History of Black History Month

How did Black History Month come about in the United States?

Dr. Carter G. Woodson (pictured), American historian and the second African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, saw that the history of African Americans was neglected-- even intentionally buried by white mainstream culture-- and committed to change this. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) with the goal of raising awareness of Black contributions to civilization and foster understanding between the races. Therefore, Negro History Week was born in February 1926, a week that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. By the 1950s, Negro History Week became a central part of African American life. At the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, President Ford expanded the celebration to a month, urging Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” To learn more about the history of Black History Month, explore the Black History Month page or the article by Learning for Justice.