Black History Month is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a time to reflect, learn, and celebrate the countless ways Black Americans have shaped the nation’s history, culture, and progress. Observed every February in the United States, the month invites people of all backgrounds to pause and recognize stories that were too often left out of traditional history lessons.
The roots of Black History Month go back nearly a century. In 1926, historian and educator Dr. Carter G. Woodson—often called the “Father of Black History”—launched Negro History Week to honor the achievements of Black people and to encourage wider study of Black history. He chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two figures closely tied to the fight against slavery and freedom.
This celebration wasn’t just a one-off idea. Woodson was part of a group that, in 1915, founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), originally called the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. ASALH’s mission is to promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate knowledge about Black life, history, and culture to people around the world.
Over time, Negro History Week grew in popularity. By the late 1960s, educators, students, and community leaders began to expand the week into a full month of activities and learning. Finally, in 1976, during the United States Bicentennial, Black History Month was officially recognized, with President Gerald Ford urging Americans to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans.
Today, ASALH continues to guide the celebration. Each year the organization announces a Black History Month theme that helps shape educational and cultural programming across the country. For 2026, the theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” celebrating 100 years of national recognition of Black history from Negro History Week in 1926 to Black History Month today.
ASALH also organizes events and programming throughout February. These include virtual and in-person events, book prize celebrations, festivals, panel discussions, and the annual Black History Month Luncheon—all designed to highlight achievements, promote scholarship, and bring communities together.
While Black History Month is centered in February, Dr. Woodson and ASALH remind us that Black history is year-round. Their work helps ensure that stories of resilience, creativity, struggle, and triumph are remembered—not just in school classrooms during February, but every day of the year.
At its heart, Black History Month is an invitation: to listen, to learn, and to celebrate resilience and excellence. Understanding where we’ve been helps us better understand where we’re going—together.
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