Contrary to widespread popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day—the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico—which is actually celebrated on September 16.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the will and courage of the Mexican people to fight the French occupation in 1862.  After the Mexican-American war, Mexico had an enormous debt to several nations and its treasury had no way of paying back. The French, aided by a few Mexican people who helped them, saw this as a good opportunity to gain territory in the Americas.  One of the initial battles, which took place on May 5th, was the battle of Puebla, a town 100 miles from Mexico city.  Here, the French Army was humiliated and defeated by the Mexican people who defended their city armed with a few weapons and household tools; Cinco de Mayo commemorates this battle.   

Although the French continued to advance to Mexico and succeeded in installing Maximilian of Hapsburg as the new Emperor of Mexico (1864-1867), the battle of Puebla unified and inspired the people of Mexico to continue to fight the French until they were defeated.  Benito Juarez, then president of Mexico at that time, fled Mexico City and from Northern Mexico and from the US directed the operations to fight the invaders and finally succeeded.   Source:  Gayle Brock YMCA of USA 2012

When we think of Black History Month, we often revert to the historical challenges that the African American community has overcome. Organizations such as the YMCA, however, continue to advocate for African Americans and other communities into the present day. The personal journey of Dave Brown, President & CEO of the Capital District YMCA, is a prime example of the Y’s commitment to giving people from all backgrounds an opportunity to succeed through their merit and hard work. 

 

Mr. Brown began his relationship with the Y as a young man who loved playing basketball at his hometown Y in Plainfield, NJ. He did not immediately recognize the career opportunities available to him at the YMCA; Mr. Brown credits Ron Sargent, one of the few African American YMCA CEOs at the time, for mentoring and guiding him along his career trajectory. Grateful for the impact Mr. Sargent had on his life, Mr. Brown has made a commitment to encourage the development of other African American Y professionals through his work as Chairman of the Y’s African American Resource Network (AARN). The AARN is an organization designed to facilitate the continued professional and personal development of African American professionals within the YMCA movement. The Y has founded similar organizations, such as the Hispanic/Latino Leadership Network (HLLN), to ensure that all of its employees, irrespective of cultural or ethnic background, have the knowledge and resources to achieve their career aspirations.

Throughout the Civil Rights era, many YMCAs served as recreational spaces, meeting places and safe havens for several prominent leaders and their families. After coming home from an arduous day of work in their duties as civil rights activists, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rev. Andrew Young would often take their families to the Y to enjoy swimming and other activities!  

YMCAs were also one of the few spaces that allowed for blacks and whites to meet and interact. Speaking on the Y’s continued tradition of advocacy for the equality and human dignity of all people, activist and former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young remarked: “The YMCA, as much as any other institution, has a record of working on desegregation. The only place you could meet in the south in the ‘50s, blacks and whites together, was YMCA camp…” Dr. King, Rev. Young and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall also spent much of their early years at the Y. The Y would honor the legacies of Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement when they officially banned all forms of discrimination at all YMCAs in 1967.

The Y has always been a progressive institution in promoting the rights of African Americans and other minority groups.  Anthony Bowen, who purchased his own freedom from slavery in Maryland, founded the first Y chapter for African Americans in 1853.  This was one of the first organizations for African Americans.  Bowen was an abolitionist and advised President Lincoln to enlist African American troops to fight in the civil war.  He was also the first African American to work in the US Patent Office.  The Y has continued the tradition of providing safe spaces for African Americans and other marginalized groups well into the twenty-first century.

Achievers Black History Month Spotlight

Dr. Carter G. Woodson: Writing Prescriptions for Our Social Ills

Black History Month has become a staple of cultural observance in our society over the past several decades. But are we truly aware of how or why BHM originated? Dr. Carter G. Woodson (PhD, Harvard Univ.) was the son of former slaves and did not begin his formal education until the age of 20 (asalh.org). He overcame these obstacles quickly, however, and it was not long before he had earned multiple degrees from some of the best institutions in the country. While examining the written and recorded history of his time, Dr. Woodson realized that very little information existed regarding the accomplishments of black people. He founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and later created a “Negro History Week” in order to commemorate and raise awareness of the accomplishments of African Americans in 1926. The “Negro History Week” celebration was so successful that it was eventually expanded to Black History Month in 1976.

Black History Month is an opportunity to learn more about the contributions of people of African descent to our world.  African Americans have been full participants in the formation and growth of our United States and their contributions have not been fully included in the lexicon of our culture.  Black History month has helped to educate all and make our society more inclusive and appreciative.

Over the next few weeks we will be showcasing some influential African Americans.  Stay tuned to this page for more about Black History Month and the Capital District YMCA's Black & Latino Achievers.