February is recognized as Black History Month. The month honors those who have endured centuries of struggle, and those who continue to fight for civil rights.
While the first original celebration of Negro History Week was in February 1926, Black History Month was expanded to the entire month of February in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. Negro History Week originally spanned the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two figures pivotal to abolitioning slavery in the US. The initiative to establish an entire month of honor was spearheaded by author, journalist and historian, Carter G. Woodson, known most notably as the “Father” of Black History due to his influential work. Today, there are 48.2 million African American people in the US; from 2020 to 2060, Black Americans will contribute to more than 20 percent of the total US population growth.
