African American/Black History Month: Home

Image courtesy of the West Virginia Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission.

Black History Month grew out of Negro History Week, which was established in February 1926 by African-American historian Carter G. Woodson, who founded the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. Expanded in 1976 to a month-long observance, this celebration of the contributions and achievements of African Americans was initially designed to encompass the birthday of the abolitionist orator and journalist Frederick Douglass (1817–1895) on February 14 as well as Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. The event is widely observed by schools, churches, libraries, clubs, and organizations wishing to draw attention to the contributions of African Americans.

Taken from Black History Month. (2010). In Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. Retrieved from http://literati.credoreference.com/content/entry/hfcwd/black_history_month/0