It’s been 100 years since historian Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week.
He chose February because the month contains the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass, both of whom played major roles in ending slavery. The Civil Rights Movement and a growing awareness of Black identity in the 1960s helped the week evolve into a month-long celebration on many college campuses.
But it was only fifty years ago, in 1976, when President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, and 1986 before it became law. What began as a way to teach students and young people about the myriad contributions Black people have made to the country’s history has evolved into a celebration of those who’ve made an impact on the country (and world) through their activism and achievements…