Black History Month USA

Black History Month was initiated in America in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson, an African American historian, author and journalist.

Initially it was known as "Negro History Week" and was celebrated in the second week of February to commemorate the birthdays of two Americans who'd had a massive influence on the lives and social conditions of African Americans.

The two Americans were former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass.

Carter Godwin Woodson was one of the first scholars to study Black History. Woodson recognised how valuable it was for people to have an awareness and knowledge of their ancestors’ contributions to humanity and left behind an impressive legacy.

Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

He is known by many as the Father of Black History.

Read about how Black History Month came to the UK.

Find out what is going on in your area to celebrate Black History Month by visiting your local library, check out Google or see Your Local.