What began in 1926 as a dedicated week to celebrate Black history has grown into a month-long observance that honors the achievements and contributions of African-Americans and African-Canadians across North America and Britain. The idea spread beyond the United States, influencing schools, museums, and communities to take a broader look at African-descended people who helped shape modern society. In the United States, the focus is strongest in February, while the United Kingdom observes similar commemorations in October, reflecting distinct cultural calendars and historical contexts. Over the decades, Black History Month has become a staple in public education, cultural programming, and national conversations about race, memory, and identity, inviting people to learn, reflect, and celebrate together.
It was initiated by the historian Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week, chosen for the week during which both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were born. Woodson believed that society could not fully understand itself unless Black history was integrated into the broader narrative of the nation. He and his colleagues founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History to promote research, education, and public awareness. The aim was not merely to commemorate but to educate, illuminate overlooked stories, and encourage people to rethink what counted as American history. Though some today debate whether Black history should be treated as a separate month or fully incorporated into mainstream history, the essential goal remains to ensure that Black voices, experiences, and achievements are recognized as an integral part of the national story.
Negro History Week officially became Black History Month in the United States in 1970. The United Kingdom began observing Black History Month in 1987, and Canada formally recognizes February as Black History Month, with widespread educational and community programming developing in the years that followed. These changes reflect a broader shift toward inclusive curricula and public acknowledgment of the diverse roots that shape national histories across the three countries. The observance continues to evolve as communities expand beyond traditional figures to highlight local pioneers, contemporary leaders, and intercultural connections that enrich the historical record.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Dr. Woodson started Black History Month after recognizing that many textbooks ignored Black history and achievements, and he sought to educate the world by spotlighting untold stories.
- Black History Month honors a wide range of African-American and Afro-Canadian figures, including Harriet Tubman, Marian Anderson, Rosa Parks, Langston Hughes, and many others who shaped culture, politics, and the arts.
- Dr. Carter G. Woodson was the first African-American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University, a milestone that helped legitimize the study of Black history within higher education.
- In the United Kingdom, Black History Month is observed in October, with schools, museums, and communities hosting programs that explore Black British history and culture.
- Each year there is a theme that guides the observance, drawing attention to pivotal moments and ideas in Black history, such as the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights era, and sparking thoughtful discussion across classrooms and communities.