition is when you do really well that you're invited to the White House and you take photos and you shake hands with the president. And because of the time period where black people didn't have rights, he was never invited to the White House. There was a ceremony where they were praising him for his athleticism, and he had to go in the back door. He wasn't able to enter the front door because of his race. To think that he's this athlete that had to obviously have the ability, but also the strength to overcome all that was against him—everything against him. Every race, he was mocked, he was called out for his race, and all those odds against him, and yet he was able to do so well, it was just pretty amazing. And just shows his character.

Ian: I'm so glad you highlighted the Jesse Owens story because it's one of my favorites. Like you said, he comes from nothing and becomes one of the most famous Olympic medalists in history. He's even been called the athlete with the greatest forty-five minutes ever in a sport when you mentioned all those records that he broke on the same day in college. And the best part of his story is exactly when he went to Berlin for the summer Olympics and basically just gave a big middle finger to the Nazis and to Hitler basically saying look, you have these ideas of white supremacy and I just kicked everyone's ass here and just showed with his actions too that he was just as good and better than any of the other athletes. I really would have liked to have heard what Hitler said when he saw Owens win all these medals. I’m sure he was furious. It would have been something really funny to see.

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Ian: For me, I want to mention one of my absolute favorite people, not just for Black History Month, but one of my favorite people in history in general. She was an amazing woman and someone that we always hear about in the United States growing up in history class, and that woman is Harriet Tubman. And so, Harriet Tubman, she was born a poor slave and in the South in the early eighteen-hundreds, again when slavery was still completely legal and all over the US. So, Harriet Tubman was amazing because she was an American abolitionist and a political activist who, after she was born into slavery, escaped to the North where black people were allowed to be free in the Union at this time. And she made over thirteen different trips to the South to rescue seventy other slaves, including her family, friends, and even other people she didn't know through a system that she called the Underground Railroad, which was a series of safe houses or hideout spots where she could hide with the people that she was helping bring to the North to escape slavery. And also, during the American Civil War, she served as a scout and a spy for the Union Army—the northern army—and she was actually the first woman to ever lead an armed expedition. In one of her battles, she was actually able to free more than seven hundred slaves in one area, which is an amazing amount of people. I can't really think of a more badass woman to talk about just the fact that she risked her own life after she was already free to go back to help everyone else to have the same freedoms as her. I think this is one of the most noble causes that someone could ever do. I can't imagine being an enslaved person, making it to freedom and then saying, you know what, there are other people who deserve this, I can't just rest on my laurels. I can't just stay here as a free woman knowing that other people are enslaved. And she went through so many challenges being beaten as a child, as a slave, she suffered a lot of abuses and was still able to hold onto her faith and become such an icon of courage and freedom. What's crazy is she ended up living to old age. At the time, she was ninety or ninety-one when she finally died. I can't think of someone who represents Black History Month, or black achievements, more than Harriet Tubman. Paige, I'm sure you've heard of Harriet and studied her in school but she's just someone I think that she's someone who was undeniably known for her acts in the US.

Paige: I agree. I mean, as you mentioned, all the challenges she had to face, going back to save all these people and really, I mean, it was far. You have to think back then and because she was an outlaw. If she was caught, she would be killed. She had to travel at night, she had to travel by foot, she had to do means like swimming across a river and in the dead of night in her clothes and eating what she could along the way. I think the back and forth was ninety miles each way. I can't imagine doing that, walking that far and being on the run and having to hide. And you didn't have your Google Maps, smartphone leading the way. She had to literally follow the stars. So impressive that she was able to do that so many times. Maybe that's why she lived so long. She was so fit.

Ian: Probably, right? She probably moved around so much she was constantly working on her conditioning. Harriet Tubman—just an amazing woman, amazing person and she deserves all the recognition she gets and more.

Paige: I agree and I think for our listeners who aren't from the US, this month is so important because we have to remember our history. We can't forget it, that we enslaved black people and we gave them very little rights and we really treated them so badly. And it's a good reminder to remember all this and what we're aiming for is equality. And sadly, as we saw this summer, we're not there yet. There still needs to be a lot of improvements to make sure that we eliminate all of the racism that we've really built our country on. And so, I think it's really important particularly this February to really think about all these great leaders that have paved the way and how much further we have to go.

Ian: So, I think you put it perfectly, Paige. So, we have a long way to go even though we've made strides. So, the least we can do is recognize these amazing people and the things that they've done for the month of February and not just think about them in February, think about them all the time. But they really do deserve their place in history and their moments of recognition, so I'm glad that we have this month and we can celebrate it and we can talk about it and spread this kind of knowledge to our listeners. So, again listeners, if you get lost, go online to www.dynamicenglish.cl to check out that audio guide and transcript. Thanks for listening,

Paige: We'll see you next time.

Paige: “Coffee with Gringos” was brought to you by Dynamic English, where you can learn English simply by using it. If you’re interested in taking classes or just want to learn more, go to our website at dynamicenglish.cl. Thanks for listening.

Key Vocabulary, Phrases & Slang:

 1.     to coincide (verb): to happen at the same time.

a.     The two events coincided on the same day.

2.     to stick with someone (idiom): when something gives someone the memory of something for a long period of time.

a.     Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech has stuck with me for my whole life.

3.     blackface (noun): the act of putting black paint on one’s face to look like they have black skin. It is considered highly offensive and racist.

a.     Actors in the past used to wear blackface for certain movie roles.

4.     prominent (adjective): well-known, important

a.     He was one of the most prominent figures in US history.

5.     goosebumps (noun): when the hair of one’s skin raises due to cold, fear, excitement, or amazement.

a.     His amazing speech always gives me goosebumps when I hear it.

6.     norm (adjective, abbreviation): normal.      

a.     Separation of the races during that time was the norm.

7.     charismatic (adjective): charming, full of personality that inspires others.

a.     The charismatic leader inspired millions from his speeches.

8.     to stick out in one’s mind (idiom): to be remembered by someone.

a.     He always sticks out in my mind as one of the most important figures in history.

9.     to stick to one’s guns (idiom): to refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism.

a.     I admire a person who sticks to their guns and fights for what they believe in.

10.  oppressed (adjective): abused and persecuted.

a.     The people were oppressed for years by the unfair system.

11.  left and right (idiom): everywhere.

a.     He was winning awards left and right.

12.  track meet (noun): a competition for track and field sports.

a.     The track meet was an important event for the young runner.

13.  to overcome (verb): to succeed in a problem or difficulty.

a.     Jesse Owens overcame the odds and won many gold medals in the Olympics.

14.  to mock (verb): to make fun, to tease.

a.     The other children mocked him for being different than them.

15.  to give a big middle finger (verb): to give a gesture of contempt or make fun of someone, either figuratively or literally.

a.     He gave a big middle finger to Hitler and the Nazis by winning so many medals.

16.  furious (adjective): very angry.

a.     He was furious that his plan for white supremacy was not working.

17.  Union (noun): the name given to the Northern US states during the US Civil War where slavery became illegal.

a.     She was an incredible spy for the Union during the war.

18.  badass (adjective, slang): tough, impressive, awesome.

a.     Harriet Tubman is one of the most badass women in history.

19.  noble (adjective): righteous, honorable, worthy.

a.     Giving his own life to the cause was such a noble act.

20.  to rest on one’s laurels (idiom): to be satisfied with what has already been achieved.

a.     You shouldn’t rest on your laurels, but continue to get better every day.

21.  outlaw (noun): a person who has broken the law and is wanted by authorities.  

a.     She was an outlaw, always running from the danger of being killed.

22.  the dead of night (idiom): in the middle of the night when it is darkest.

a.     She traveled in the dead of night to ensure they had better chances of survival.

23.  conditioning (noun): the process of physical training.

a.     She probably had amazing conditioning because of how much she ran.

24.  to pave the way (idiom): to make something easier for something to happen.

a.     She paved the way for others to find freedom and escape the evils of slavery.

25.  to make strides (idiom): to make improvements or progress.

a.     Even though we have made strides as a society, there is so much more that we can do.