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| Carter G. Woodson |
Black History Month traces its roots back to Harvard-trained
historian, Carter G. Woodson, who hoped to raise awareness of African
American's contributions to civilization. He founded the Association
for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), and conceived and
announced Negro History Week in 1925. The first celebration occurred
during a week in February of 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of
both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The response was
overwhelming and widely endorsed by people everywhere. Black history
clubs sprang up and teachers demanded materials to instruct their
pupils.
By
the time Woodson died in 1950, Negro History Week had become a
central part of African American life and more Americans appreciated
the celebration. The Black Awakening of the 1960s again expanded the
consciousness of African Americans about the importance of black
history, and the Civil Rights movement focused Americans of all color
on the subject of the contributions of African Americans to our
history and culture.
The
celebration was expanded to a month in 1976. President Ford urged
Americans to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black
Americans in every area throughout our history.” That year the
association held the first African American History Month. Since then
each American president has issued African American History Month
proclamations. And the association—now the Association for the
Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)—continues to
promote the study of Black history all year.
Learn More
Black History @ History.com on the Web
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
Black History Month @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_History_Month
African American History Month @ Library of Congress
http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/
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