VOA标准英语2010年-African American History Month Has Its

Americans commemorate¹ the heritage of African-Americans every February in what is known as African American History Month, yet little is known about the association that started the tradition and what it is doing now.

James Stewart is the current president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

He proudly outlines the group's own history.

"The association was started in 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson who is one of the first black PhDs from Harvard University," said James Stewart. "Carter G. Woodson established what was first called Negro History Week, which later became Negro History Month, and has evolved into Black History Month."

Stewart collects politically-charged African American art at his home in Pennsylvania.

"The piece here is a representation by Elizabeth Catlett of a lynching," he said. "There are no faces of the perpetrators so that it is a way of saying that this is really a cultural phenomenon as opposed to something that is done by individuals."

Stewart says Black History Month is an effective method to combat such persecution².

"For so many decades, there was a dismissal of the impact of people of African descent on Western civilizations," said Stewart. "So the recovery and elevation³ of that history is absolutely critical for ongoing⁴ efforts to try to promote equality in this country."

Stewart worries about the current shrinking of black neighborhoods in big American cities. Several decades ago they were thriving cultural centers.

The deeper you go into some traditionally black inner city areas, Stewart says, like here in Pittsburgh's Hill District, the more you see abandoned homes, run-down storefronts and police chasing people down.

Stewart is helping⁵ with efforts to revive these neighborhoods.

"What you are describing is what I would call a 21st century approach to community empowerment," he said.

Malik Bankston is the executive director of the Kingsley Association community center. He is exhibiting a miniaturized version of a Pittsburgh neighborhood in order to work on ideas for renewal⁶.

Malik Bankston, the executive director of the Kingsley Association community center

He says it is important to remember heritage while also working for the future.

"Right outside of this building is a mural project that was completed about 16 months ago and on that mural project are depicted⁷ the faces of all sorts of people who are part of this neighborhood's past," said Malik Bankston. "But there are also faces of people who represent the neighborhood's future. Most of us don't usually realize that we are actually making history."

In the U.S. capital, Washington, members of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History recently came together to celebrate the 135th anniversary of Carter G. Woodson's birth.

Like the founder⁸ of Black History Month, they said they were proud of their heritage, and would make sure it continues to thrive.

 

1 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

2 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

3 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

7 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

8 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。