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What Everyone Should Know About
Here’s why we recognize
Black History Month and
what you should know about it.
Early Beginnings
Black History Month dates back to 1915, when Harvard-educated scholar and historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History,” created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History – now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) – to promote the scientific study of Black life and history.
On February 7, 1926, he introduced the first “Negro History Week.” According to Texas A&M Today, his goal was not to celebrate individual historical figures, but instead to highlight the entire Black American community, which has helped shape and advance the nation’s history from the beginning.
Recognizing Black History
In 1969, leaders of Kent State University's Black United Students proposed a month-long celebration, which took place one year later in February 1970. In 1976, this observance was renamed Black History Month. That year, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month and called on the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Every U.S. president since has recognized February as Black History Month.
Black History Is American History
Dr. Woodson chose February to recognize Black history because the Black community had traditionally celebrated the February birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, each of whom had significantly impacted Black history. According to a Texas A&M Today report, Dr. Woodson thought Black history had been ignored in U.S. educational curricula. So he wanted Negro History Week – and later, Black History Month – to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and recognize them as pioneers who’ve helped build our nation and our democracy from the ground up since 1619, when the first enslaved people were brought to America.
Black History Month may have started in the United States, but it is now officially celebrated in several other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. Canada, which began recognizing the month in 1995, also celebrates Black History Month in February. But the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland recognize Black history in October. In the UK, Black History Month was first officially celebrated in October 1987. Ireland began celebrating the month in 2010. In Germany, the observance varies from year to year and often only lasts a few days or a week instead of a month.
A Worldwide Celebration
Each, year, the ASALH chooses a theme for Black History Month. This year’s is “Black Health and Wellness,” which focuses on the history of health care in the Black community. The focus is timely, as the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed our nation’s health inequity, with Black Americans suffering disproportionately more hospitalizations and deaths from the virus. In addition, Black communities continue to be underserved. They are less likely to be insured and experience illness and infirmity at higher rates with lower life expectancy compared with other racial and ethnic groups, according to The Century Foundation.
Black Health and Wellness
While much progress has been made since
Dr. Woodson began celebrating Black history in 1926, more work and education are needed to combat the continued marginalization, oppression and racism that Black Americans still face. Frederick Douglass, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and countless others fought tirelessly for basic human, civil and equal rights. The work of the Black Lives Matter movement – and that of many others in our local communities – carry on their legacies. Black History Month is a good starting point to learn more and open a larger conversation about the ongoing fight for equality and how you can help.
The Struggle
and the Opportunity
Dr. Carter G. Woodson
Association for the Study of African
American Life and History (ASALH)
Texas A&M Today
officially recognized
Texas A&M Today
several other countries
Black Health and
Wellness
The Century Foundation
learn more
equality
Black Health and
Wellness
The Century Foundation
equality
learn more
several other countries
Texas A&M Today
officially recognized
Dr. Carter G. Woodson
American Life and History (ASALH)
Association for the Study of African
Texas A&M Today
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Littler Celebrates Black History Month - 2022 | Littler Mendelson P.C.
