The Story of Black History Month

2026 marks 100 years since historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson initiated Negro History Week. Negro History Week was designed to be an opportunity to create turnkey opportunities for schools and institutions to focus on illuminating the contributions Black people made to America. 

Before Dr. Woodson brought Negro History Week under the umbrella of ASALH, the organization he started to further the study of African-American history, he started it as Negro History & Literature Week, an initiative executed with his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, in 1924. 

While Dr. Woodson thought it was urgent for people to understand the breadth of African American contributions to history and culture, especially at that particular time. While slavery was long over, racism in the form of lynching and other forms of violence against African-Americans was rampant throughout the US. He believed if the broader population took a moment to learn about the impact, brilliance, and resilience of Black people, perhaps they would see them as humans worthy of respect, dignity, and care.

He chose February for Negro History Week because of its proximity to Lincoln's Birthday (Feb 19th) and February 14th, Frederick Douglass' chosen birthday (he didn't know his real birthday). Both holidays were already recognized by some Black Americans. Dr. Woodson didn't live to see Negro History Week officially become Black History Month-- this evolved in the 1950s where it was coordinated by Frederick Hammaurabi at Chicago-based House of Knowledge, until it became more widespread in 1970 and celebrated by the Black Student Union at Kent State. In 1976, President Gerald Ford ultimately issued the first presidential declaration for Black history month in tandem with the country's bicentennial. 

But Dr. Woodson always wanted Black History Month to be longer. In fact, he ultimately hoped a voracious interest in learning about Black Americans would ultimately last all year long.