Black History Month Facts: Unearthing A Shared Heritage
Black History Month emerged from the seed of "Negro History Week," the brainchild of eminent historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915, which sponsored a National Negro History Week in 1926. The event was first celebrated during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
The week inspired communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs, and host performances and lectures. Later, Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month on many college campuses; in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month, urging Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of African Americans." Black History Month is now a time to celebrate and recognize the achievements and contributions of Black Americans and African Americans throughout history.
