You might be preparing for Valentine’s Day or winter events in February. There is also another way we can celebrate the month of February where we can honor people for their success and their achievements since the 18th century. Let’s celebrate Black History Month!
What is black history month?
Black History Month is the annual celebration of achievements by African Americans. It serves as a time to recognize their role in United States History. Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, grew out of an old event titled “Negro History Week,” which was invented by historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. In 1976, February was later declared Black History Month, and ever since then, every U.S. president has declared it so.
What is the history behind Black History Month?
The creation of Black History started about 50 years after the thirteenth amendment that abolished slavery in the United States. Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and prominent minister Jesse E. Morland established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by African Americans and others of African descent. The group later sponsored a national Negro History Week in 1926, and they chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of
Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas. The event inspired schools and communities to organize local celebrations, create history clubs, and host performance lectures.
Decades later, mayors of cities across the country began issuing yearly proclamations recognizing “Negro History Week.” Thanks to the civil rights movement in the late 1960’s, “Negro History Week” was turned into what is known today as Black History Month on many college campuses.
Why celebrate Black history?
Black History Month was created to honor African American people from all periods of U.S. history, from slaves from Africa in the 1600’s to African Americans today. Black History Month allows spotlighting and celebrating the achievements African Americans have accomplished regardless of the racism and oppression they’ve faced.
How do you celebrate Black History Month?
You can celebrate Black History Month by buying from black-owned businesses, uplifting black voices on social media, or educating yourself on black history. Celebrating Black History Month means you are honoring not just African Americans of the past, but you are honoring African Americans of the present as well.
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