How It Started
Black History Month has roots dating back to 1915. According to an article published by Daryl Michael Scott, Professor of History at Howard University, Carter G. Woodson, the second Black American to receive a Ph.D. in history from Harvard, attended a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation in Chicago. Inspired by the thousands of African Americans who traveled from across the country to view exhibits that commemorated the progress their people had made, Woodson and other prominent African American figures decided to form an organization to promote the scientific study of Black life and history. On September 9, 1915, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History or ASALH) was born. But Woodson wanted to do more. After establishing The Journal of Negro History in 1916 and creating Negro Achievement Week in 1924 (originally called Negro History and Literature Week), Woodson continued to raise awareness of African American’s contributions. So, ten years after ASALH began, Woodson announced the start of Negro History Week, stating it would be celebrated the following year during the second week of February.
But, Why February?
It’s said that Woodson chose February because it is the birth month of two prominent men who greatly shaped black history—Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. To Woodson, the goal of Negro History Week was to “use history to prove to white America that Blacks had played important roles in the creation of America,” according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. And by doing so, he hoped equality would follow. Being the scholar that he was, he wanted others to learn more about Black life and history, especially at a time when few felt compelled to take notice of the accomplishments made by African Americans.
How It Transformed Over the Years
Since the beginning of Negro History Week, Woodson envisioned a time where an annual celebration wouldn’t be necessary for citizens to learn about African American history. And in the 1940s, Woodson began to get his wish. Schools began to expand the study of Black history, including it in U.S. history. In the South, Freedom Schools incorporated Black history into the curriculum to advance social change and by the late 1960s, Negro History Week had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses. Woodson believed that celebrating Negro History Week would be a catalyst for racial transformation. And over the years it has been. So much so that in 1975, President Gerald Ford urged all Americans to “recognize the important contribution made to our nation’s life and culture by Black citizens,” according to the Library of Congress. The following February in 1976, President Ford officially designated February as Black History Month, also known as African American History Month. President Ford issued the first Message on the Observance of Black History Month that year. Since then, every U.S. president has officially designated February as Black History Month.
How You Can Celebrate and Get Involved
Like President Ford stated, Black History Month is the perfect time to recognize the contributions made by the Black community. And that starts with educating yourself about those contributions. And because the celebration will be socially distanced this year, a great way to learn from home is by watching a movie, series, or documentary that details the struggles and successes of African Americans. Here are some of our top picks. Buy It: Citizen: An American Lyric, by Claudia Rankine ($18, Barnes & Noble) In addition, a donation to an organization that supports the Black community, such as The HBCU Foundation or The NAACP can go a long way. And lastly, when it’s safe to do so, visit a Black history or civil rights museum. But if you can’t wait until then, some museums, like the National Museum of African American History and Culture, offer online collections and virtual exhibits you can take advantage of.
