Brian Lear on WNYC.

Now we conclude our three-part Black History Month series on the history of acknowledging Black history.

The historical hook is that this is the 100th year of the observance that became Black History Month,

the 50th anniversary year of Black History Months itself began in 1976 by a proclamation of President Ford.

And our focus this morning, the news hook that the Trump administration is on a

campaign to de-center black history in so many ways, at the Smithsonian, on military bases,

in schools and colleges, even the national parks will mention how he did it there last month,

if you haven't heard that one yet, and the efforts to

counter what the president calls woke history in general. So they are aimed at other groups

to. We saw the removal of the rainbow flag from the Stonewall National Monument of all places,

but we're focusing on the particular efforts aimed at

African Americans in this series for Black History Month. So I'm joined for today by Mark Morial,

President and CEO of the National Urban League and former mayor of the great city of New Orleans.

Among other things, Mark has an article in the Washington Informer called

The Fight to Preserve Black History is the Fight to Save America.

And on a personal note, listeners, some of you know, I was supposed to interview Mark

Morial on stage at our Martin Luther King's birthday event at the Apollo Theater Complex,

but I had last minute family health issues that I had to help out with and not attend. I was really sorry to miss that,

as I have co-hosted the Apollo King Day event many times. So, Mark, I appreciate that you're

giving me this rain check and coming on to close out this series.

Welcome back to WNYC.

Well, hey, thank you for all of what you do, and thank you to WNIC as well for all that it does in the event at the Apollo was certainly sensational and outstanding.

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