Video Of The Week - February Is Black History Month
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Every February, Americans celebrate Black History Month. It was established in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a historian who wanted to ensure that significant contributions made by African American men and women throughout history, would never be forgotten.
Woodson picked the second week of February for what he called Negro History Week because it coincides with the birthdays of two US leaders that helped African Americans gain equality - President Abraham Lincoln (Feb 12) and human rights activist, Frederick Douglass (Feb 14). He encouraged schools and communities across the country to celebrate the week by organizing local events, establishing history clubs and staging performances and lectures. His idea resonated with both African Americans and the progressive white population. By the late 1960's, many college campuses began dedicating the entire month of February to this endeavor and Black History Month was born.
In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford endorsed the celebration, asking the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of African Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
Since then, Black History Month has been a fixture on the American calendar. Every year the Association for the Study of African American Life & History assigns a unique theme. For 2016 they selected Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories.
It was picked to highlight the centennial celebration of the National Park Service and the more than twenty-five sites and the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom that are part of America’s hallowed grounds. Among them is the home of Dr. Carter G, Woodson, the mastermind of this celebration. Canada also celebrates the month in February, while the United Kingdom commemorates the event in October.
Resources: history.com
Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
418 Comments
- leslion4over 8 yearstoday I'm purple
- les lion 6over 8 yearsThe article is ok
- neonbook over 8 yearsEven if it is black or white all should be treated equally. .that's soo mean u know. .people wid black skin is v v nice too like the white people..soo why are u not treating Beyonce and nick minaj and all the other black pop singers or stars??just bcx there rich and their song is good or their films and acting is good, u don't won't to treat them badly even if some did..anyways black people is much more nicer 2..#think positive haters gonna hate no matter what!!!!!😊☺
- leslion11over 8 yearsAgree you are so right.
- minions614over 8 yearsvery nice speech
- soccercrazyover 8 yearsinyourface that is true this article is very heart warming . it is cool that people that are African American are never forgotten !!!
- inyourfaceover 8 yearsTHIS ARTICLE IS REALLY AWESOME
- minions614over 8 yearsSOOO TRUE
- theboss312over 8 yearsguys never be rascit its mean I'm black people treat me with recpect but some people are stuck in the 1700s and 1800 and 1600 the need to move because we move on #i have a dream that we all like peace with white and black conflict no means just peace
- soccercrazyover 8 yearsso true it was so mean back then to treat people diffrent
- bluehorse3over 8 yearsPretty cool, I remember doing this as a little kid!
- Pinky pieover 8 yearsI love this story sooooo interisting
- Cover 8 yearsI love celebrating black history month.
- peyton34over 8 yearsthis is a great article for my school current event
- Mrs. Murphyover 8 yearsthis is awsome