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The Reason Black History Month Is in February

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

Every February we celebrate a special holiday. And no, we're not talking Valentine's Day. We're referring to the 28 days we dedicate to honoring Black History Month, our nation's way of showing respect and recognition for the hard work and sacrifices made by African Americans.

Despite a difficult history, Black people have still managed to overcome and make countless contributions our culture. There are classic books, beauty brands, industry-shifting documentaries, and not enough Black Girl Magic to contain.

But out of all the calendar days, why is Black History Month in February? (a.k.a the month of love). And who started this tradition?

We put together a quick timeline that will have you brushed up on the Black history that created Black History. See what we did there?)


It all started with a man named Carter G. Woodson.

Harvard-educated historian Carter G. Woodson is credited with creating Black History Month. According to Daryl Michael Scott, a history professor at Howard University, Woodson got the idea in 1915 after attending a celebration in Illinois of the 50th anniversary of the 13th Amendment, which under Abraham Lincoln's presidency, abolished slavery in the U.S.

The festivities lasted for three weeks, with various exhibits depicting events in African American culture. After seeing this display, Scott says, Woodson decided to form what is now named the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History (ASALH) in order to encourage the study of Black life in America.


The Black history celebrations expanded to a week-long event.

According to Scott, after Woodson wrote The Journal of Negro History in 1916, which chronicled the overlooked achievements of African Americans, he sought to spread his findings to a wider audience. Through community outreach, he encouraged his old fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, to promote his work. In 1924, the fraternity responded by creating "Negro Achievement Week."


Woodson gave the recognition an official name.

Two years later, despite Omega Psi Phi's efforts, Woodson still wanted to make a bigger impact. So in 1926, he and the ASALH officially declared the second week of February to be "Negro History Week," announcing the news through a press release, according to Scott.

"This was celebrated for years and was chosen because of the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln on February 12th, and Frederick Douglass on February 14th," says Zebulon Miletsky, the co-chair of the marketing and PR committee for ASALH.


President Gerald Ford made Black History Month official.

In the 50 years that followed, according to History.com, clubs, schools, and communities across the country began taking part in the week-long festivities. Slowly, more and more cities declared official recognition of "Negro History Week." Particularly in the 1960s during the civil rights movement, with wider public knowledge of the trials and triumphs of African Americans, a mere seven days turned into a month-long recognition.

To solidify this change, in 1976 President Gerald Ford declared February "Black History Month." He urged citizens to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."


The observance still perseveres today.

Today, Black History Month is still widely celebrated across the U.S. as we take the time to honor greats such as Martin Luther King Jr., James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and Oprah Winfrey. But as time goes on, just like Woodson's idea of highlighting people of color went from a single organization to an entire month of recognition, many feel that again, we need to think bigger when it comes to appreciating Black lives.

"I have a wonderful phrase that Maya Angelou wrote in one of her poems," Oprah said in an Instagram post. "It said 'I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.' I'm doing that right now... I don't reserve it for one month. I believe that Black history is a part of every day, every life, every year, all the time."

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