Before there was Black His- tory Month, there was Negro History Week. Negro History Week was created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Woodson was an author, journalist, historian and the founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) in 1915 which later became the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH.) Woodson is known as the “Father of Black History.” He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard and was one of the first to study African American history.
Originally, Negro History Week was celebrated the second week in February. Many people believe that it is not fair that Black History Month is celebrated during the shortest month of the year, but that was intentional by Woodson. It is said that he, chose these dates to honor the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln (February 14th) and Frederick Douglass (February 12th), Woodson believed that these two men were influential in the Black community. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves and Frederick Douglass, escaped slavery and was the most important leader of the movement for African American civil rights in the 19th century. Both of these men were dedicated to fighting for freedom and equality.
Woodson created Negro History Week to promote the study and celebration of African American history, he highlighted overlooked achievements of Black people in the United States. Woodson believed that Black history should not be put in a box and confined to academics but should be made accessible to all people. He and the ASNLH promoted Negro History Week as a time for schools, churches, and communities to hold events, lectures and discussions and Black history and culture. Educators were also encouraged to include Black History in their lessons.
Over time, Negro History Week gained national attention, and by the 1960s, as the Civil Rights Movement progressed, there was a push to expand it from a week to the whole month. 49 years ago, in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month, President Ford encouraged all Americans to “recognize the important contribution made to our nation’s life and culture by Black citizens.” Today, Black History Month continues Woodson’s mission by ensuring that Black History is studied, celebrated and acknowledged as an important part of American history. Black History Month is not only celebrated in the United States but also in Canada who also celebrates in February and the United Kingdom who celebrates in October.
