The Importance of Black History Month

#foogallery-gallery-12715 .fg-image { width: 699px; } Prev 1of6 Next Marie Bell Data News Weekly Contributor The Origin and Growth of Black History Month Black History Month, celebrated annually in February in the United States and in October in the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries, is a dedicated time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of African Americans and people of African descent worldwide. It originated as “Negro History Week,” created by renowned Historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in 1926. The week was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two key figures in the history of African Americans. The expansion from a week to a month-long celebration in the U.S. occurred in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial year, when President Gerald Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Since then, Black History Month has been a time for reflection, education, and the celebration of the significant role of Blacks in American History. The month is marked by educational events, cultural displays, and community gatherings that highlight the...