Black History Month

February is a time to examine and acknowledge African American achievements. Despite the brevity of American history, it is extremely rich, complex and full of a variety of cultures. Carter G. Woodson, one of the first scholars to study African American history, is considered the father of Black History Month.
 
Photo: biography.com

In 1926, after noting that much of African American culture and history was being overlooked due to racial prejudice, Woodson established the second week of February as Negro History Week. He chose this week because it included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass. 

 
Photo: historyplace.com

Photo: pbs.org

Between 1926 and the 1960s, the popularity of Negro History Week grew and spread across the country and morphed into Black History Month on college campuses. But this recognition was not official until President Gerald Ford officially recognized it in 1976. Ford started the tradition that each year, the president would officially recognize the month of February as Black History Month. 

 
Photo: naacp.org

While Black History Month is meant to be a time to focus on the history of a people often overlooked, it is also a time to realize that African American history is American history. The first Africans arrived in 1619 to Jamestown on an English warship. While this was 12 years after the establishment of Jamestown, African American history continued up until the present day right alongside white American history. However, as Woodson noticed, much of African American history still is overlooked because of racial prejudice. The need for the awareness and education that Black History Month brings will continue until racial prejudice ends.


Photo: nwhm.org