Black History Month

Every February, the United States recognizes Black History Month to honor the contributions and achievements of Black and African Americans who have made this country what it is today. While this month was chosen because of the birthdays of two crucial figures in African-American history, abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln, we now use it to celebrate Black culture, excellence, achievements and contributions to the United States and beyond. 

So how did Black History Month come to be? Did Abraham Lincoln create it after issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863? Surprisingly, that isn’t what happened. Historian Carter G. Woodson, often referred to as “the Father of Black History,” set out on a mission to educate others about Black history. In 1915, he gathered fellow historians and created a group that is now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). In 1926, the second week of February was introduced as a weeklong coordinated learning about Black history. This week eventually grew, and in the late 1960s, Black History Month was born. Fifty years after the first celebrations, during the 1976 bicentennial, which was the 200th anniversary of the United States, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized this special month, saying, “In the Bicentennial year of our Independence, we can review with admiration the impressive contributions of black Americans to our national life and culture.”

Among the many African American figures in history that stand out, I’ve chosen a few heroes to highlight. 

You might recognize Martin Luther King Jr from his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, where he talks about a life with no segregation or inequality between Blacks and whites. King also fought for civil rights and voting rights. Mathematician Katherine Johnson worked for NASA and contributed to landing an astronaut on the moon. And not only adults can be heroes. Ruby Bridges, who was among the first African Americans to attend an all-white elementary school in the South, was a six-year-old girl who bravely went to school. She dealt with campaigning, screaming, and threats thrown at her. Of course, there are so many more African American idols, and these are just a few of them. 

Every Black History Month, there is a theme. Past years include African Americans and the Arts (2024), Black Resistance (2023), and Black Health and Wellness (2022). The 2025 theme of Black History Month is African Americans and Labor, which honors the impact of many kinds of African Americans’ work throughout the history of the United States. 

February marks the month when we acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and influence of African Americans on the United States. As Yvette Clark, a U.S. congresswoman, said, “We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation’s greatness.”