Carter G. Woodson African American Museum flag in front of St. Petersburg City Hall, Feb. Petersburg, Fla. The history of the month dates back almost a century, and the way it is celebrated and evolved has created history in itself. In February , historian and author Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week. It was a weeklong celebration in an effort to teach people about African-American history and the contributions of Black people. Woodson was in After he passed away in , the members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, which Dr.
Woodson was a member of, did a lot of groundwork to encourage celebrating the week. The fraternity was also responsible for the push to extend the celebrations to a full month. Eventually, in , President Gerald Ford became the first president to issue a message recognizing the month.
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History releases a theme for each year, which is a practice Woodson started. The organization plans to use the month, and the rest of the year, focusing on the role of Black labor in building the nation through industry or community work. Black history is also celebrated within communities and families. Worth K. Hayes, an associate professor of history and Africana studies at Morehouse College, said some families may use the month to explore their genealogy, learn about their ancestors or come together to eat a meal and make family trees.
At some schools, assemblies or gatherings are held to honor Black leaders, according to the nonpartisan organization the Center for Racial Justice in Education. In reality, Woodson chose February because two prominent figures in the civil rights movement โ Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass โ had birthdays in the week he chose. Celebrities, including actor Morgan Freeman, have criticized it being just a monthlong celebration.
At least one government agency has paused celebrations of cultural or historic events, including Black History Month. The Center for Racial Justice in Education said educators may be more encouraged to teach Black history in their classrooms throughout the year.
